Jenna and Taareek's quarters
Jenna's Office, its pretty bare at the momant, a huge desk currently dominating the room, the top a smoothly polished sheet of stone. Along one wall are several crates, from the smell that fills the room you can assume that thay contain various spices. Along one wall there is the beginings of a shelving system, sheets of wood laying in a heap, ready to be worked upon.
Jenna moves behind her desk and settles herself, rather comfortably, several scrolls, and pads of paper spread over the desk, and even a few stray computer storage modules that really she meant to have left in her kefetiu office, she nods a little to Cirall, moving a blank pad of paper in front of her, and dipping a foreclaw in an ink well, to test if the ink is still useable, "Ahh, allright, lets see now."
Taareek is settled off to one side of the room, curled up a bit as he nods to the entering Cirall.
Jenna shuffles some of the paperwork off the desk, waiting for Cirall's response, with the recent changes that have happened in argalia she has not been able to keep very well abreast of what's been happening, more than vaugely, still, she does have a few ideas, and is interested in finding out what the queen of the aldani would wish to speak with a trader such as herself about.
Cirall steps into the office, looking around. She seats herself on a bench near the desk as this is a more comfortable position in this short room. Her tail drapes over the back, along with her wings pressed against her back. She clears her throat and says, "Well, I have been informed that the gryphons of Shrilk are in different aeries with their own differing governments, policies, etc. I wished only to be fair and att least speak to a representative from each aerie in regards to setting up ossible trade deals between my people, the Tal'Aldani and each aerie. I was told to ask for you."
Jenna bobs her head a little, "I would probably be the best person to talk to, in shrilk. There are other traders, even here in windhaven, and if you wish, I can introduce you to a few of them, after we are done here." Her head tilts a little to one side pink eyes almost glowing in the magelights, "What sort of items would you be willing to trade? And what sort of items are currently in demand with the Tal'aldani?"
Cirall nods, "I have already spoken with Stormdancer on behalf of Grylra and I have yet to hear back on my requests to speak to a representative with Shkrill. As for trade, we have the ability to quickly make custom metal objects, tools and artwork as needed. We have salted meats and fish that should be able to keep well in most spheres, flavored drinks, including or infamous fireberry wine." She pauses, "We are not so much in need of anything in particular, but we are curious as to what there is for offer. What goods to you have that you can trade in return for my goods?"
Jenna tilts her head a little to one side, "I deal a lot in high value items, that have low mass. Artworks, spices, medical suplies, are but some of the items I have. It is easier if I know what you would desire, for what I do not currently have, I can aquire elsewhere to be shipped here. Even such common goods as cement, for mortaring stone upon stone, the skilled hands of master masons from far spheres, where working in stone is an artform really, if ever seen elsewhere. I can literaly spend hours telling you the items I can aquire, from art, or quantem memory blocks for data system structures, Livestock, or grains."
Cirall hmms, thinking to herself for a moment. "Medical supplies would be greatly appreciated, as well as spices. Fabrics might be a good item, anything billowy or light like silk. Colors are always a plus. I'm almost positive the Temple will want all new silks to decorate with." She shakes her head, "Stone masons and artisans are covered, we have the Driggelans and are very happy with them." Her eyes open wide as she thinks of something. "I know, I saw some large, um, feline creatures walking around with dark glasses on to protect their eyes from sunlight. I don't doubt that Strethan will want plenty for the Driggelans working both at Light's Gate and at the campsite." She thinks a little more, "Hmm, livestock we have plenty of, but grains might be nice for the brewers to experiment with. Someone asked me to pick some up while I was here to try a recipe for a drink they had picked up somewhere. We don't grow the stuff ourselves."
Jenna nods a little, "Grains can be very hard, often the grains from another sphere will either poison the local plant and wildlife, or, will be decimated by the local lifeforms. With the brewers it might be best if thay contact me directly. Paticularly the ones who are more interested in experimenting. Also, they might wish to serve as a local agent for beverages brought in from other spheres. The same grain grown in different spheres can have different flavors, wich will affect what is made with them, so, that is something that will take some thought. I will check to see if the felines are willing to work outsphere, and what costs there would be for their labor. What sort of labor are you seeking in them? Skilled? Unskilled? And in what trades? Flavored drinks are a good item, and spices native to argalia do have some value elsewhere, including one, that is common in most of the spheres, but, the same spice from argalia is a powerfull aprodesiac in a sphere very far away from here."
