RP:Rynvale Farm Reopens
Part of the Rynvale New Dawn Arc
Summary: Arien hires Strex to take over the management of the Rynvale Home Farm. It is her hope that the farm can generate income for the City in trade and green vacation offerings.
Characters: Arien, Strex
LOCATION: Rynvale; Governor’s Study
An overly large desk dominates this room almost entirely, and spread across it, is a marvelous collection of papers, deeds, applications, stock inventories, book pages and memoranda, all organized in some manner of chaotic order that clearly has meaning for its occupant. Up against the walls are a number of smart looking bookcases, brimful with nick knacks and well used books. This room is neat and clean, save for that cluttered surface, a clear reflection of the orderly nature of its user. Tasteful and subtly feminine decoration might betray the design preferences of the room’s primary user, as you notice you are standing on a very regal looking red carpet with a gold pattern. The chair behind the desk is currently empty and nobody seems to be around, you had best return to the landing to your east.
Strex walked up the stairs smoking a self rolled cigarette. He was not sure if smoking was allowed in this establishment, but noone downstairs told him otherwise. When he opened the door and stepped in, he had no clue if he was in the right room. He saw a lady and a desk. Glancing at the red carpet, the gold pattern really caught his eye. He wanted that carpet. He could not risk stealing it though. Wearing a simple black button down shirt, and cheap brown cotton pants, Strex clanks his old tattered boots across the ground and makes his way across the room to Arien. "Excuse me, but I am looking for....." Pulling out a letter, he reads what it is signed. "Arien, Governor of Rynvale. Yes, thats the name." He then places the letter upon the table and takes a drag of his cigarette before speaking again. "My name is Strex. I have to talk to her about some farming things."
Arien looked up from the letter she was scribing upon hearing the door open. She was, to be honest quite prepared to see yet another strange face hovering in the doorway. At times it felt like she had been seeing more strangers than intimates since the tenure of her leadership had begun. Emerald gaze swept the form of the human, noting the simple but apparently well enough kept gear-important, for one who could not look after himself, was almost certainly going to be unable to handle any other responsibility- and a delicate flame brow lifted as she took in his choice to smoke within the confines of the room. Not one to make a guest uncomfortable, she would say nothing, choosing instead to rise to her feet in greeting, a polite smile warming her elvin features. “ Ahh..Strex, of the letter. Well met, sir. Do have a seat. We are, in fact, in need of someone to direct the affairs of the homefarm, and I have been led to understand that this is your area of expertise. Would this be the case?”
Strex was never good at interveiws. Taking a drag of his cigarette, he took out a very small locket type thingy. It was a small ashtray, since he did not see one present. Blowing out a cloud of smoke slowly, off to the side, he relaxes. "Your looking for a farmer, right? Well, I lived on a farm with my family for many years when I was a little. Up until I was sixteen I was on my own. I am twenty two years old now. I raised cattle, horses. Trained dogs, chickens, pigs..... I grew corn and other veggies in our farm. Small achers but I know how to do it. If thats what your looking for, then I think I can be your best man for the job. I would like the chance to prove that too." He said all he really could. It was a bunch of blabbling, yes, but he was confident in his work and knew what he was doing. Get the job done and you get rewarded. Hard work brings good fortune, always, and so far it has not steered him down any wrong roads.
Arien nodded quietly at his reply, relief that he did in fact have personal experience with farming, present. “ It is more than enough on the job experience to qualify you for the work Strex. It is quite a big farm, intended to supply much of the fresh produce and meat that is sold at the market in town. Understand that its care and productivity is quite critical to our economic and military security. As an island, we are vulnerable to siege..but as long as we can grow our own food successfully, we shall be able to defy most aggressors, and the output of the farm will generate part of our city earnings if managed well.” She eyed the smoking man thoughtfully. “It would be quite a serious venture to undertake in that regard. Are you ready for such a task? There will be others, of course, available as laborers under your direction..but the farm will only thrive if it is managed well. And that would be your appointment.” Emerald gaze scanned his form again. There really was no way to know, except to put him to work she supposed.
Strex took another drag before ashing his cigarette and putting it out. Sitting up a bit in his chair, he wanted to clarify a few things. "A farm for the entire town? Would I be managing it or would I just be doing as told? I am sure once I see the farmland, I will have alot of great ideas for it. If you have everything I need, I will start tonight on setting things up before I work on the dirt."
