Salvation at last (Tryll)

[Yuthirin]

"Okay!" Tryll and Calleigh keep pace. "So mister mercane, what do you normally trade?"

[Anastasia]

"That's a great question!" Fantase claps his hands together, "More like what I don't trade. Well, I started out in account management, so in a sense I started with gold. The right gold here at the right time and you have a lot more gold than when you started. It's really something of an art. But in due time I got enough capital to start - fruits from various planes, a steady and low profit enterprise. It's where many mercane cut their teeth with their first trading operations. The risk and reward are both marginal, and so long as you know the right spells, you don't have to worry about anything spoiling right away."

Fantase pauses to waggle a finger, "Now it depends, but most planes have a market for that sort of thing. I stuck to a fairly steady route from Mechanus to Arcadia, then Arcadia to Celestia, then back. Repeat as needed. You see, Mechanus directly controls the price of every good sold there, as well as having strict quality inspections. So you know exactly what you're getting, which is good for Arcadia, since they make lots of food. You have to know exactly what you're getting to get anywhere there, usually by importing interesting fruits not native to Arcadia. You can't gamble with Arcadia, since if you're wrong, you end up selling nothing."

"On the other hand, once you sell stock in Arcadia, restock and then count your profit, you're in good shape to head onto Celestia. Celestia doesn't grow as much food as Arcadia, so the market for produce is good. Especially on Lunia, which is all beach, ocean and rock. Sure, it's good for seafood and picking up some fish for the trip back, but fruit's scarce. Not even coconuts, palm trees don't grow on Celestia's beaches. More's the pity if you ask me. Anyway, so you sell there and it's no risk. I've never met a dishonest archon, and while other trades there may try offering you more, you can trust the archons. Which means it's another safe place to purchase from."

A pause to take a breath, "So you stock up on two things - fish and any precious metals or gems you can buy from the archons. See, Celestia's not much for farming, but the mining's much more robust. The prices are always fairly good there, so get whatever you can afford. At first it'll be barely anything since you're probably starting with little capital if you're running this route. Later on you'll want to aim for about a 40/60 split between fish and precious metals or gems. So anyway, you stock up there and take the fish to Arcadia. You'll need to put a bit of elbow grease into it, but you can sell the fish for a tiny profit. You're really just covering expenses with the fish and maybe picking up a few choice bits, anything you know that's a good sale in Mechanus. Pay attention and you'll get a good grasp for that in a few trips."

"Then," Fantase continues, "You take all of that. Mechanus produces a lot of metal, but almost all of it goes into the Inevitables and other constructs. So the price for metal is fairly high, since not much makes it to civilian use. Same with gems as well. Sell those and whatever else and you should have turned a profit. A good profit margin, after expenses and incidentals, is about 10%. You won't break the bank with this, but I've never heard of anyone losing money on this route barring exceptional circumstances. It is tedious and the lowest of ranks to trade at, but it's a good place to start. With enough time and effort, anyone with a pulse can make money that way. Or without a pulse, for the awakened golems amid us."

[Yuthirin]

Calliegh's attention is surprisingly rapt, nodding at the appropriate times. "Uh-huh. Yep. That all makes sense."

[Anastasia]

"Now once you build up a good nest egg, you can try more profitable but riskier routes. In this case I decided to get into Blood War supply. Are you familiar with the economics there?" Fantase asks, as Rosa both of you a sidelong look.

[Yuthirin]

"Uhhhhm...that's the eternal war between demons and devils, right?" Calleigh looks confused. "Why would you want to help either of them?"

[Anastasia]

"There's good money in it, and there's also a generally unspoken interest in ensuring neither side is triumphant." Fantase says, "Of course, you need bodyguards and experience to navigate it properly."

[Yuthirin]

"But they're evil!"

[Anastasia]

Fantase strokes his chin, "So they are. Tell me, what would you do if the Abyss won and send those countless demon armies towards Arborea? Likewise, what would you do if the devils won and put those elite legions on the offensive instead of the defensive?"

[Yuthirin]

"Well, we'd have to fight, of course! Don't think that just because I'm a courre doesn't mean I can't fight!" Calleigh shakes a tiny finger in the mercane's face.

[Anastasia]

"Yes yes, and how many of you tiny little courre would be slaughtered?" Fantase says, sounding unimpressed. "Would you rather have devils and demons beating each other up or coming after all of you?"

[Yuthirin]

"So you're trying to say that selling weapons and stuff to demons and devils makes you a good guy? Mister Fantase, I don't think you understand the meaning of the word." Calleigh looks skeptical.

[Anastasia]

"It's a balancing act. Officially, the Consortium favors neither side. Unofficially, we favor whomever is losing at the time," Fantase says, "The Blood War is intensely profitable, plus if it ends, all that profit potential is gone. Moreover, they'd go and raise trouble somewhere, disrupting other trade routes. The Mercane do all of Creation a favor by this policy," Fantase says, voice lofty.

[Yuthirin]

"Sounds pretty evil."

[Anastasia]

"Clearly you lack the intellectual gravitas to properly appreciate this," Fantase says, "I'll have to reserve my insights for firre and tulani instead."

[Yuthirin]

"Says the man who couldn't keep track of his stock enough to keep from getting arrested in Brightwater." Calleigh blithely points out.