The Sea is Calling [private/fetch]

[Eraisuithon Gil'dae]

Optia 12

To the untrained eye Imperia might have been regarded as a poor place for business, but Eraisuithon had realized the potential of the Arakmatian port-city. He thought of it in the terms of a forgotten treasure that had tarnished over the patterns and seen no care. Some hard work at polishing would reveal the precious opportunity that languished dormant covered in filth and grime.

The Aedile knew of one such opportunity. The existence of an old shipyard in Imperia had come to his attention not more than a few cycles ago. The knowledge had been uncovered when the Aedile had been pouring over stacks of tattered records that had been salvaged in the chaos that the meteors had evoked yet had not seen the light for sometime. Erai had never known such a building to exist but then again he had not resided in the city for more than a few months, and a decaying old shipyard might be easily overlooked. That it was vacant and had not been pursued sparked a few idle ideas and curiosity in the elf's mind that only would grow.

As time wore on, less than a cycle, he couldn't restrain himself. Summoning his guard he went to see the site for himself.

It was indeed decaying. It had evidently not seen much activity for atleast a decade. Paint was peeling, a few walls were starting to crumble, and a meteor had apparently wiped out a large portion of one of the boat slips. It was workable though. It could be repaired.

The raven haired aedile and his blond haired companion Alwyn Bristow walked the crumbling shipyard, examining the structure and walls, the main boat slips and office area. They went about the exterior examining the front of the building, the sound of the waves meeting the barren shoreline in the back of their minds as the young Aedile's meticulous eye scanned the site.

It was workable indeed.

[fetch]

The main feature of the forgotten boatyard were the heavy wind lashed gates that stood tall and firmly closed , true the Aedile could peer through gaps in the woodwork and get glimpses of the old yard but as to getting inside the dockyard without a key was going to prove a problem for him. He might try and shin up the gates or follow the wooden fence around either left or right but simply walking through the barrier was not going to happen.

Old records in the Aediles office were useful but unfortunately they did not give any information on the key holder. However not all was lost to Eraisuithon the windswept end of the docks that held the mysteries of the abandoned boat yard was not somewhere where an elegantly dressed elf went unnoticed.

What yer want matey around here nuffin for you to see? was the gruff suspicious voice at his back .The owner of the voice was old, bald with a face that bore witness to eras spent in the open air. He was nut brown and with a face deeply furrowed by wrinkles and lines that spoke of his life like a relief map. The old man was wearing a leather jerkin down to his knees and solid much mended sea boots grey with salt. He held onto a pipe which was still alight and the hands were large and heavy scared with eras of hard work.

[Eraisuithon Gil'dae]

The elf jumped and spun around, startled for the old man's sudden apparition and questioning. His guard had gone off somewhere to look for an entrance into the shipyard which was peculiarly fortified for an abandoned establishment, and he felt strangely naked without an accomplished swordsman by his side. Even though it was only an old man he could possess some hidden terror. It would not be unusual, he had been told the city was full of dangers and even more so for paper pushers like the himself. He hadn't experienced any luckily before since his arrival, but then again he had his guard always with him while he attended to city business and traveled.

The elf tried not to let his inner paranoia betray his outward composure. Instead he smiled a little, trying to appear friendly in his silk dress clothes and polished shoes. He offered a soft hand unmarred by callouses or any signs of toil towards the gruff man. "I was just taking a look around. Forgive me for being snoopy Sir." he gestured towards the decaying buildings and yard. "Its a shame that this place is the way it is these brightenings, falling apart. I wonder why the yard hasn't ever been reopened.. Do you know who the owner is?"

[fetch]

The old fella sniffed loudly and then stuffed the pipe back into its rightful place in his mouth Well sur, I begs yer pardon its just we don’t see such nicely dressed gentlemen down here on the back end of beyond…..

