• Closed • Accessories

[Faith Augustin]

22nd Ashan, 722

Faith sat in the small coffee house where they had met and she sipped her drink, thoughtfully, as she watched Woe reading the notes she had handed him. Things were moving apace in Eureka and she had a lot to work out; but Woe might be able to provide her with another piece of the puzzle and - in return - she hoped that she'd be able to help him. Faith and Woe had a strange relationship, if it could be called that. They'd met at times when they'd both been trying to help people - and he was a well-respected member of the Order of the Adunih who had done good in Egilrun.

Yet, whenever they met it seemed that he was telling her something which was a heinous crime he had committed, or some other piece of information which showed him in - at best - a very poor light. It was something which Faith found tricky, but she had considered it and worked it through in her mind. He had a history which he seemed to drag with him and Faith understood that. It was what he did in the now that was important to her.

So, she'd arranged to meet him in a small coffee house near the Order of the Adunih here in Scalvoris Town. She sat and sipped her own coffee and looked around as she realised that there were quite a few people staring at her. Whispered conversations held behind hands wondered if that was really Faith Augustin and she lowered her head to look at the paperwork she'd brought with her. Things were moving apace, and she wanted to make sure that she gave opportunities where they were due.

And, Faith believed, in this case they very much were due.

"So, as you can see," she said with a smile. "It's ambitious. But I believe that it is achievable. Due to the nature of what we're going to be doing, I need the best equipment and supplies. I understand you've been made Council Member for Egilrun?" Faith smiled at him. "I'd like to discuss with you the possibility of Egilrun supplying us medical glassware. Most of it could and would be simply usual things, but I'd be looking to Egilrun for the specialist items. Beakers which can withstand much higher than average heat - and cold - things of that nature." Unbreakable things, things which remained clean, all these sorts of things were going through Faith's mind.

"And, of course, if it works out, that would allow for a very restricted gateway between Egilrun and the hospital," she said. Sitting back, she put her cup down and gave him a slight smile. "What do you think?"

[Woe]

Their meeting was arranged somewhat last minute, but Woe had recently concluded some business in Almund, and so found himself free to make the gathering at Scalvoristown with Faith. Thankfully, Soz was exceptionally fast on the wing, to the point where Woe was able to make record time from Almund to Scalvoristown. This season had seen him rushing about after one carrot after another. From Blodwen’s antics and clumsy attempts at murder, to all of the other meetings Woe was set to attend. There was too much to do, and very little time for travel between these meetings.

Woe wouldn’t refuse a meeting with Faith, however. She rarely arranged them herself, to his experience. More often she seemed the sort that others sought out. So when it came time for Woe to be called to meet her he jumped at the chance, both for curiosity and for the opportunity it probably presented.

So their meeting was well underway. Woe’s hair was still blanched, and he was in disguise, a disguise he’d not taken time to disassemble before making this meeting. Although he was well adept at concealing himself, doing so to another, one whose eyes were sharp, blessed as they were by Immortals of Truth, Lies, and other things besides, Woe couldn’t hide who he was. Not that he wanted to in this instance At any rate, Faith could see through his disguise, even if the others present couldn’t.

She began showing him the plans for the hospital. None of the costs associated with the venture were shared, which was fine with Woe, as those weren’t really where he came in, so he supposed. Wealth was fleeting, and for Woe more than most. He rarely maintained a greater fortune before spending it all on one project or another.

She expressed a need for Egilrun glass, specialty glass. “So I take it you’ll be getting your garden variety glass from another supplier?” Woe asked. It would be an important distinction, as Muir-Cham-Pend would need to know that little detail before they arranged any kind of exclusivity clause with regards to the glass the Hospital would be getting.

“Muir-Cham-Pend is the leader of the Glassblower’s Union or Guild. She’s a far less forgiving negotiator than I am.” Woe admitted. “But I think I can convince her of the benefits of this arrangement. I’m not sure how she’ll feel about having her own glass in the same workshops and laboratories as ‘lesser pieces’.”

