[OotA] Regaining Order (the day is gone)

[Faith Augustin]

19th Saun, 718

Vri had blessed her and, in that blessing she had gained access to every memory she had ever made. She could not forget anything, and in that she had learned that sometimes, forgetting is easier. Never better, but sometimes easier. Coming back here, to Rharne, it had memories for them both but they were quietened by time, The cracks in what Aelig had done, too, were more visible now that she had experienced pregnancy and birth in a real way. And yet, she missed Rose and she always would. So did Padraig and it was right that they did. Rharne held good memories for them, too, and they had shared a glance when the thought of it had crossed both their minds. They had not spoken, there had been no need to, but they had known that it was fine.

Here, she had always known, would be more difficult. It was, but at the sight of the familiar place, Faith could not help but smile. They had made the Raft here, she and Padraig. Matthieus and she had worked together and so she had to admit that even stepping in here was not as hard as she had thought it might be.

It had not changed; some small details, here and there, but then - there in front of her stood a familiar figure, Matthias the highest ranking member here, the highest member in terms of height, too as he was an Ithecal and so rather tall. Faith, who was a small person, looked up at him and she grinned. "Hello, Matthiaus," she said and then her expression turned to a wide grin as the ithecal wrapped her into a hug. "Faith! Oh, how you? What are you doing back here? How's Padraig? Are you alright? Is everything ok? Do you need to live here?" There were a hundred questions, it seemed and Faith lifted up her hands in a gesture of surrender, but her eyes showed her pleasure.

"I'm fine, thank you. We've moved back here to live. He's very well, too." Faith's eyes looked at Matthiaus and she smiled, pleasure at seeing him evident on her face. "Yes I am. Yes it is. No, I don't." That was all of his questions, it seemed and Faith grinned. "We've bought a house. You must come to dinner. We have twins now, Noah and Madison. I've come to offer my services once again."

Matthiaus grinned at her, obviously delighted at that. Faith considered that her ithecal friend still had a lot of teeth, must be said. But still, he was her friend and after the whole Aelig-illusionary-baby thing, he'd been incredibly supportive. "You still have cloak?" He was teasing but equally, Faith knew he was asking a different question and she shook her head, slightly. Matthiaus raised an eyebrow. "You're in the Grey now?" He smiled and hugged her again. Then, of course, he asked the next most obvious question.

"And what's with the red eyes?" There was no doubting it was a change and Faith looked up at him with a slight lifting of her lips. "Which Immortal marked you this time?" Matthiaus asked and she replied. "Famula," Matthiaus nodded his head. She was blessed by Famula, Moseke and Vri and he'd more or less got to the point of taking it in his stride. But that was... "Well, I'm impressed." He said and Faith smiled at him.

"And I wanted to talk to you, specifically," she said, looking at Matthiaus with a hopeful expression on her face. "I have a business proposition for you."
596 words

[Faith Augustin]

It was two breaks later and the two of them were sitting in this achingly familiar place, drinking tea and chatting. Faith smiled at Matthias and nodded. "It makes sense, I'm glad you think so." She looked around and smiled slightly. It was at this table that she had argued with the eminent surgeon who told her that the Rot could not be cured. So many memories, of working and making friends. Healing and battling diseases and wounds, winning sometimes, losing others. And losing, of course. Losing. Her daughter Rose had been born here and for all that Faith knew that the pregnancy had been an awful, wicked and vile trick played by Aelig, it made the loss and love she felt no different. Yet here was also where she and Padraig had made the Raft, where he had promised to take her sledding and they had walked the frozen streets together. Here was a place where no one had known her as a slave.

Smiling to Matthias, Faith looked down at the piece of parchment. "So, Isonomia, the Order of the Adunih, The Merchants' Guild and the Church?" Matthias looked down at what Faith had written and chuckled, just a little. "So, this is your plot to take over Rharne? You run Isonomia, you are a ranking member of the Order, a member of the Merchants' Guild. Have you become a priestess?" Faith looked at him and shook her head. "I have not, nor is it my intention to. Also, apparently," Faith smiled at him, her amusement evident in her expression. "There is a height restriction on the knights. I am too short." He laughed and the two of them who had, in many a strange situation, become friends shared a glance and then Faith tapped the table.

"It makes sense, doesn't it?" Matthias nodded and Faith breathed in and smiled. "Good. Then is the Order in?" He sat back and looked at her with an impassive expression. "You're going to be like it here again, aren't you?" Faith turned surprised eyes towards him and raised an eyebrow. "Like what?" She asked, somewhat concerned for what he was going to say. "Change, always change. Do this different, do that different. Be better at this, more efficient at that. I mean that." Faith shrugged, ever so slightly. "When it is our job to save lives, I would suggest that better and more efficient are good things to strive for."