He puffed smoke rings into the sky. Well this old place she been shut down fer eras , the original owner he built nice boats mate but ‘e were no businessman got into debt over taxes and the city closed the place down in lieu of unpaid taxes. So yer see the city owns the old boat yard lock stock and every length of rope wood and tool. It’s a pity the yard could be useful again. There is any number of the lads around who would bite the hand off any one offering a job I should know used to be foreman here and I might be getting on a bit but I knows boats does I, the names Caliphas Bran mister.

[Eraisuithon Gil'dae]

The elf could not help but feel mildly endeared to the aging man, he was a picture of what had been happening for so many eras in the decaying port city even before the disaster of the meteors. Businesses were shutting down, jobs were being lost, and things were beginning to fall apart on all fronts. For eras nothing had been done about, but the meteors had sparked change and even that left many out on their luck. This man was about to come by some, or so the Syl'rosian intended.

"It's a pleasure to meet you then Mr. Bran, really, a pleasure. So the city does indeed hold the key to this old place does it?" he mused aloud. He had not come across any records of city ownership, but they were no doubt there just beneath a few feet of dust balls. "Then that is good then, that saves haggling with someone and prolonging the inevitable any longer. Mr Bran, I would like to make you a business proposition. I'd like to buy this old shipyard back from the city, repair anything wrong with it, and get it operational. I'd like to start seeing some life in the old place again! Now, I'm no shipbuilder, but I'm a businessman. I know my figures, and can draft my plans and sail through politics as easily as anyone in this city, but I need people talented with their hands too. I'd like to offer you a job as Senior Foreman of the entire operation. No hard labor or anything strenuous, I'd just like you to oversee the operation. Find men, organize the supplies, make them build the ships. It'd pay well, for you and the boys, and would be sure to be stable. What would you say to that, Sir?"

[fetch]

Caliphas darn near bit through the stem of his pipe as the elegant stranger offered him a lifeline he pulled the offending item out of his mouth and gasped You serious mister ? he breathed deeply calming a racing heart and then ploughed on look if you are not pulling my leg then you got a deal. I can get the lads back on site get the old place cleared up in a trice and be ready for business in a couple of cycles. Look I don’t know who yer are mate but if you mean what ye say then Caliphas Bran is yer man. He scrabbled in a deep pocket of the old jerkin and pulled out a heavy brass key and stuck it into the heavy lock of the gate and opened the gate to the boat yard.

The yard was built on a rectangle with buildings on three sides with a cobbled yard angling gently down to the sea we can pull the boats down to the sea with a bit of slope makes life easier yer see.

He pointed to the left side of the yard Right mister we got a forge for all the metal work, it’s cold now but a smith can fire that up no problem. Next to the forge we have a rope manufacture shop some of the ladies are a dab hand at twisting good ropes and they will be glad of the work.

A sail makers shop was indicated by a pointed finger as they walked up the incline and towards the main buildings in the center. Another heavy key opened a small door inside a massive double door that stretched all the way to the first floor and they could step into the gloom of the main indoor boat building area.

It was huge and belied its size from the outside, Caliphas grabbed a lantern and fired it up and in the illuminated dusty gloom they would see two small brig hulls up on huge trestles.

Never finished them remarked the foreman We could start with them, ideal little vessels for coastal work. Oh don’t worry the bloke who ordered has long been paid off by the city. The beauty of the thing is they been there so long the timber is beautifully seasoned reckon they would fetch 10,000 crowns each on the open market once we finish them.

The old fella was animated touching the unfinished hulls with affection as if the aediles offer had taken era’s off his shoulders. He led the prospective purchaser through the shed and into a store room as big as the previous room , it was stacked to the rafters with timber redolent with the heady smells of pine and resin

we got enough top rate timber for two ships of the line here and because its been stored for so long its ready to use right now.

He led the elf up a flight of stairs and into a dust mote ridden office that had glass windows over looking the whole yard managers office he explained right what questions ye got there’s lots I can tell ye but this old place will not take long to become a viable concern? Frankly an offer like yours is enough to make me want to work 29 candlemarks a brightening to get this up and running.

[Eraisuithon Gil'dae]

The elf nodded sullenly. He was by all means not joking. He had every intention of doing what he had said, although perhaps he was not entirely aware of the great ordeal he was embarking on.

