Andreas' Shop
Posted: Sat Aug 02, 2008 2:26 pm
On the edge of the Port, by the docklands, you find, tucked away in the corner, a sign reading "Andress' Shop: Stuff Solld." Intrigued (the Baron is renowned for his good spelling) you investigate further, and find what appears to be a small, dingy store. You enter, and find it dimly lit and filled with an assortment of odds and ends of various sizes, colours and, in one or two cases, glows. It looks as if the concept of "duster" is as foreign as the concept of "not eating mangoes." You expect an old, poor, dirty sort of shop keeper, and are just about to leave, when a clean, intelligent looking young man (in a very smart suit) strolls in. "Sorry about the mess, we're just cleaning up some of the oddities. Welcome to Andreas' Shop."
"Are you Andreas?" you ask.
"No," the man replies cheerfully. "If you need to find Andreas, you will. I just run the front end of the shop."
The man looks oddly familiar ... finally, you put your finger on it. "Hey, are you Manuel, the famed owner of Manuel's Lootship and believed to run most of the criminal operations in Northern Novatainia?"
"No, that's my brother," the man replies, not quite so cheerfully. "Now, what can we help you with?"
"What do you sell, I'm a little confused," you answer.
"The better question is, what do you want?" the man replies. "We sell whatever you need here. Andreas the Wise has many talents and has fulfilled many roles within his lifetime. He's willing to offer his services to you, for a fee. You need a diplomat - Andreas is one of the best. Need advice on politics? Andreas started as a lowly Minister and worked his way up to President and beyond. Need any sort of helping understanding or using the SCM Magic system? Bayen's your man, but since he lives over in Toketi, Andreas is happy to help you out. Mapping in paint? Andreas can do that. Want a lawyer and can't afford Fors? Andreas has represented the odd case. Need a magical historian, or an archaeolgoist? Andreas is your man. Need someone to argue your point? As long as your opponent isn't on the List, Andreas will do it." The man gestured at a barely visible list. With great difficulty, you make out the names "Jeremy Bellamy" and "Liam conToketi" on the list, though Liam appears to be have been crossed out and "Oro" written beside it.
"What happens if they're on the list?" you ask.
"He charges double," the man replies. "We also offer a number of ... unique items, and can acquire others if you can specify your needs. Need a submarine, or an airship, or a genuine Micron pendant for backstory reasons? We're the shop to get it from legit."
"I don't note any prices," you venture.
"Please, we don't have anything so crass as prices," the man replies. "We operate on the principle of Asymmetric Information, though in this case it benefits the consumer. You tell me, or pm Andreas, your request, and he pms you back with his willingness to sell - that is, the lowest price he'll accept. We don't do anything in the open, but pm Andreas and we'll see what can be arranged. If he can't do it, for a small fee he'll tell you the best person who can - he has a lot of contacts."
You consider this, then ask, "What's Asymmetric Information?"
"That'll be 1
," the man tells you, with a wink. "See, you're getting the hang of it [the pricing system] already!"
"Are you Andreas?" you ask.
"No," the man replies cheerfully. "If you need to find Andreas, you will. I just run the front end of the shop."
The man looks oddly familiar ... finally, you put your finger on it. "Hey, are you Manuel, the famed owner of Manuel's Lootship and believed to run most of the criminal operations in Northern Novatainia?"
"No, that's my brother," the man replies, not quite so cheerfully. "Now, what can we help you with?"
"What do you sell, I'm a little confused," you answer.
"The better question is, what do you want?" the man replies. "We sell whatever you need here. Andreas the Wise has many talents and has fulfilled many roles within his lifetime. He's willing to offer his services to you, for a fee. You need a diplomat - Andreas is one of the best. Need advice on politics? Andreas started as a lowly Minister and worked his way up to President and beyond. Need any sort of helping understanding or using the SCM Magic system? Bayen's your man, but since he lives over in Toketi, Andreas is happy to help you out. Mapping in paint? Andreas can do that. Want a lawyer and can't afford Fors? Andreas has represented the odd case. Need a magical historian, or an archaeolgoist? Andreas is your man. Need someone to argue your point? As long as your opponent isn't on the List, Andreas will do it." The man gestured at a barely visible list. With great difficulty, you make out the names "Jeremy Bellamy" and "Liam conToketi" on the list, though Liam appears to be have been crossed out and "Oro" written beside it.
"What happens if they're on the list?" you ask.
"He charges double," the man replies. "We also offer a number of ... unique items, and can acquire others if you can specify your needs. Need a submarine, or an airship, or a genuine Micron pendant for backstory reasons? We're the shop to get it from legit."
"I don't note any prices," you venture.
"Please, we don't have anything so crass as prices," the man replies. "We operate on the principle of Asymmetric Information, though in this case it benefits the consumer. You tell me, or pm Andreas, your request, and he pms you back with his willingness to sell - that is, the lowest price he'll accept. We don't do anything in the open, but pm Andreas and we'll see what can be arranged. If he can't do it, for a small fee he'll tell you the best person who can - he has a lot of contacts."
You consider this, then ask, "What's Asymmetric Information?"
"That'll be 1
," the man tells you, with a wink. "See, you're getting the hang of it [the pricing system] already!"
. Andreas remains their Shirithian contact.