A smile tugged on Arien’s lips, some sense of satisfaction pricking her as the male seemed finally to come to attention and prepare to get down to business. “You are new to the island, and perhaps unfamiliar with the lay of our land. All of the lowlands, anchored around the harbor are essentially built up, and the Dragonlands, wild and barren. The enchantments of the fog forest make it inhospitable for anything but the native trees there. The only land, viable for farming and produce is high in the north eastern plateaus of the island, and it is, in fact, directly responsible for all of the meat and produce that we consume locally. What it cannot supply, we import as part of trade, but it is so much better to be self sufficient, is it not?” She smiled again, faintly. “As to the matter of control, you will find that when I delegate a resource to management of another, it is entirely their own project. I will not intrude, or make suggestions, but you shall be judged entirely by what innovations and productivity you are able to come up with.” She leaned back in her seat. “There is but one suggestion I might make to you, and that is that you might be interested in contacting a kinsman of mine; the feline Kumorohyou. He is what I suppose you might call an inventor, and biologist of sorts. He will be quite capable of designing machines for you that might ease your labor, as well as conduct experiments of hybridization if you wish, to help produce larger produce and animals.”
Strex leaned back in his chair and put the cigarette out in the locket thingy. Closing it, he puts it in his pocket and draws a deep breath. She used alot of big words...The north eastern part of the town. He got that. What he did not get, was if there was a manager. Her words confused. He thought he would do his own thing until he was sure he had control of the farm. That was his main objective, since he always wanted a farm he could manage and take control of by himself. "How about I go over there tonight and take a look at the land. I will leave a letter on your desk here and tell you what I think it needs, supply wise. I could estimate how many cows and chickens we can use, depending on how much space is avalible to be used. Then I can block a large section off for the crops." He would take out a pen and write down the name she gave him, for more advanced supplies and perhaps contact him eventually.
Arien nodded her agreement. “That action seems entirely appropriate, for a manager. That is the position that is being offered. You will be entirely in control of the farm and how its resources are put to use. Much of what you will need is already in place. The farm after all, has been functioning, but inefficiently since the weakening of the empire. Supplies and stock were subject to looting when chaos took over, so a firm hand and a keen mind will be needed to bring it to maximum capacity again. If you tell us what you need, we will be sure that you have the start up supplies. As it is, here is one month’s worth of salary as your retainer’s fee for the position. You will be paid one thousand gold pieces, five hundred, twice a month for your managerial work, and will be allowed to keep sixty percent of any profits that you are able to generate. The city will expect the remainder in taxes.” Even as she spoke, the elf was counting out gold pieces from her purse, passing a considerable sum to her new farm manager across the polished wooden surface.
Strex smiled when she spoke. A deep breath is drawn as he looks at the coins being counted out on the table. It made him feel a bit uncomfortable having it paid in advance but he knew the job would be done. When he got the chance he would place the coins in a old brown sack he brought along with him. "Sounds great to me Governor. " Once the money was out of the way, he leaned back in his seat again before speaking. "What about hiring extra hands? What do I tell them the pay is? I have someone useful in mind for the animals right now." His voice kept calm as usual, as he looked over Arien. An important lady who he was sure to impress with his work.
Arien glanced away to put what remained of the coins under lock and key. “ Any workers that you hire as hands immediately become employees of the city as well, and should be reported to both myself, and our city accountant Skylei Lucindio as having been employed. You may site them the entry level salary of six hundred gold per month, paid in the sum of 300 gold bi weekly. All city employees both receive their salary and pay their taxes if applicable and the Rynvale Bank, on the 15th and 30th days of each month.” She returned her attention to the male. “ I have already hired one workhand, he should already be on the premises when you arrive, a man named Aidan.. Not particularly skilled in knowledge of farming or animals, but a hard worker..and capable of taking directions.”
Strex smirks at the mention of another worker. This is going to be fun, he did not have to worry about starting alone right off the bat. He knew he was the manager now, of course, and can teach this Aidan person a thing or two. "Sounds just fine. I will look for Aidan and show him how to get it done right. No worries here Lady Arien." Still holding his content, calm voice... Strex draws a deep breath of air, time to harvest again!
Arien chuckled softly. “ Very well then, if there are no more questions, I believe that will be all for the night. I shall give you directions to the farm, and a map, for it is quite remote. It is my hope that we are able to construct a more direct route to the city from the farmlands in due course, as it is a little dangerous at the moment to get there..one must traverse dragon territory.” As she spoke, the elf rose to her feet, reaching for the items in question from the mass of papers on her desk. She had had many copies scribed, as most potential employees were quite new to the city. Passing the slips of parchment to Strex, she would nod gently to the door. “Shall I see you out then?”
Strex takes the parchment handed to him and nods, standing out of his seat and grabbing up that sack of coins. Making his way to the door, he opens it and stops outside. He would extend a hand to Arien with a small smile. "I shall write to you soon."
Arien would shake the farmer's hand firmly. "I look forward to it, and good luck in your endeavors. Your success, is our success," she said quietly. With a smile and a nod, the door would gently close behind him.