Eraisuithon followed in the mans footsteps paying attention to the places Caliphas described and occasionally taking a few moments to examine some facet of the building he found of particular interest. He was content to hear that the smithy and rope and sail making operations were located right on site, and the fact that the frames of two brigs were sitting right in shop was a turn on. They would be quickly finished, relatively, and would bring in some funds that would be more than welcome to a business that was fresh off of the block.

Overall, the layout and condition of the shipyard was favorable to the Aedile. It appeared that it would not require as much repair as he first had perceived; although it would still need some attention no doubt.

The Aedile's eyes meticulously scanned the dusty room and peered through the glass overlooking the yard. It would make a fine office he noted before voicing some of the issues he wished to raise. "Yes, Mr. Bran, I do have a few questions, investors might be interested in a few things." He dusted off some dirt that had taken to his pants despite his efforts to keep them clean. "Now, I just need an estimate Sir, but how much revenue did the shipyard bring in when it was in operation way back?" He needed to know the base that he was going to branch off from. "Also, how many ships can be built at once and what is the largest ship we can build currently? I'd also like to know if there is room on the property to double current operations, or would I need to buy more adjacent land? And lastly Caliphas, how much do you think it will cost to make any repairs and purchase any supplies that are required for getting this place operational?"

When all had been answered to satisfaction he began to dig through his pockets and pulled out two one hundred crown notes. "Here is two hundred crowns, consider yourself now employed by me if you would." He said this simply, handing them to the man. "Although I must be visiting banks and brokering deals and the like there is no doubt in my mind that this property will be in my hands within two cycles. I'd like you to immediately contact a construction company and find out how much any repairs will cost, and begin to find men who will be capable of filling the ranks of this company. If it is agreeable with you, we can meet back here in two cycles time from this brightening and hopefully then we can begin to get this place functional."

[fetch]

Caliphas Bran the newly employed overseer of the yard swept off his cap and scratched at his bald pate. Ee yer got me now I build ships and drive men sur but the business side of fings aint my cup of tea but I reckons if yer has a root around in the office yer will find all sorts of fings that can answer yer questions there is lots of old paper work which would answer your questions.

Paper Search

The office was indeed a wealth of information and although somewhat chaotic in its filing a candlemark of searching through the previous owners documentation revealed much and when the Aedile had done he had a lot of answers jotted down in his note book.

1.Profit margins ~ this yard is capable of achieving a profit of at least 100,000 crowns per era.

2. This yard can build ships as large as an Imperial War Frigate [currently the largest ship afloat.]

3. Considering its position on the docklands this yard can expand to double its size by purchasing neighbouring land which is vacant. [the cost of this land works out at ten crowns per acre as it is undeveloped and unsuitable for agriculture]

4. Estimates of redevelopment/ refurbishment of the yard =10,000 crowns

5. These estimates are based on the city owning and running this yard as a municipal project.

6. Private ownership of the yard would require the Aediles permission and the current cost of the yard and all fixtures and fitments has been estimated at 25,000 crowns.

7. There is a skilled workforce available for hire the estimated profit figure takes into account all staff wages supplies of timber and metals. Suppliers are available for all other materials tools and equipment .and the ship yard can easily revive all contracts previously entered into by the previous owners.

8. The key to achieving this profit figure is to actively campaign for new business. It may be that the Imperial Classis is in the market for new ships or indeed a westerly base for repairing of imperial ships considering that the Imperial Shipyards at Solace Island are not functioning. The current minister for War Admiral Alexis Sapienta may well be amenable to this idea.


9. The need for a westerly builder of fine ships is a resource that the city desperately needs. The ship yard can expect to add 10% to its profit figures for each privately commissioned ship.

OOC~ I see this as a resource for the city owned by the city and its profits going into the cities coffers. How of course you divide the profit figure up is a matter for the Aediles conscience. Hope this helps, if you want to go ahead on this basis, you should jump this forward in time and open the yard as a fully functioning refurbished yard and then tout for trade.