[D1EA] The trail of money

[Shosuro Kaoru]

Tsuma. Not a big place. Shouldn't have many clients for imported luxury goods. Yet has a dedicated, if small, market for those.

Possibility 1: This is a very temporary thing for the duration of the Topaz Championship. Traveling merchants gather here just before it begins and desert the place soon after it ends, hoping to make a good profit out of a horde of curious young samurai with little knowledge of the actual price of things.

Possibility 2: This is a more permanent fixture (even if it might still inflate during the championship). In this case, that means there is a local market for such high-end products. But who? The local lords and their retainers? Students from the academy? Or is there a commoner upper class in the city, like rich merchants?

In the later case, are they an old fixture, or nouveaux riches that acquired massive wealth on the back of the catastrophe of a few years ago, among the chaos and the shortage of about any types of goods?

Too many assumptions, not enough actual data. Visiting the place and interacting with the people there was required.

So Kaoru went for a walk in Little Khanbulak, tasting the water by acting like any tourist, asking questions about the specifics of spices and what kind of food they'll enhance best, giving more attention to the accents of the merchants and the hints they dropped about their past than culinary advice.

[Shinjo Jingyi]

A woman in purple walked through Little Khanbulak, with a monkey on her shoulder.

"You're getting a little too heavy for me to carry everywhere." she teased the creature, earning a shrill screech. "Shush. I know your hungry. So am I. That's why we're here."

She made her way to a nearby food stall.

[Kaeru Kaori]

A third samurai (gasp!) was also in attendance at the Market of The Pony.

Kaori glanced around noticing several other of the Topaz group here.

She let out a small smile, and approached the Scorpion. She haven't spoken much to Scorpions overall.

Tsuma. Not a big place. Shouldn't have many clients for imported luxury goods. Yet has a dedicated, if small, market for those.

Possibility 1: This is a very temporary thing for the duration of the Topaz Championship. Traveling merchants gather here just before it begins and desert the place soon after it ends, hoping to make a good profit out of a horde of curious young samurai with little knowledge of the actual price of things.

Possibility 2: This is a more permanent fixture (even if it might still inflate during the championship). In this case, that means there is a local market for such high-end products. But who? The local lords and their retainers? Students from the academy? Or is there a commoner upper class in the city, like rich merchants?

In the later case, are they an old fixture, or nouveaux riches that acquired massive wealth on the back of the catastrophe of a few years ago, among the chaos and the shortage of about any types of goods?

Too many assumptions, not enough actual data. Visiting the place and interacting with the people there was required.

So Kaoru went for a walk in Little Khanbulak, tasting the water by acting like any tourist, asking questions about the specifics of spices and what kind of food they'll enhance best, giving more attention to the accents of the merchants and the hints they dropped about their past than culinary advice.

"Greetings Scorpion-sama. Here to buy something?" She asked idly.

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Greetings Scorpion-sama. Here to buy something?" She asked idly.

Another Miya-sponsored ronin with a decent but nothing exceptional showing so far. Might as well say I know nothing about her.

"Greeting samurai-san. This one is Shosuro Kaoru. To whom do I owe the pleasure?

And, closest to window shopping right now. Not saying I couldn't end up buying something eventually, for the right item, and the right sale pitch. But my focus is more on discovery than acquisition today."

[Kaeru Kaori]

Another Miya-sponsored ronin with a decent but nothing exceptional showing so far. Might as well say I know nothing about her.

"Greeting samurai-san. This one is Shosuro Kaoru. To whom do I owe the pleasure?

And, closest to window shopping right now. Not saying I couldn't end up buying something eventually, for the right item, and the right sale pitch. But my focus is more on discovery than acquisition today."

"Well met Shosuro-sama. Kaeru Kaori, sponsored by Miya Tetsu-sama, Governor of Rich Frog."

The Frog nodded in understanding. "It's always worth reviewing the wares of the market. It is like the river itself, who knows what will it wash up on our shores each morning. You are a purveyor of markets in general?" Thought that was more Ide or Yasuki generally.

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"I am to become an advisor for my lord, providing them with information on any subject they might wonder about, so inquiring about everything is a second nature to me. What's available on the market, from where the goods come from, who buys them, is typically the kind of question I am supposed to be able to answer, though not necessarily on the spot.

And since we're talking about learning things... I couldn't help but notice that unusual family name of yours. Do you mind telling me about the Kaeru?"

[Kaeru Kaori]

"I am to become an advisor for my lord, providing them with information on any subject they might wonder about, so inquiring about everything is a second nature to me. What's available on the market, from where the goods come from, who buys them, is typically the kind of question I am supposed to be able to answer, though not necessarily on the spot.

And since we're talking about learning things... I couldn't help but notice that unusual family name of yours. Do you mind telling me about the Kaeru?"

Karoi nodded, hiding a smirk from the similarities in her name. "It sounds like your lord expects great things from you." She glanced around. "There are similar markets in the City of Rich Frog, it has quite the Unicorn presence, after all."

Se glanced back towards the Scorpion. "Hai. We are an otokodate family, serving the Imperial Governor of the City of Rich Frog in our capacity of peacekeeping." She shrugged. "Nothing more, nothing less."

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"I would say high expectations are... expected of all candidates in the Topaz Championship. And that goes double for candidates that cannot bolster a strong family line to support them.

Though I would say in your case the line is quite blurry. As a direct servant of the Imperial, your status is higher than most jizamurai. Closer to heavens than most minor clan samurai will ever be, even if technically behind them in the Celestial Order at this very moment. And just one exceptional feat away from wearing the chrysanthemum yourself.

But I guess you've already got enough pressure on your shoulders as is without me needing to add any more."

[Kaeru Kaori]

"I would say high expectations are... expected of all candidates in the Topaz Championship. And that goes double for candidates that cannot bolster a strong family line to support them.

Though I would say in your case the line is quite blurry. As a direct servant of the Imperial, your status is higher than most jizamurai. Closer to heavens than most minor clan samurai will ever be, even if technically behind them in the Celestial Order at this very moment. And just one exceptional feat away from wearing the chrysanthemum yourself.

But I guess you've already got enough pressure on your shoulders as is without me needing to add any more."

Kaori blushed as she looked away. "I wouldn't presume to win the title and championship, with such esteemed samurai from the Great Clans around. Still, I will do my best, as anything less then that would be an affront for our host, my lord, and all the participants." She shrugged nervously.

The Scorpion seemed to have a critical eye towards dissecting people. And stuff.

"Have you found anything interesting at the market so far?"

[Shosuro Kaoru]

"Nothing out of the ordinary for someone used to the markets of Ryokō Owari – or of the City of the Rich Frog – but definitely far more choice that I would have expected for a city of that size.

I am actually curious about how they manage to be that well-stocked. Tsuma isn't at a crossroad of trade routes as far as I know. For rare goods to be here, they have to be brought all the way from the other side of the known world."