To her mind, she explained, the different groups must have quite a lot of cross over in terms of their work. Pooling resources, working together and agreeing common goals could only be a good thing. Many of the Thunder Priestess healing branch were also members of the Order of the Adunih - why not formalize it here in Rharne? It made sense to her and, so often they had common goals, beliefs and ideals. He couldn't argue with that about most of them but Matthias had a question. "The Merchants' Guild?"

Faith nodded, a smile on her face. People so often didn't make the connection between what she did and organisations like the Merchants' Guild. "I would say that they are absolutely key. Remember, someone funds Isonomia." Matthias looked and he seemed surprised. Faith was suggesting what, exactly? But before he had time to answer, she smiled. "I do. Our members do. The profits from my business, they fund Isonomia. There is a very good correlation there. People buy expensive things, feel good about themselves because they are giving to charity and so buy more. I won't give people handouts, why would I ask for them?" He shook his head and raised his hands.

"I surrender. When do we start?" He should have known, really, what the answer was going to be and he let out a slight chuckle as it happened.

"Right now." 643 words

[Faith Augustin]

Usually, someone so new to Rharne would not be granted an audience with Daphne Lightsong. However, this was not simply a fledgling business owner, Daphne knew. Faith Augustin was known throughout Idalos for her charity work, her philanthropy and, therefore, she and her companion were let in and no, there was no need to make an appointment. If there was one thing that Daphne knew what to do, it was to court popularity. So, she listened to this woman speak and she considered it.

Most genuinely, she considered it, from all angles. Because Daphne knew that there were aspects of this which were beyond the scope of being a merchant, but she knew that perception, popularity, popular opinion - they were as important as the quality of the goods or the layout of the shop. Often, in fact, Daphne knew that these things were more important. So, she listened to Faith Augustin's proposal and she pursed her lips.

"So, Mrs Augustin, it's an interesting proposal. If it goes ahead, then whether we will be involved or not will depend on a few things." Daphne looked at the young woman in front of her and gauged her to be maybe in her twenties. A woman who had a vision, there was no doubt, but she was young and, therefore, malleable. "I need to be sure that there is an advantage to my merchants, of course. What percentage are we looking at, what will you be putting on the table as an incentive?" Yes, Daphne believed completely that this young girl would be someone she could manipulate to her own will.

And in that, she forgot the very thing which she had used to her own advantage so many times.

Faith was a small, tiny person who had a ready smile and was polite, soft spoken and friendly. She turned that slight, friendly smile on Daphne Lightsong now and she put her hands together, gently and slowly in her lap. "I think there is a fundamental misunderstanding here, Miss Lightsong. There is no if this goes ahead, it already is." Faith's gaze didn't drop nor did she waver in the slightest. Daphne raised an eyebrow and recognised, immediately, her mistake. "Nor, to be clear, will there be any payoffs to the Merchants' Guild or percentages on offer." That was fine, as far as Faith was concerned - it was fine that she asked. But wanting and getting were two very different things.

"To be clear, and my apologies if I was not. This is happening, there are already two out of the four groups involved and I am very hopeful that the Lightning Cathedral will be fully on board. So, I am here to offer you an opportunity. As a member of the guild, as a merchant and business woman, I would be remiss not to." Faith smiled and left it at that. Another person might have added a pithy semi-threat or passive aggressive dig, but Faith wasn't that person, either. It simply was what it was - this was happening and the Merchants' Guild was either in, or it was not.

"Very well," Daphne said and she smiled. "Count us in. A senior member will attend meetings and I will hope and expect that the merchants of Rharne will be well considered by this." Faith nodded her head and held out her hand. "All citizens of Rharne, Miss Lightsong. That's the plan."

Shaking the hand of the young woman who she would not underestimate again, Daphne Lightsong smiled. "Welcome to Rharne, Mrs Augustin. I hope that everyone is quite prepared." Faith gave a slight smile and nodded her head. "Thank you for seeing me. I'll take up no more of your time, I'm sure you're busy." With that Faith stood and left, the Ithecal with her accompanying her and Daphne Lightsong smiled to herself. This would be, she did not doubt, interesting.

Off Topic

Permission to NPC Merchants Guild NPCs granted by Munchkin & Oracle as part of an ongoing plot

643 words

[Rynata]

Reverse Pirate Rynata,
here to reverse pirate your rewards!

Name: Faith

Knowledge:
Negotiation: Use familiarity and familiar terms
Negotiation: Clear up any misunderstandings, quickly and clearly.
Persuasion: Sometimes, not caring is the most persuasive thing of all
Persuasion: An invitation to join in can be an inventive
Psychology: Familiarity can be both poignant and reassuring
Socialization: Handling meetings

Loot: N/A
Injuries: N/A
Expenses: N/A
Renown: N/A
Magic XP: N/A

Points: 10

Comments: Wow. Faith getting down to business. I'd say that was more intimidation than persuasion almost. I enjoyed the interaction between the two powers very much. She remains so polite but is strong and determined. Good luck in further threads!

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