Shopping for the mind (Calleigh)

[Yuthirin]

"Because nobody buys our stuff!"

[Anastasia]

"Then..." Sylvie trails off with a smile, "Why are you worrying about it? If you aren't selling, then what does it matter if you do that?"

[Yuthirin]

"Oh we're always selling, but everyone is so snooty that they won't buy our stuff! We lived on the streets of Brightwater for over two hundred years because it was hard to sell our art there? Do you have any idea how hard that is? Actually it was pretty nice. People were really friendly until they threw us out of wherever we were, and even then it's Brightwater. If you need to eat or something, raid a fruit tree." Calleigh nods, then looks puzzled, "Uhm, wait. What were we talking about? Money! How should we get it?"

[Anastasia]

Tepen chuckles while Sylvie closes her eyes and ever so slightly sighs. "Then if you aren't selling your art, you need to do something else to make money. Once you have money, you can worry about yourt art. You're a celestial, going down, smiting evil and taking their treasures should be second nature to you, even if you are just a courre. Tryll," she looks in the general direction of the psion, "Back us up here."

[Yuthirin]

'Actually I concur. I prefer to resort to violence only when necessary, or when there is little risk such as our foray into Ysgard. I will fight evil for good reason, but I would prefer that reason not to be money. Also, she is a courre, not a firre. Violence is generally not in their nature. As for myself, while I am certainly capable of tremendous violence, I would rather not start with it if avoidable. That being said, I'm open to listening to what you have in mind, if nothing else.'

[Anastasia]

"I agree if it is violence without a purpose," Tepen says, "Violence with a purpose is acceptable, such as fighting devils or taking away their treasures. If you are bent on not doing that, then...hm..." Tepen considers, "The slaad's dungeons contain a great deal of fighting, or so I understand it to be."

[Yuthirin]

'Has anyone here ever considered the value of the Aurora? Not the value of the demiplane for sale, but used as trade. It is tremendously difficult to move large amounts of livestock across planes for many merchants, and Gate spells on demand can become daunting. As well, the Aurora could be utilized to grow tremendous amounts of food and rare herbs. The mutability of the Aurora allows us to mimic conditions that may be difficult for most mortals to maintain. And to say nothing of the wonders crafted here at such reduced costs in both materials and labor. It would be something valuable for the citizens here to do. A sort of merchant marine force. I believe that the Aurora could benefit greatly from this. Though it lacks the immediate gratification of a treasure raid, I believe it would be more consistent over time. Your thoughts?'

[Anastasia]

Sylvie and Tepen share a look before the latter says, "My main problem with that is that Aurora is an army, not a merchantry. We have shops, but only to benefit the Crusade. When we engage in such matters, it is a means to an end, not a purpose unto itself."

[Yuthirin]

'Perhaps it should be both. Thus the merchant marine force.' Tryll puts mildly. 'You are aware of what a merchant marine force is, are you not? We have the capacity and potential to do great things in small ways and turn a profit while doing so. The fact that we do not do it now is not a reason not to do it at all.'

[Anastasia]

The two exchange another look, "It's not my decision to make," Tepen says, "Why don't you ask Adrian or Gisfal? One of the generals could make that decision."

[Yuthirin]

'We will propose it to them at a later date. For now, let's return to the matter at hand. I will entertain the idea of treasure hunting, provided it is worth the risk. Tell me of this slaad dungeon.'

[Anastasia]

"The catch is that it's always different, the slaad is apparently an anarch of unfathomable power," Sylvie crosses her arm with one finger out, waving as she lectures. "It may be a dungeon, a cave, a path amid the stars. We've seen all of those and far more in each dungeon. The last one ended with us fighting a dragon over the surface of the sun, after a trip through the stars themselves."

[Yuthirin]

A beat, 'Well. That sounds intriguing. On the surface of a sun, you say? How did you survive?'

[Anastasia]

"Magic and it was a slaad sun," Sylvie merely shrugs, "The slaad has a sense of fair play, no matter how difficult and demented its dungeons are."

[Yuthirin]

'A slaad with rules? Really? And an anarch? I'm assuming he traps or creates his own minions? What happens if you fail?'