Prota asks what kind of jobs might be available. Prota wonders how much it would cost to modify the cart. 

You ask, "Odd jobs like what?" You then muse aloud, "I have no idea how expensive Nell's labor would be for this..."

Step 115

Though not specifically a question, either the prompt or a character should provide an idea about the price of modifying the cart. Prota might be able to make a reasonable guess about prices. Nell is a skilled artisan whose time is valuable, but she works in a relatively small encampment that runs primarily on barter, and so makes a bit less than she would in a large city. The modifications would take at most a few days of her time. This represents a modest expense, perhaps 5-10% of Prota's coin. In the same amount of time, Prota's unskilled labor might reasonably earn about 1% of their current wealth at most. However, Prota might find a more lucrative job if they are clever and/or lucky. 

What sorts of odd jobs might be available? Start with known opportunities: assisting Nell with her trade, running errands for Matiar, gathering food from the countryside, doing a favor for Brenelo. The politicking shepherd might be interested in using Prota's status as a member of a friendly clan to influence the council in some subtle way, though the nature of this plan may not be immediately clear to Prota. What form might this plan take? Possibility: Brenelo is part of the faction pushing for earlier migration, and will sponsor Prota to tell their gallowgale story to the clan council in an effort to sway them. This serves the double purpose of potentially improving relations with Prota's clan. Why might Brenelo want to migrate sooner? He has some reasons to want to stay near cities, where there is a larger market for luxuries like colored wool and where his politicking gives him more clout. Perhaps he knows that his influence will diminish as cities start migrating, and expects the markets to dry up, so he's pushing for migration gree to find new markets. Others in the clan think the current location, with its many excellent pastures, is good enough for a year or two, and want to trade with travelers. (To keep the element of intrigue, what aspect of this might Brenelo conceal from Prota?) He can't pretend he didn't ask Prota to speak, but he might maneuver them into meeting other councilmembers, hoping Prota's status as an interesting outsider will let them lower their guard. Perhaps Brenelo has pulled some shady tricks on the council already, such as blackmail, and doesn't want any councilmembers to know he put Prota up to schmoozing with them. Or perhaps he'll simply not tell Prota he intends to introduce multiple councilmembers, or he will be vague about the nature of the assignment, and then arrange for Prota to sit at a table with several high-ranking clansfolk. Since Brenelo is wealthy, he can afford to pay minor expenses in an effort to manipulate clan decisions.

[Brenelo wants Clan Pratchett to migrate soon, to find new luxury markets. Some of his opponents prefer the current location for its good pasturage and location on a major road.] 

(A lucrative assignment should be correspondingly risky.) Prota may risk making enemies on the clan council if they are careless while working for Brenelo. (The Player should not be put into risky situations without at least some warning.) If Prota shows signs of being interested, Glint will warn them that Brenelo likes playing angles and politics can be messy. Glint himself prefers to stay out of it. 

What other jobs might Prota find, and where? Shepherding, spinning wool, commission-based deliveries, messenger-running, herb-gathering. 

(This is also an opportunity to build Glint's character by having him grumble about Nell undercharging for her skills.) 

"Nell's the best there is, and her time comes steep," your uncle remarks, a tad proudly. "But she might be willing to offer a bit of a discount...stars know, she doesn't charge enough already. She could make twice as much in the city..."

"Oh, I'm sure she likes it well enough here," chimes Brenelo. "Clan Pratchett has a way of growing on one, after all." 

You know that skilled artisans often make as much as ten times what an ordinary shepherd from your clan makes, in coin if not in barter. You have a few years' earnings saved up for this journey. A rough guess might place a few days of skilled cartwright work at a twentieth or a tenth of your current purse at most. 

"If you're looking for work, there's always assisting friends," continues Brenelo. "I'm sure Nell could use a hand with the carpentry, traders always need errand-runners, and the clan needs herb and fruit gatherers as well as extra hands for herding. There's wool-spinning, deliveries and commissions, hunting and trapping...or perhaps..." The shepherd acquires a pensive look. "How would you like to report your gallowgale encounter to the clan council, Emerald? I feel it might have more impact, coming from an eyewitness and all. I'd be happy to compensate you generously for your time," he adds smoothly. 

Glint's eyebrows rise. 

None. 

"- I don't mind telling people what happened though I admit I'm not sure why it's worth compensating me to you," I say.

Prota is suspicious but tentatively agrees. 

"- I don't mind telling people what happened though I admit I'm not sure why it's worth compensating me to you," you say.