“That said, I believe all of that is possible. Hard and tempered glass that can withstand force, heat. Glass that chills. All of that is easily within her Guild’s ability.”

“And a gateway in itself would be a benefit to Egilrun, if it means access to this Hospital and the research taking place.” The ‘very restricted’ part made Woe wonder, however. “I take it you’ve handled the security issue that this presents?”

Woe thought about it, and considered that if he owned property either in the hospital, or out of it, he’d be able to enforce Neutral Ground upon it, preventing any hostile action, lest the hostile actor be ejected from the premises. What that would mean with supernatural portals involved, was not something he was familiar with. But it probably couldn’t be good. Anyway, he couldn’t really ask that he own any part of it. She herself admitted that the Hospital wouldn’t belong to her, but to the Order itself.

“This could be a good opportunity to share the value of the glasswork of Egilrun with the wider world. I think it would be good for Egilrun.” He said, when asked what he thought. “The Glassblowers Union is used to providing materials and pieces to the University, so they know very well what you might need and what might be desireable. I can help mitigate the cost of special materials, as long as they are in supply, if you’d like? So you’re Hospital would be paying for the craftsmanship itself, not the rarity of the materials the glass is made from.”

[Faith Augustin]

22nd Ashan, 722

He asked about her 'garden variety glass' and Faith raised an eyebrow. Pausing for a moment she considered it and then she spoke. "I had assumed that the glassmakers of Egilrun would not be able to meet such a demanding order. But if you tell me they can, I would rather source all glass from one place. This is," she said, seriously, "Four large hospitals and one large research laboratory. That will necessitate a lot of glass." It would, there was no doubt. However, there was something which needed to be said, in terms of that. "My apologies, I should not have made that assumption. Perhaps you could find out for me, what their capacity is? If they wanted to send someone to Rharne, on a temporary basis, or even a number of people, that would be something we could accommodate." It might be easier, after all, than trying to transport quantities.

They moved on to the gateways, and Faith nodded when Woe spoke of the security. "It's an ongoing concern, and I'm working on it. I have employed the services of a reputable mercenary company, because I want to make sure that there is not any indication of a single place's military being 'in charge'." It was one of the things that she had learned during her time leading the Order. "Also, I will designate the hospitals and their surrounding area as a "Safe Hearth", which will mean that no violence can happen there and anyone with violent intent is known to me." She had other ideas, too, things that she could pull out if needed, but those were not yet decided. "How to manage the gateways is something which I'll be able to finalise when I meet with Saoire, and that's next Cycle," she explained. "I want to give her the full package then, all the information. Ideally, her and Ilaren both, since it's in Rharne, but we'll see."

As for his suggestion regarding the materials, she nodded. "That's very kind, I appreciate it, and will certainly take you up on it."

Sitting back, she regarded him for a moment, and then she asked. "It seems to me, if I'm honest, that you are someone who will have many, useful contacts for this. Tactically and logistically, I can totally make this work, but it's like Beacon, isn't it? When I founded that, I didn't do it alone. I relied on people's advice and support." It was true, she had.

"So, if there's anything that you can think of that we could do additionally, that would be excellent," she said. "I want to make sure that the relatives of our patients are well cared for - maybe therapy and treatment centres for them." Her mind had run through a thousand possibilities. "Child care, of course, and places to eat and rest and relax. But for the medical staff, too. That will be important." It certainly would.

But, Faith knew, a thing like this was a large undertaking."Egilrun is famous for it's glass. Is there any other resource you can think of that could be beneficial?" She hoped there was, but if there wasn't, that was fine too. In a real sense, Woe had a lot of potential for helping here, if he wished it - and she believed that could be a most reciprocal arrangement.

[Woe]

A Literal Lot of Glass

"Oh." Woe said, abashed by her surpirse. Of course he'd have to check with the Union Leader to see what their capacity for manufacture was. "Well yes, I'll have to check with the Guild Leader, and offer what support I can to their efforts to expand their production, if necessary. But I meant to say that any specialty glass would be an easy ask, we have the finest glassmakers outside and perhaps even in Nashaki. The Guild Leader is from Nashaki, the Tower of Glass herself, and blessed by Chamadarst."

