Steampunk Nights - Chapter 4

Record Author: Izyad Mishtan, Acolyte of Osiris
Location:  Ashen – Tent of Kazim

“I suppose I should tell you who I am, if you don’t already know?” Antoro raises a single brow at this question and looks hopefully at Nihani, Fabro, and Dhaja.  Getting only blank stares in reply to his query he frowns and continues, “I am the deputy mayor of Trat – a Vincha settlement sponsored by the Orsini Family out of Corbanile.”

“Never heard of it,” Nihani says softly.

Antoro’s frown deepens.  “Trat may be a small town – only 4600 souls, but we are vital to the Vincha trade road that is maintained by the Orsini Family.  Our location in the Central Wilds can not be helped.”

“You control a natural resource of some kind?” guessed Fabro.

Antoro nodded.  “Indeed.  We have an important mining operation.”

“Mining what?” Dhaja asked.

“It’s rather complicated,” Antoro said in a bored tone.  He continues slowly, as if he is worried that those who would be guards are not capable of handling new information: “I’m not sure you would understand.  Ah…  We dig into the ground.  We bring valuable commodities up.  Then we sell them.”

“You say this town is called… Prat?” Nihani asked innocently.  Her eyes blinked rapidly.

“No, it’s Trat!  Trat!”  The insult went right over Antoro’s head, but Sheik Kazim has a sudden coughing fit at this moment.  I myself found it difficult to control myself.  Antoro continued to expand upon his explanation. “There are some groves of vary rare trees that grow near Trat.  If you dig deep enough, you can tap into the main root of these trees and drain a valuable sap – Vischiosap.”

“That nasty black stuff that the Orsini Roadmaker mounts build the trade roads with?” Fabro says with surprise.  His interest was evident.  I assume that the ‘Roadmaker’ he mentioned is some form of Vincha clockwork with which he was familiar.

“Why, yes,” Antoro acted quite amazed that someone as limited in intellect as an adventurer would know of such an esoteric material.  “There are only five towns that have Vischiosap mining operations and the Orsini Family supports all of them.  Without our sap, the roads could not be maintained by the Families machines.”

“Of course,” Fabro says knowingly.  He seemed quite confident of the knowledge and the methods used in this powerful land.  I will try to befriend him and learn what I can if possible.

Antoro looked suddenly annoyed.  “Say!  What does this have to do with their being able caravan guards?  What a waste of my time!  Kazim?”

“There is nothing wrong with polite conversation, my friend,” Sheik Kazim said pleasantly.  “But we do need to finish informing these brave adventurers of other more elementary matters.  Payment.”

Antoro sighed deeply and felt after his purse unconsciously.

“I have negotiated a price of 15 gold pieces a day for the group of guards to share while you are in the wilds.  Once you arrive at Trat you will have the option to wait for a few days and escort the caravan back to Ashen at the same rate, but while you are waiting in town, you will only be paid 1 single silver a day.”

“And if you take my silver and then won’t guard my goods later, you’ll give me it back!” Antoro added.

“Is this the first time you have had trouble with attacks on your caravan?” Dhaja asked.  “What have you done for protection in the past?”

“Our town is fairly isolated and has no obvious natural resources.  We have been left alone since our town’s founding – with no monstrous incursions.  This is new and quite bothersome.”  He pauses and mutters under his breath: “ I do hope it is only some beasts passing through – it will really cut into our profits if I must expand our militia…”

“And there has been no word from your assistant?” Nihani queried.

“None.  I fear that she has perished.”  Antoro looked more annoyed at this fact than saddened, but who knows what feelings were in his heart?  His next words had a bit more passion in them.  “Your job will be to protect our carts of staples and supplies from attack.  She was the only armed member of our group coming down here.  If we find any of those monsters, then I want them exterminated by you like the vermin that they are.  Vermin!  Daring to attack me!  Well.  And all of my men.  And killing my assistant.  Yes.  Revenge is definitely called for.”

“All for 15 gold a day,” mused Dhaja, drumming the fingers of one hand on his thigh.

Antoro huffed, “I will pay you an additional silver piece for every orc that you kill.  Out of my own pocket.  It is important to me.”

“Heads?  Ears?  Hands?  What trophies do you wish?” Dhaja asked with a flat expression.  His eyes seemed to glint with fiery malice.

Antoro wrinkled his nose in disgust.  “I will trust your accounting in this matter – decide among yourselves what method you will use – it is not my business.  That is butcher’s work.”

Dhaja looked quite pleased to discomfit the man.  Or was this a test of some kind?  An attempt to discover something about the personality of Antoro?  It told me much about Antoro at any rate.  Quite clever.

Antoro put one hand on his forehead and shook his head.  “I don’t know what Mayor Kinchella is going to say at the loss this will cause in our profits.  I really don’t.”

“Ah!” Sheik Kazim exclaimed, “But this will be so much better than not coming back at all!”

“Really?  I suppose so,” Antoro grumbled.  He stood suddenly.  “I have had enough of this.  You three seem to be bloodthirsty and competent.  Good.  I must inspect the loading of my carts and get decently drunk before we leave.  Kazim?  You can conclude these arrangements, I trust?”

“Do you not wish to select the fourth member of your guard contingent?”

He waved a hand in dismissal.  “I’m sure it doesn’t matter.  I wouldn’t know how to choose the proper one, anyway.  Let these three select someone who they can work with – someone that will compliment their skills, as you call them.”

And with this he left the tent.

The three adventurers looked at Sheik Kazim flatly.  They were obviously just as impressed with Antoro Bassini’s lack of manners and arrogant ways as I was.

“He is a difficult man socially, but he is a good businessman,” Sheik Kazim said with a shrug.  “His cart drivers have families and all of them wish to return to their homes.  Your expertise will protect them and allow for this happy conclusion to occur.  The mayor will likely be very grateful, too.  Do not bury a well because of a leaking cup.”

Dhaja and Nihani smiled at the proverb and nodded.  Fabro paused, but held out both hands in a what-can-you-do gesture eventually.

“Good!  Perhaps something will come of it,” Kazim said with a huge smile and a two-handed slap on his belly.

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