Cirall shakes her head, "I do not need labor from the felines, just their eyewear. The Driggelans are an underground race normally, but they come out at night to work outside or stay deep in the mines where it is dark. If they had eyewear like the felines have, they could work easier during the day." She chuckles, "Interesting to hear one of our spices is an aphrodesiac else where. I am not sure exactly which grains our brewers were wanting exactly. I just wished to start the process of trade and let our Trademaster work out the finer points later. He will be the main distributor of goods for my people. Any paperwork also goes to him, Lord Burkaar."
Jenna chuckles, "Ahh, thats different, Driggelans you say? Humm, I will have to check, but, I might be able to do better. It will depend on the amount of light sensitivity, and if its over specific wavelengths of light, or a broad amount of light. Give me about a week to check, and I should be able to tell you what it will cost you. How many pairs would you like? You would be amazed at what is wanted elsewhere." She looks up at Cirall a momment, "I have had several offers for Argalian blood, both Tal'aldoni, and Tal'verakt. As well as requests for specimiens, living, and dead. There is another sphere that prizes the skin from the natives of iowa, for making into leather, or something." She shakes her head, "Conversely, in the core there is a shop that specilizes in icecream, and there claim is that they have every flavor of icecream that is available throughout the spheres."
Jenna starts writing something down on the pad with a foreclaw, the glyps of shrilkish writing forming easily under her talons, then she rips the page off the pad and hands it to Taareek, "Can you have a messanger take this to my factor in the core love?"
Taareek blinks out of his staring contest with the wall, stretching for a moment before taking the paper in a set of talon and tucking it under a wing. "Of course. I'll be back shortly."
Jenna smiles and nods, giving Taareek a soft nuzzle, "Thanks love."
Cirall looks a little concerned at the one request, "Blood? You mean *dragon* blood? I don't think I can help you there, but animals I can provide." She calms down some, "Let's start with a single pair or two of the eyewear to be sure if they will be alright with them first. But checking into it further is a good idea."
Jenna chuckles a little, "Yes, I mean dragon blood, and no, I will not trade in such, unless it is collected in a non-harmfull manner. I know of several spheres where they regularly collect donated blood from their people, they use it for medical purposes, strange as that may sound. They can take the stored blood, then put it into the body of someone who might otherwise die of blood loss. Umm, the specimin requests were for your people, not animals. Some from collectors who want to have them stuffed and mounted in a museum, others for people that wish to keep them as pets, or in a zoo, and others for worse things. Just about every race is wanted for this, not just the argalians. I do what I can to stop such trading, and any I find trading in the lives of innocents are not able to do it afterwards."
Jenna smiles, just a little at the last, an oddly bitter flame of hate in her eyes. She really really does not like those who use others as property.
Taareek reenters, ruffling his wings a bit. He nods to Jenna as he settles again to the side. "Gave them the note, little love. They'll start working on it right away."
Jenna nods, "Good, thanks love." SHe turns to Cirall, "With any luck I may have an answer about the glasses before the festival is over."
Cirall doesn't understand why anyone non argalian would want to put dragon blood in themselves. "I will talk to the healers and ask them for blood samples, but we have no manner of preserving it so it does not spoil quickly." She shakes her head, her own eyes growing thin, "We do not condone trading innocents as slaves or otherwise. Do you require a list of the various wildlife we have so you can point out what you need, or do you already know which ones and if you need them dead or alive?"
Cirall she nods about the eyewear, "Thank you."
Jenna shakes her head, "No, I am not really interested in trading in blood, not in that market." She says, rather firmly. "As for wildlife, if you're willing to capture pairs of different things, I will contact the various locations that are looking for zoo specimiens, and to add to private collections, and see where and what would be wanted." She chuckles a momant, "Umm This is also odd, but, perhaps you know someone who would be interested in a job as a zoo specimien? It is for the zoo in the core. It's not like a zoo with animals, and all of the sentients that are there are doing it for a job. They come in, stay a few hours, then go home."
Cirall looks very confused, them shrugs, "I have no idea, but I will look into it and ask around." She settles with a sigh, "And it shouldn't be a problem to capture mated pairs of most cretures, although we should be able to get others. If the price is right."
Jenna nods, "Most zoos are not going to be able to pay too much for their specimiens, but, private collectors are likely to be willing to pay considerably." She leans against Taareek a moment, fluffing her feathers, "Now as for medical supplies, what is the tech level of your sphere? Some medical suplies will not work outside of a high tech sphere." She pulls out a book from under the desk and opens it, leafing through it quickly, "Humm, ok, thats good, I have the information on what is safe, and what works for you, oh that's interesting, hummm." She looks up, "And again, with the medical suplies I need to know what you desire, and in what volume. Do I set up a walk through the core or do I need to start having caravans stoping in argalia?
