The White Lotus - A Mercantile Association

A Jack-of-all-Trades Group

Need some magic to get you out of a pinch?

Enemies proving to powerful for you - just feign death
Thieves getting their hands in your coin purse - not when it seems bigger than it is
Feel insecure at night - just lock the door with magic

We produce scrolls within the proper for your convenience!
*Prices Negotiable*

Need a Hero or Mercenary?

For a fair price the White Lotus Trading Company is willing to provide you with the assistance you require,
be it guarding a caravan or diving head first into the abyss, once a settlement has been reached, our combat
specialists will effectively perform the task given to exact specifications.

All White Lotus Mercenaries require 20% of their fee up front.

Negotiations giving you trouble?

Once again, the White Lotus Trading Company will assist. For a nominal Negotiation fee, we will dispatch
one of our top Diplomats to ease things over or stir things up depending on the client's wishes.

Negotiation fee is determined by the hired Negotiator

Can't Sell Your Wares?

Never fear, the company employs skilled merchants who for a share of the proceeds will put forth their best
efforts in order to circulate your goods!

a standard of 15% of proceeds are provided to the White Lotus Merchants
*negotiable*

Efficient, Reliable, and Professional, that's the White Lotus way!

A high title and higher promises from an untested relative newcomer to town.

Do you use a pitchfork or a shovel, High Admiral?

I'd like to add there are many disclaimers and prerequisites that come with requesting the service of "diving into the abyss". Guarding caravans is one thing, but a miniscule number of patrons could pay the price and meet the requirements for such a task... Though I imagine Lucius is speaking in hyperbole... I think.

In Prudence and Fortitude,

I would advise against immediately dismissing an individual merely because they are a "relative newcomer" to Travance. You'd be surprised how many people I've met who've not been in Travance for two moons and yet possess greater courage and cunning (and less recklessness) than your average Travancian.

And if they are untested, well, I say put them to the test! If they wish to do business, let them do business! These are hardly impossible promises, including that of diving into the Abyss. I know of people who would go (and have gone) into the Abyss for one cause or another, be it noble, self-motivated, or just plain stupidity (there's usually some overlap between the three). The scrolls described are simple to make for any scholar of the arcane tradition worth their salt, and can prevent people from dying. The spells of Feign Death and Lock in particular can be used to grant someone the assurance of a good night's sleep, a rare commodity here in Travance, and it never hurts to be able to Detect Magic for a moment, especially if you're not schooled in the arcane arts.

I know certain scrolls in particular could very much assist those fresh from across the Rift and (provided the prices are reasonable) this could be a good way to help supply them. While I can create my own psalms and canticles and I know other scholars who can craft ballads and scrolls, there are many in town who do not have that luxury.
My only reservation about this advertisement is that the supply for mercenaries in Travance far outweighs the demand. More often than not, if you need an armed guard, there are plenty of Travancians that will be all too happy to bash in the skulls of those who wish to instigate harm.

*the parchment is dirt-stained and written in an untidy scrawl*

Mr Knight, as both a hunter and problem solver, and one whom hast felt that which is deathly, I would nowt boast of having members whom would willing dip into the abyss.

The ability to produce scrolls is a good idea, but creation of mercenary activities whom you should push into the darkest depths of the world would be a bad idea, lest you be contacted by the wrong people and lose your credentials and valos forbid, your life.

Wotcher,

My analysis would suggest that, through this advertisement, Mister Knight wishes to associate his trading company with the qualities of versatility and convenience. As such, it's perhaps more the case that a mercenary service is being offered simply for the virtue of having another useful amenity in his catalogue of wares - in the same way that merchants will often have a large number of items for sale, knowing well that demand for many of them is low, but maintaining a small stock nonetheless for the purposes of diversifying their inventory.

I thought it might prove beneficial to highlight this at an early stage.

since it seems I must clarify, Verrill and Groggs are entirely correct the purpose of the line regarding diving into the abyss is simply meant to emphasize how far we will go to satisfy our clientele and while mercenary work is of course in low demand right now, it is never in poor taste to eliminate a prospect entirely so long as the prospect exists, which is essentially what makes us as an organization a jack-of-all-trades.

I hope this helps clarify some of the misunderstandings.

Wotcher,

It seems I was wholly mistaken. Carry on.

NooOo! Don't go to the Abyss! It's a terrible place!


-Kuo Kun