Woe furrowed his brow as she continued, describing her measures toward security. It did seem as if she had that part handled, and so Woe wouldn't have to worry himself overmuch about his own end being compromised. And if the portal could shut down on a dime, and only allow a few groups in at once, and were guarded on either side, that would be suffiicient it seemed.

"I have some contacts... Although I'm still building my network where industry is concerned. That will take me some time. But I've left a trail of contacts in various cities that might be of use to you. Would you believe I even have a contact in the Temple of Vri in the Eastern Temple of Ne'haer?" Woe wasn't bragging, he was more illustrating how unlikely an alliance that was. "I helped offer bereivement and tried to investigate the murder of one of their own. Although that trail went cold long before I even got on the scene, and I was but a novice."

"But I am getting on a tangent." Woe said, "As for the greatest resource, it will sound trite but the greatest resource we have is our industrious and efficient populace. We know how to pull together to get jobs done, whether it's shipwrighting or glassmaking. Our people hold industry and efficiency in highest regard. Apart from that, there's Slag's Deep which has been as yet unclaimed. From what I heard, it used to be the treasure trove of gems and ore. No one knows if it's played out or not, though."

"We have one of the better Shipwrights in our corner, if that makes a difference. But for resources?" Woe thought about it for a while. He'd only done a cursory survey for such things, but he didn't quite know of a specific resource available in Egilrun that wasn't elsewhere, other than blue sand. "Blue sand I suppose is one of our few natural treasures. And there are shallow lagoons where coral can be found." Woe wasn't really a prospector. And he hadn't time since becoming Egg to consider all that Egilrun really had to offer beyond the obvious.

[Faith Augustin]

22nd Ashan, 722

Woe was happy to go back to the glassblower's guild and Faith nodded. "To be clear," she said. "There'll be a lot of specialist glass. I want the equipment, of course, but also there will be certain windows which I'd like to be a stained glass decorative effect on one side, but entirely visible and clear the other, if it's possible. Also, greenhouses. Glass made with orange sand and green sand, for warmer and cooler greenhouses, maybe glass pebbles to put in the bottom of pots with the same effects." If she thought about it, Faith considered, she could really go to town with glass.

As for what their greatest resource was? Faith shook her head. "Far from trite, that's exactly what I wanted to hear." Faith smiled at him. "If there is one thing I've learned it's that things change as they grow and it never ends up looking like you thought it would when you started it." So very true, as far as she was concerned.

And then, a perfect example of that happened. "Shipwrights." Faith considered it. "We're on a river, and we have an existing contract with a local fisherman but you know," her brow furrowed as she began to focus. "There will be people, lots of them. What if... " Her fingers pressed together and she was quiet. Then, it came pouring out. "People who are ill need entertainment and emotional care, as much as - more than - those who are not. The families will be worried and needing to be supported too. River cruises on a luxury floating restaurant. Boats which can be hired for you and your family for a trial or a ten-trial, with a chef and people there to care for you as needed. That would have to have a cost associated with it, because it would take staffing, but that would be alright. During breaks from treatment, or as people develop and rehabilitate, they have the option to do it in luxury and away from the hospital environment. But still safe and in someone's expert care."

Faith's mind ticked over, considering it from all angles. "WOuld you be prepared to set up a discussion on that, between myself and the craftspeople in question ? It's that kind of thing, that outside the box sort of thing. A boat which comes and people can get art lessons, or learn to sculpt - but not in the hospital, looking over lake Lovalus, that kind of thing. The chance to do that will aid mental health enormously." She smiled at him. "And if you can think of other activities, other things that people could do - your links and contacts might be very useful there."

With a slight smile she looked at him and said, honestly, "I believe that this could be a wonder. I really do. I'd appreciate your help." Because he was right. What she needed was hard working, talented people who could work together. And since the patients and the staff and the families from Willow Tree couldn't go to Egilrun - luxury ships could bring a taste of Egilrun right here.

