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Chapter 1213 - The Goods
🕑 Added 2023-08-14 08:28:33 +0000 UTCNegotiations were always a delicate matter. There were many things to consider, after all. What was culturally and economically acceptable to both sides? What did each side want from the other? It was around these things that discussions would focus.
The first thing Eran Umizan needed to discern was what it was the Colony desired.
“Do they need food?”
Clearly they had an interest in foodstuffs, as evidenced by the tea and scones. There was a brief consultation.
“They don’t,” Irisod told her. “Apparently they grow all of their own food. Their own sugar, wheat, tea leaves and everything else they consume in large quantities. For satisfying their hunger, they generally use Biomass or… aphids? I’m not sure what those are.”
Interesting.
“We can negotiate a price for access to our gates?” she suggested. “Would they be interested in discussing terms for such an agreement?”
The price would be hideously expensive, of course. If you couldn’t make your own gates, then you were at the mercy of whoever was in a position to offer you access to one.
An ant entered with another tray covered in delectable looking slices of layered cake, each topped with a twirl of pink cream. Eran’s brow went up as the tray was carefully placed before her, and another was distributed amongst her retinue.
Again, no poison.
“I thought they were short on supplies?” she asked her Court Mage, quietly.
“Apparently they just developed their own gate.”
“What? When?”
“Just now.”
“As in…?”
“As in, during this discussion.”
“And the first thing they used it for was…”
“To bring us cake, yes.”
She stared down at the delicate confection, each layer as clearly defined as if cut by a razor. On closer inspection, she could see glistening fruits embedded in each section, strawberries in the red layer, and peaches in the orange. She took her fork and bit into it.
It was delicious.
“Please thank them for the food,” she said, then turned and glared at her daughter. “Piris! Manners!” she snapped.
Her daughter had seized upon her dessert and begun stuffing her face with it in a most un-decorous manner. The girl flushed under the withering glare of her mother and licked the cream from her cheek.
Eran tapped a finger to her chin. The Colony, as she now knew they preferred to be called, were an interesting case. They didn’t want what most she negotiated with wanted, as they were monsters.
“Are they interested in jewellery? They could adorn their Queens with the finest gems the fourth stratum has to offer, cut by our expert crafters.”
They seemed both protective, and absurdly doting on their Queens, considering they seemed to have developed an entire culinary culture around serving their ant mothers sweets. Perhaps they would be interested in decorating them?
“They are mildly interested. To be more clear, they don’t think the Queens will like them, but they are willing to offer some, just in case.”
“Very well.”
It was something. She would ensure a selection of the highest quality pieces were brought to the fortress as quickly as possible.
“Out of curiosity, are any of you talking to the large one?” she asked of her Mages.
“Not currently, no.”
“Interesting.”
She pondered a moment longer. Would they want arms and armour? None of the ants she saw around her were wearing anything of the sort, though she saw some had metal rings around where their legs joined their bodies which were clearly enchanted.
There was some level of industry in the Colony, clearly.
“Would they be interested in purchasing equipment from us? Our forges produce materials of the highest quality. Particularly, for metals and woods infused with water mana, we are the best to be found on Pangera.”
The ants rarely ever moved. No expressions crossed their faces and she had to constantly remind herself that she was looking at their skeleton. They couldn’t move it. The level of stillness went beyond just their heads, they barely moved at all. Only the antennae shifted and twitched, but she couldn’t interpret such movements at all. Her negotiating partners were a blank wall. Another thing she had never encountered before.
“They…. Hmmm.”
“Out with it Irisod,” she demanded softly, no hint of her irritation crossing her features.
The mage looked troubled, perhaps even a little offended.
“Don’t you dare show anger,” Eran warned. “Cultural differences can give rise to offence where none is intended. Tell me what they said.”
“I apologise. They suggested they would love to purchase a sampling of our wares, but only so they could study them. The ants are confident they can make superior works themselves, given time.”
Brathian pride would suggest that their mastery over the waters would never be questioned, since they were the only sapient race to live in it. They absolutely did have a far higher affinity for water mana than any other race, and were extremely accomplished when applying it in enchanting. She could see why Irisod might have been rankled by such a statement, but Eran was intrigued.
They had that much confidence in their own craftswork? It took decades to develop those Skills to an acceptable level, longer without training and guidance. The Colony was young, yet they didn’t seem foolish.
Perhaps she was approaching this from the wrong angle.
“What sort of things would they be prepared to sell to us?” She asked.
The Court Mage looked surprised, but asked the question as asked.
“They… aren’t sure. Is there anything in particular that we are asking for?”
Eran looked around the room at the ants.
