Dear Lady Rosaline Benick, HI

[hexweasel]

*From the Desk of Omnipotence Skira Onolath written in oversized letters with a few ink stains*

Dear Honored Lady Miss Rosaline Benick Trade Minister

My name is Primrose Pearweed.  I would really, really like it if you could maybe please, please consider a trade deal.  I know that you probably hate all Thayans and I understand, I really, really do, but I have been told that there is a really, really small chance that you might say yes and that would make me really happy.  I have also been told that if I do a really really good job there might be a small chance that I might get to meet you in person someday in Cormyr and I'd like that a lot too.  Is there anything that we have that maybe you want?

Please

*at the bottom a stamp that says "Onolath"*

DM Flash

DM Hawk

DM Grizwald

EDM Neo

[EDM Neo]

"Really...?" Rosaline reads the letter again, after making her way back to her office in Arabel's citadel and closing the door, then a third time. She rubs her nose. "Honestly, what does she take me for?"

She spends a short while penning a reply, and sends it off with a courier for delivery.

Dear Miss Primrose and/or Miss Skira,

Thank you kindly for your missive. You may be laboring under a mistaken pretense. I have no dislike of Thayans broadly, save for those who behave in ways such that association with them would be damaging to my reputation or to Arabel's more broadly. Even if I had, it would play little part in decisions regarding the City of Arabel's business ventures and economic health. Rest assured, any and all proposals will be given fair consideration and measured by their merit.

Unfortunately, none of the proposals thus far presented by your mistress pass muster in regards by either the criteria of merit, or by the criteria of association not causing harm to our reputation. I was left with the impression that your mistress was making funny jokes rather than that she was seriously interested in a mutually beneficial arrangement. I had quite enjoyed them! I thought it was quite amusing how she acted, for her joke, as if she was making recommendations with very little actual thought given to Arabel's circumstances beyond "maybe if I say 'orcs' enough times and make them sound scary enough, they'll do what I want." Funny stuff! I'm sure it won't cause any unrest to invite a legion of Thayans to the city. Ha ha!

Please do inform Skira -- it's OK if I just call her Skira, right? I'm sure she's not a stickler for that title. "Omnipotence" is obviously a very silly thing for an obviously fallible, very much mortal person to call themselves. Who can actually take that seriously? In any case, please inform Skira that I found her jokes fairly entertaining and I was appreciative of her attempts to contribute levity to an otherwise dull council meeting.

On a serious note, I am not presently aware of anything of particular value that she nor Thay can offer to Arabel that we can not acquire through less politically costly means elsewhere. What manner of goods and/or services can you provide that are worthy of discussion? Please be aware that we do have a number of skillful mages at the city's disposal already, so offer of simple magical aid is of limited use.

I'm sure I'd enjoy to meet you too, Miss Primrose. Feel free to come by my office if you'd like to discuss this matter further.

Thank you sincerely for your time and interest,
Rosaline Benick
Minister of Trade

hexweasel

[hexweasel]

Rosaline Benick Minster of Trade

You wrote me back! They said it was unlikely you would write to me, but because you did, I got a promotion! Now I’m Assistant to the Deputy Scribe! I’m sorry if Omnipotence Skira was funny. I haven’t really spoken to her much.

Since my promotion I got to eat beef. Do you have beef in Cormyr? If you don’t, I think we should trade beef so you can have some. I’m really really sorry I’ve never done anything like this before. If you could maybe walk me through this so I know what to do. I would really like to make both sides very happy.

I am afraid I cannot come to your office. I might get kidnapped. I’m pretty sure you can come visit me, I can share my beef with you. I understand if you don’t want to though. They might ask you to clean the floors.

Assistant to the Deputy Scribe
Primrose Pearweed

[EDM Neo]

Another, somewhat curt letter is sent in response by courier.

Dear Miss Primrose and/or Miss Skira,

I am happy to hear you've been promoted. Yes, we have beef. You do not need to apologize for her being funny, I appreciated that. No, I'm afraid I can't walk you through it. No, people are not going to be kidnapped. No, I will not be cleaning floors.

I appreciate your interest, but I'm afraid that if Skira (Omnipotence really is such a silly title. She knows that, right?) is not taking this seriously enough to give you any of the information you need to make an informed proposal, she is setting you and herself up to fail and we are unlikely to reach any kind of agreement.

At a most basic level, I need to know what Arabel can provide that you want, and what Arabel needs that you can offer.

Thank you,
Rosaline Benick
Minister of Trade

[hexweasel]

Rosaline Benick Minister of Trade

So I have been listening around a little bit and it seems that Lady Arabel said that nobility does not handle trade deals and if Omnipotence Skira is a noble she shouldn’t be doing it either. Only little people do business in Arabel which I think is neat.

So I’ve been poking around and they have a lot of boxes with magical items and things. Are there any magical items you need? I understand that you cannot walk me through this but maybe we could trade. I could give you something and you can send me a book on how to handle trade negotiations. The Deputy Scribe told me that if I mess this up I will be Dramatically Demoted.

So I thought Omnipotence was like a title or something but it actually means “All powerful” which is weird because how can so many people be all powerful? Speaking of which if you have a dictionary handy that would be great. They use a lot of big words.


Assistant to the Deputy Scribe
Primrose Pearweed