[Woe]

For all her short stature, one would think Faith is the type to take things on a slow and methodical pace. Perhaps she was, but when they got to talking about specialty glass and various innovative applications of the craft, Woe felt himself growing a bit dizzy with the pace she set. He could barely keep up with where her mind was going, and didn't want to oversell the Guild of Glassblowers by any means. The truth was, Woe wasn't entirely sure if all that she described was possible through Glassblowing. "I'm not a glassblower myself, I'm afraid, although I have to admit to some professional curiosity based on that aspect of my patron." Woe said, tapping the table. "I'm not sure if all of that is possible through our Glassblowers, but it certainly sounds like an interesting project. At the very least, yes, I can arrange for a meeting between you and our finest Craftspeople. Just... don't mind Mudge Tanner. He's a very unpleasant man, but nobody on the Island understands leather like he does. And you'd be remiss to exclude him from any potential resource gathering."

After responding to his assertion about the value of his people, she went on to describe the vision of various forms of recreation that could be made available to her Hospital patients and employees. There would be a lot of people, and without entertainment, in such close quarters, people could get to overthinking, or else bored. Neither of which were easy customers to deal with, so Woe understood. "Recreation is emotional care. Have you considered the possibility of brothels?" Woe asked, unabashed. "I'm not completely familiar with the view of Rharneans on that profession, but some places do outlaw or at least regulate it highly, so I'm asking."

"Which is a silly thing. Just one look at the slums of Almund or another such city, and you can see what becomes of people in that profession when they're driven underground or into the margins."

"Anyway, yes, I will work toward arranging a meeting between you and these craftspeople. Next season should be fine for that, and I'll be talking to them anyway as I set up my own hospitality scene in Egilrun."

Woe dropped the mention of the Onyx Hall, casually as he was wont to do with his favorite projects of a time. More than the profit and interest it would bring to Egilrun, he hoped it would be a good learning experience, and further than that, good for the Island of Scalvoris and its relationship with other powers.

[Faith Augustin]

22nd Ashan, 722

Faith smiled and nodded. "I suspect if I had been given the name 'Mudge', I might be slightly less chipper, too," she said, apparently thoughtfully. "Thank you, that sounds excellent." He would arrange the meetings she needed to have and that was very much something she was grateful for. Faith knew Scalvoris well, of course, but she didn't live there now and so someone who was both resident and a member of the council, both of these things would mean Woe was very much the better man for the job.

He spoke then of brothels and Faith considered it. "I hadn't thought of that before, but you raise a good point," she said. Her mind moved quickly, considering and planning. She had to play this carefully because the last thing that she wanted to do was to end up offending some people while ignoring the needs or wishes of another . "I think that the best thing we could do is to employ them ourselves," Faith said. "Prostitution is entirely legal in Rharne, but to my mind there's a broader issue." She considered it carefully. "I wouldn't want to invite prostitutes in without a full vetting process. Also, people don't necessarily have money when they come to hospital. Also, of course, I wouldn't wish there to be an issue of payment for some not others. No, I think we employ men and women to provide sexual services and entertainment," Faith was a medic - such discussions did not bother her. "But we make sure that it meets certain criteria and we keep them on full time staff so that we can provide health care and so on." Thinking about it, she thought that it would be important for there to be a way for people to have access to such without feeling any sense of shame. "I'm thinking that maybe we should have tokens that we give people, which they can drop in boxes - each token has the room number, and the number and availability of tokens is given a strict process." She smiled. "We need to avoid the situation of people injuring themselves so they can get their end away for free."

He had set up his own "hospitality scene" in Egilrun? "Oh?" Faith said with a raised eyebrow. "Is it something which could dovetail in here, do you think?" He might not want that and if he did, depending on what it was, she might not want it. But either way, it was worth to ask because, at the end of the trial, there was never harm in asking.

"That would be ideal," she said, of the meeting. "As soon as you can, I'm happy with whatever date." She was. But hopefully, he knew that she wouldn't wait around for things, either. Faith was very much a force of nature and she would continue working on this as much as she needed to for the foreseeable future, until it was done.