Step 116

Brenelo should not expect to keep his true motives secret here. He has no reason to lie about his desire to sway the council. He may, however, gloss over the details of his methods, and speak in a way intended to flatter Prota's ego. Something like "I can see you're smart, so I'll let you in on a secret..." Brenelo may still keep his full plans to himself, but if he wants to get the most out of this ploy, he should at least warn Prota that they might be introduced to some councilmembers and should be diplomatic. This is also an opportunity for him to test how well Prota takes to politics. Prota convinced the infamously insular Feldspar to give her blessing to a pilgrimage to the Blue, and if rumor of this feat has not reached Brenelo yet, it will soon. In fact, he probably noticed Feldspar's pottery in Prota's cart on the way into town. It has a distinctive look. 

Brenelo is not above framing his stance in as positive a light as possible, downplaying the mercantile benefits in favor of the clan's own good. He says they should avoid the dangers growing bluse and the rush of desperate refugees heading gree. There's no need to paint these motives as unduly sinister, since Brenelo does believe the clan will be better off moving, but he has an ulterior motive as well. He uses shepherding metaphors where appropriate. 

"You seem like a shrewd lass," Brenelo nods, "so I'll let you in on this one. I've been trying to convince the council to up and migrate for a while now. Some of 'em hope to profit from the increased traffic on the Utannic, see, and it's not a bad idea, but I don't like the rumors I've been hearing lately. The pastures may be green today, but if we wait until they're brown and trampled, we may well end up regretting it. Skirt too close to the mud, and you might get stuck, eh?" The shepherd winks. "You've got some skill at convincin', I'd wager, or you'd not be trading fancy Feldspar ceramics, aye? I figure, an outsider such as yourself from a friendly clan, with a story of trouble that's already well past our own camp? Well, it might be just the kick we need to get the slowest of the flock moving at last. You'd be doing me a right favor, and it'd only be fair to properly recompense you. And it wouldn't hurt to make a few highly-placed friends on behalf of your clan, right?" Brenelo gives his forehead a meaningful tap, turning his hat bottle green in the process. 

[Brenelo explained his desire to sway the council to Prota, though he did not fully explain his plans or how he expects to benefit personally.] Brenelo's hat is bottle green. 

"Huh. Okay. I'd be happy to talk to them if they're interested in hearing the story."

Prota agrees to talk to the council. 

You reply to Brenelo, "Huh. Okay. I'd be happy to talk to them if they're interested in hearing the story."

Step 117

Brenelo sets up a time for Prota to speak to the clan council. How long should that take? It has been established that they have been debating the migration for a while. Most of the politicking that takes place is probably informal and outside the official meeting place, which is probably a large tent. Clan Pratchett is largely informal in their preferences, but they still need some kind of procedure for gathering the clan leaders together to talk. Would they meet regularly, or would it need to be a special occasion? Brenelo implied it would only take a few days at most, when he made the suggestion knowing that was as long as Prota might plan to stay. (It would be unfair to the Player commit Prota to waiting several weeks after Brenelo made this implication.) Suppose that a council gathering was already planned in the near future. Two days seems like a reasonable amount of time to make the arrangements for Prota to speak and to meet council members. [Clan Pratchett's council will meet two days after Prota's arrival. Prota has been invited to talk about the gallowgale attack, and to dinner after the meeting.] Brenelo will schedule Prota for a time when their story will have maximum impact, and wants Prota to share a meal with councilmembers as well to maximize visibility. Assuming the council meets for most of the day, asking Prota to speak in the afternoon and then join the council for dinner seems like the right choice. 

Sometime before the current day is up, when Glint has some time to speak to Prota in private, he'll warn them that there may be more politicking to come. He feels incompetent in that arena, so he won't have much more advice to offer. In the meantime, he will be slightly grouchier than usual. 

"Delighted to hear it!" exclaims Brenelo. "Simply delighted. There's a council meeting the day after tomorrow. Perhaps you'd like to talk to the council that afternoon, and join us for dinner afterwards? In the meantime, where are you staying?" 

"We've made arrangements," grunts Glint. 

None.

"We have? Where?" I ask Glint.

Prota asks Glint where they've made arrangements to stay. 

"We have? Where?" you ask Glint.

Step 118

Glint was thinking of Nell's offer to let them stay near the carts, presumably in a spare tent. Prota never accepted the offer, and they haven't discussed it since. Glint likes Nell personally and finds Brenelo's politics grating, so he would choose to stay with Nell if on his own. In his haste to demur, he didn't check with Prota first, and now feels awkward for making the assumption. His response should reflect his embarrassment. (The prompt should also remind the Player of where their plans currently stand, in case they feel they've forgotten something). 

Your uncle colors slightly. "Nell offered us a tent near the carts - that is, if you're okay with it..." he trails off, sounding a little guilty. You hadn't actually discussed it, yet. 

None. 

"- yeah, I guess that's fine," I shrug.

Prota agrees to staying with Nell.