Fantasy RPG Forum - Standing Trials

Before her children had been born, Faith had made the decision that she would step back from working the late nights and shifts at Cally's. Yet, somehow, she was no less busy. This particular trial, it was the meeting between them all, which they had every twenty trials without fail. "Alright, so, we've got a lot to get through. First things first, though, you all remember Alissa?" Alissa, who had decided that she was Faith's bodyguard and that Faith was in danger, was there with them. Previously, one of the trainees, the biqaj woman was close to fanatical about taking care of Faith and so had started to work in Isonomia with the earnest young former slave. Faith knew that they had to build up this faction, had to work to get everyone they could on board and so, despite how uncomfortable it made her feel to have a self-appointed bodyguard, she understood that, just maybe, it was necessary. These trials.

"I'd like to look at our funds first." Faith said and made a sort of half-balanced gesture. "I'm pleased, generally, but we have to keep looking, keep moving forward. If the events on the docks at the end of last season taught us anything," she was referring, of course, to the explosion, collapsing buildings - warehouses and homes - and killing people in the process. "It's that the rich stay rich and the poor stay poor. Whilst I can not deny that I fit into the first category," though she most certainly would not if she carried out doling out money the way she did, but Faith still didn't understand why anyone would ever, ever hoard money whilst people needed it. No one could take it with them when they were judged, after all. Vri accepted no bribes and that was the simple truth of it.

"I want to set up a soup kitchen," Faith said, apparently suddenly to the others. Jo'qet, Paul, Taylor and Trudi each of them turned to look at her and Faith smiled. "We have the trainees. I'd like to expand out what we do. The soups and stews that we make, they could easily be made in bulk and given to people who are hungry, who need it." Why any of them looked surprised, she did not know because frankly, by now they should not. First, she turned to Paul. "How much more land do we need to provide that?" He shook his head. "None. I can move things around, I've been thinking to use the space we have more efficiently. We've expanded piecemeal, so it is sensible to consolidate now. I can provide the produce,"

Faith nodded. That was good. To Jo'qet and Taylor, then, she looked. "It will be additional to your trial by trial work. Except, really, all you will need is the produce prepared and then the pots and cooking spaces, yes? If I use the business funds to take on another trainee, provide accommodation and one of them is specifically tasked with preparing the soup kitchen soup?" The two of them looked at each other and nodded. "That works," said Trudi, Taylor nodding with her. "We don't need more space on the heat, that's fine." Faith nodded her head.

"Then," she said with a smile, "That's what we're going to do. And in doing that, we will make a difference to people's lives. Yes, that works."

Once they had considered the soup kitchen, Faith sighed and thought about it. "I'd like to move on to hosting events. Charity events." They looked, considering her words. "People come to Cally's, it's true. But, it's Ashan, there will be celebrations, parties, events. Eventually, I'd like us to cater for those sorts of things." The others in the room glanced at each other and Faith gave a slight chuckle. "Eventually. Not right now. In the future."

"Maybe as far away as Ymiden, Paul?" Trudi asked and Paul nodded, sagely. "Maybe. But if we're going to do it in Ymiden, we might as well start at the end of Ashan, yes?" Trudi nodded.

"Well," Jo'get said, seriously, "If it's the end of Ashan, why not start it now." Faith glared around at them and shook her head. "You are unkind. Not to mention a little bit right, but I think this season we focus on getting the soup kitchen up and running. It will be a big job." They stopped their tormenting then, because it didn't sound like that big a job so they all turned to look. "It will be a hostel, for the homeless. An extension of Cally's residences. We currently house 16, I want to double that if we can. We need to push forward on all fronts. Then, I intend to start petitioning for the change in Scalvoris law. But once we have made it work. Only then." Because then there would be nothing to argue, she was determined. He children would grow up in a world where slavery did not exist, or they would grow up knowing that their parents had fought against it at every step.

"So, once the soup kitchen is set up and running, I'm going to extend what the trainees do to delivering food. To offices, businesses, the Order of the Adunih, the Council. People get peckish at work, and I've spent some time thinking about this. Good, nutritious lunches and snacks. I think we could provide food to the University, and I'm going to set up a meeting with the Dean to ask that." She would, there was no doubt.

All of this would require, she said, the preparation of rich, nutritious and wholesome food which could be prepared for people in bulk. "I've been doing some experimenting," they grinned, each one of them, pleased that the smells which were emanating around the place were for what they'd hoped. "And I need some opinions. Oh, that reminds me. Bread. We need to provide bread."

Paul rolled his eyes and quipped. "We should open a mill, too, make our own flour."

It was the way Faith paused as she was walking out, tilting her head to the side and then moved again that got them all looking at him like his head had dropped off. Trudi made a gesture, swirling her finger around at the side of her temple in order to show him just how stupid she thought he was being, and they all grinned. There was no doubt, not among them. A mill would be on the cards.

Soon.

She brought out the first round of soup for them to test, then the next and finally the third. Each were delicious, but she would not tell them what it was that was in them until they had tasted them. They agreed that it was a close call between all three and Taylor pointed out that it was hard, because they were all good; a compliment which Faith waved away. Alissa seemed surprised when there was a bowl for her, but Faith didn't bat an eyelid, everyone was involved. Always. Then, there were the breads, which again she had three of for them to try.

The conversation around the table in their home was lively and Faith smiled to herself. These people were more than her employees, they were her friends, she knew that. And so much of that was because they cared about what she cared about, they worked harder than they needed to and they did not see this as just a job. Of course, each of them was well paid and rightly so. They put in the breaks, there was no doubting it. Once they had tasted each soup and each bread and discussed them, Faith handed out the notes which listed the ingredients and the cost of each serving. Then, they were able to discuss it.

What was surprising, perhaps, was that the cost difference between the three was huge - the third soup contained expensive ingredients which rocketed the price. Faith was clear, the flavour in any soup started with, and was underlined by, the stock. It was there that battles were won or lost, Faith said and meant it entirely. She then realised just what she was saying and she grinned, ever so slightly. "Alright, point taken. I get over excited. The same is true of the bread. Here."

Unanimously and immediately, they agreed that the more expensive examples of both were unnecessarily so, the comparison with the other tastes simply did not give reason for the increased cost. Only Paul had preferred both the more expensive products out of all of them, so the taste was obviously not a cut and dried thing. The conversation, then went along the lines of which one to go with. In the end, they decided that the slightly more expensive soup was more tasty, but there was no such difference in the bread and in fact three of them preferred the cheapest bread to produce. That being agreed, they had with them the basics for what they would do.

"So," Faith said and smiled. "That means that we know what we've got to do and how much it's going to cost. Here," she slid over the costings, which she had worked out for all the possibilities, and she smiled. "We can cover this in Cally's as it is, but I want to make sure that we increase our revenue to meet the demand. The maths adds up" She smiled at them and folded her hands together in her lap. She was sure of the maths, she explained, because she'd had a very good teacher. The memory of that first lesson, the first time she met the man who was now her husband was clear in her mind and she allowed herself a moment of memory, of relishing it and remembering it, then she turned back to the matter at hand. "What?" Faith looked at them and realised that they all had varieties of sappy grins on their faces and she flapped her hand at them all. "I don't know what you mean," she said, and started the process of clearing up the plates and bowls.