[Woe]

Woe almost chuckled when she made the comment on Mudge’s name. “I’m not clear on whether it’s a nickname or his birthname, but either one seems likely given the disposition of the man. Maybe one grows into the name they’re given at birth.” It then occurred to Woe that Faith had once been a slave, like him. Perhaps the penchant for naming Slaves one-syllable names that are in actuality words was a habit of some? It stood to reason, in order to dehumanize them.

The Mortalborn wasn’t sure how Faith would react upon his suggestion of brothels. Truth be told, he almost imagined his suggestion was bold, and that she might dismiss it out of hand.

“So would you charge per service, or single paid salaried workers?” Woe asked, when she admitted she might consider hiring them herself. While he wasn’t expecting such a swift adoption of his idea, he was prepared for it to go the other way, and so didn’t waste a beat.

“Yes, some prostitutes come with an unfortunate amount of baggage, whether it’s love-sick clients getting it into their head that the woman or man they had service them was being anything other than the professional they are. Kindness is sometimes a double-edged sword.” Woe nodded at her terms, that they be granted a salary, and be provided all the benefits of any worker at the hospital.

“Yes, a system based on tokens and such is probably a good idea. It can be as discrete as we need it to be, while being able to record what happens. It can be a risky business sometimes, in many ways, it’s important to maintain communication in that case, with the workers especially. Unless we’re thinking confidentiallity is another service we’d offer?”

The Onyx Hall was going to be set up, next cycle if Woe’s planning wasn’t off. And he had connections in certain areas that might be helpful toward this end. “I do have some connections, from Almund to Egilrun in the hospitality. I also worked closely with the Hospitality Guild in Quacia, you know? They were instrumental in my maneuvering there, as a matter of fact.”

Woe shrugged, “Anyway, I can help vet workers if necessary. Or recommend those who I know to be reputable and professional.”

“I will arrange a meeting with the crafts people, next cycle then. Early in Ymiden if possible. I think such a meeting might be highly productive. Would you prefer to attend yourself? I’m wary of representing you myself, so it might be best if you make an appearance yourself.”

[Doran]

Faith:

Knowledge:
Politics: Appeasing different groups who have different views about sex is a tricky business

Loot: -
Losses: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: 5. For discussing a collaboration in a coffee house.
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 15

Woe:

Knowledge:
Appraisal: Determining the value of a commodity that is asked for, and that it can fit parameters.
Business Management: Referencing an associate who might be of help in a venture during negotiation.
Intelligence: Referencing contacts in various cities that you have leftover for the purposes of gathering information.

Loot: -
Losses: -
Wealth: -
Injuries: -
Renown: 5. For discussing a collaboration in a coffee house.
Magic XP: -
Skill Review: Appropriate to level.
Points: 15

- - -

Comments: The title of the thread attracted my attention. I just had to read it! I wanted to know why Woe thought there was a need for a brothel at the hospital as that seemed like a rather unusual idea to me!

I found Faith’s and Woe’s conversation very interesting, even though when they were “just” talking about glass and how that would benefit Egilrun. I love how Faith wants to also support the families of the patients and provide them with river cruises on a luxury floating restaurant!

I thought that Woe explained the need for a brothel well. I wasn’t sure if Faith would approve of the idea – some people have a problem with prostitution. I was impressed by how she came up with a system for it, and how Woe and she discussed the advantages and disadvantages.

The things that Faith and Woe didn’t say were just as interesting as the things they said though – how Faith found it tricky that Woe was telling her something which was a heinous crime he had committed whenever they met, and how Woe found himself growing dizzy with the pace Faith set.

I look forward to reading more about their collaboration!

Enjoy your rewards!

P.S.: You can also find the XP, the Renown and Knowledges for this thread in your UCPs!

P.P.S.: I wasn’t sure if I should give you Renown for this thread at first, but then I realized that it took place in a coffee house. Two famous people talking about a collaboration in an at least slightly public place warrants at least a little Renown in my opinion.