“I am interested in everything. If they are confident in the quality of their craftsmanship, then I would love to see what they make.”
They were confused. Even without any facial expressions, she could tell they were confused.
“They made this furniture,” Irisod conveyed to her. “They have a reasonably large community of artists who specialise in carving and produced all of the artworks that we can see.”
A pause.
“The produce used for the food and drink we’ve consumed was made by them. Ah, one moment.”
An ant entered with a flowing carpet held in its mandibles which was laid across the table.
“They furnish their own fortresses for guests such as us, which includes weaving these carpets.”
A glorious pattern formed of marching ants decorated the rug, each woven in a glittering golden thread that radiated a gentle warmth. They enchanted the carpet?
Another ant rushed in bearing metal bars.
“They forge these themselves on the third stratum,” Irisod said as the bars were place in front of her.
They radiated heat. Fire Iron.
Then they brought bows. And spears. And Swords. Then side-tables. Closets came next. Fine ceramics followed the furniture, then bespoke cutlery.
Slowly, an endless variety of high-quality goods piled up on the table, and Eran Umizan could smell gold.
Comments
Buck
I am really enjoying this arc and all others that involves The Colony interacting diplomatically, economically, militarily, and socially with other races. That being said, to date my favorite chapters are those involving Travelin’ Tolly.
Kehn
Anthony and the Colony interacting and conversing with other people/cultures in this world is easily one of my favorite parts of this story!
TheRaptorOfHermes
God i love this arc already
mly85lc
I sure hope Anthony has Enid wired in trouhg nave on this talks, after all its merchants way to seek good profits and deals for theyre can sell products in greater profit after wards. If some take advantage of familys/Collonnys temper or see navity that.. will not end well.. for eny one.. so good fashion browbeating could be in order.. starting by asking humans and ohter alliances about this enticy. Who.. how, why or what makes them tick. After that tour of Collonnys raw materials prosessing sites, then some workshops. After wards have delications go in each ohter citys and town on uper levels. And let them talk to people.. workers.. merchants.. politics.. grafters.. belivers.. some priest..etc. and then mention offhand ant work baily wages at the Collonnys. And once encomy talks start close down have Anthony prosessing at his take off "tit for tat" whit more forward lean to it than before.
Khajar
I hope they brought cake for the Eldest too. This time he can taste what it's like without excess sugar.
CUI13
Do we have any reason to believe that these new people are more efficient at gathering cores than the Colony is, with their farm system and constant fighting?
Victor Desantiago
It would be great if they traded for cores. That way they can increase their #. Also the colony will become a valuable exporter.
Buck
They could always trade goods for cores to help more ants evolve faster.
Only Snail
I love the call back to botd where they remark on the the nobles carpet being enchanted aswell
Briar
But see others will want to trade with them for access - and somehow I can’t see the colony stagnating and stopping improving their techniques.
alt31415
Colony, you FOOLS! Once you can produce every product in the world at higher quality and quantity than everyone else, you'll have nothing left to trade!
Gopard
Thanks for the chapter!
Codered999
Which is why they spa treatment is considered capital punishment to the members of the Colony
David Burchfield
Everytime the Colony has been in a big conflict during a wave we have gotten a suitable champion. Vibrant was Born when the Colony was fleeing the first wave and relocating to the surface. Brilliant was a bit later when they were struggling to understand higher magic and gates. Solant is when they are engaged in complex multi level battles. Makes perfect sense to get a Merchant now.
Merf
The colony doesn’t do anything half assed, they take comfort very seriously. Of course not their own comfort, that would be selfish.
Ez
They already feel like they don’t do enough … I doubt they will want to place additional burden on the colony … only the “Queen” could make it fashionable … but she feels even worse than they do
guvvuf
Going from “terrifying monsters” to “producers of quality goods” in the public imagination is definitely a positive.
Anthony Romanov
I hope Queens take a liking to jewelry! It would be great to see them talk about each other jewelry when on tea break. As they can use gates for a quick stop over to have a tea together.
CentaureHeart
Welcome to IKEANT
Muhammad Haziq bin Abdul Wahab
merchANT shall be born
The Arcane Emperor
FOR THE COLONY!
Joshua Morris
Ah I love the hospitality of The Colony.
Victor Hertz
Where's Commercant when we need her?
Buzz1089
YES!! I love it!
Kanashimu
One of the only thing they could sell the Colony would be knowledge.Of geography, of the system, and of magic. Because pretty much everything else is something that the Colony can do or make themselves. That or a security alliance of some sort.
Nicholas Pankratz
Literally, what CAN’T the Colony do?! Such industrious workers, and all for the good of the Colony! For the Eldest! Thanks for the chapter! 🙏🏻