Cirall thinks about it, "Medical supplies, mostly sterile bandages and anitbiotics. Other samples are welcome. Caravans are welcome, although the path from this sphere directly to Argalia goes across rough ground and a river. We came prepared for it, so you might want to do the same with yours, or bring them through Rolarii. They are to our east and our newest campsite it fairly reachable from both interfaces. I can try to get a meeting between you and Burkaar for more detailed arangements and possibly to show samples of what both have to offer. I am mearly getting things started here." She nods, as if to herself more than anything, "So I may take it that we have a mutual interest in trade then, Trader Jenna of Windhaven?" She gets very formal here as this is important to her.
Jenna nods, "Yes. I have long had interest in more in depth trading with Argalia, but, I have been far too busy to make a trip out to Argalia to make any formal arrangements. A side note, furs are often desired by many diferent spheres, if you have animals that produce good furs I would like to see samples of them, and I can provide samples of the furs I currently have available to you as well."
Cirall nods, "We have slon with us back at the festival grounds. They are used for labor as well as the meat, milk and skins they provide. We usually don't leave the fur on, but you are welcome to see for yourself. They are also well adapted to both land and some freshwater aquatic travel. Other furs might be nice to look at though, thank you."
Jenna nods, "It's actually interesting what people find of interest, though, I have a fur that comes from far away, the animal sheads its entire skin every spring, leaving its fur complete and intact, with no need to kill the animal even."
Cirall sounds intruiged, "How interesting. Skins and leathers might be something of interest to bring as well as dyes and such for them."
Jenna comes out from behind the desk and moves to the shelf along the wall, taking a small fur from a pile of them, she offers it to Cirall, "This is the fur. I have an exclusive agreement with the natives of the sphere to provide me with the furs.
Cirall reaches out to touch the fur. "Soft." She takes the sample and pulls it a little to feel the flexibility and toughness of it. "How easy does this cut? We have sharp parts that are rough on clothing if they arn't up to snuff."
Jenna chuckles, "Dyes, yes, I almost forgot, dyes for skins, furs, leather, feathers, scales and other things, various types of paint. Those? The fur itself will not stand much abuse, but, if you back it with leather, it will be much stronger, and much more durable. Most of the places that use these furs are using them as accents. But, most good furs are not all that durable. There are also several types of cloths that can also be used as a backing, to provide strength to the furs. You asked about silks, any silks, or do you have specifics in mind? Would other things, light and airy be acceptable?" So saying she hands over a book, attached to each page of the book is a sample of fabric, mostly different types of silk, from different spheres, "Here are most of the light fabrics I have available. And for the temple, maybe they would be interested in velvets as well?
Cirall nods, "I would like to let the priests decide on specific fabrics, but these are remarkable." She looks through the fabric samples and feels some, skipping others. "It's very hard to come by, but tunnelwyrm leather is some of the toughest natural materials we have. It's good enough to use for armor without much hassle once cut and pieced together. We also have some of the best metalsmiths around who can do tools, artwork and other such items. We have a readily easy supply of silver and other metals, although gems are much harder to come by." She nods again, "I think you and Lord Burkaar will have much to talk about. Is your schedule free enough sometime to meet with him in the Core perhaps? It would be well after we returned home from the festival, of course."
Jenna nods, "I can. I have a factor in the core, have a messenger sent there, and we can arange a time for me to meet him, or perhaps I may visit argalia, see how things are myself." She glances to Taareek, "Think you would be interested in a trip to argalia?"
Cirall smiles, showing more than a few teeth, "We would be glad to have you for company, both of you. And might I add, it's much warmer there than here."
Taareek nods to Jenna. "Sure...it'll give me a chance to work on some more stories."
Jenna nods a momant, "Then its settled, a little while after the festival we will visit Argalia, the site where you're building your new capital. I hope this venture will be profitable for the both of us."
Cirall sighs and stands up, not wanting to leave as she is enjoying looking at the different things Jenna has to show, but she must get back to her people before they try to come looking for her. She may have told them to stay behind, but their protectiveness of her overrides their obedience at times. She stands, "I am thankful for your time and your hospitality, Trader Jenna. I will look forward to meeting you again in my own home to continue further talks. May it be profitable for us both." She bows and turns to leave the room, hoping there is someone to show her the way back to the festival.