+1 house. OK. 4 houses total is acceptable. The problem will be the number of hearths, since each lab is likely to need one (4 total) plus some common areas need one as well. That restricts us, even if heating and temperature control is provided by magic in some of the less common areas of the covenant, like the cellars. Maybe we have to negotiate this with the danish overlord.
The change in the use of the plateau workers does not make sense and restricts us A LOT int e kind of usage we can get from the labour we are paying for. Only acceptable if they allow more extensive underground building since this restricts our use of obberland locals for work elsewhere, even on expeditions. That will mean that any responsibility positions will be restricted to people from down below and the obberland workers will be restricted to unqualified labour for the most part. A pity since we were hoping to build a strong obberland community here. Dietlinde can tell them that.
Building materials are also negotiable as long as we can be granted better cellar space.
No problem with the rest.
Can we get more info on that spinning woman? Like casting a sight range intellego vim spell on her? InVi10 (base3: detect magic of 6th magnitude, +3 sight). Spont casting total for Quercus (in the aura with bold gestures and voice, so he will look like a gesticulating madman from the village if they see him): 2+4+5+3+2=16+roll.
Info dietlinde and the others can get will also be useful.
Quercus will try to instruct Fresse to try to act friendly and gather info around on the going ons in the village while the women negotiate. He will offer to help in hard chores like transporting heavy stuff up from down below to gain the trust of the villagers if that works.
"And what do you propose I offer them in exchange, magus?" Snaps Dietlinde, casting an angry glance at Quercus. "You keep asking for more and more, as if by keeping the same demands over and over will change their position. Phah!" She shakes her her, "Only an idiot would not understand that they want to limit the number of people we have on the plateau. They live here and they want it to remain like that. They simply don't want a flood of strangers invading. Nor do they want to be pushed into jobs away from their home. Why don't you get the message and move all non-essential activities down below? If I keep pushing, they'll simply add other restrictions. All you are doing by asking for more, right now, is come across as arrogant want-it-all assholes." The fat woman then stomps off out of the warehouse, to cool off her temper into Meden town.
This is not immediately possible. The woman spends most of her time indoors, and when she is present for negociations (which is not all the time) it is because they take place at her house.
So it might be days et even weeks before Quercus gets a chance to cast his spell.
The villagers are not receptive at this time. Fresse and Dietlinde are referred back to Louke for any question, and offers of help are politely but firmly refused. Apparently the village is waiting for the results of the negotiations before deciding how to act towards the strangers invading their plateau.
"These terms will get us enough space to live and install our laboratories," Pytheas adds. "It seems an acceptable start to me. We can try and negotiate a better deal over time once the villagers start to see the benefit we bring to them."
Quercus nods. If my sodales consider such conditions enough, I will agree with them. I would prefer better conditions for us, but alas, it seems it cannot be. For starters at least. Let's see what we can end up being with.
After another day of negotiations, Dietlinde is able to obtain two minor concessions.
If there is an agreement between the magi and the village elders, the villagers will start gathering stones from all around the plateau and bring them close to the oak tree. Once the exact location of the first house has been agreed to, construction will begin. (Discussing the details of the construction will be moved to the Covenant Planning and Construction thread.)
The magi have now been on the island for almost three weeks now. Their current accomodations in Meden town has cost them a bit over a pound of silver. Summer is about three more weeks away.
Quercus looks satisfied. Hah! Seems our hard bargaining paid of in the end. We will need to smooth relations afterwards, but now we at least have a strong foundation (never better said) to build our main covenant buildings. Well done Dietlinde.
"I think it's great. This is a start and we should be able to develop it from there later on. Now, how fast do you think we will be able to get something up and running?" Japik is positive and eager as always to get started.
"Certainly, maybe we should send someone to the mainland with the sailors to try to recruit some quarrymen or stonemasons for us, unless there are any here on the island."