The Warehouse

Writers: Yvonne
Date Posted: 25th January 2015

Characters: Taril, Lugrin
Description: Taril's warehouse is officially built
Location: Sunstone Seahold
Date: month 10, day 20 of Turn 7
Notes: Mentioned: Eirock

"...five bays, each with their own ramp up from the port road for easy loading," the Master Stonemason gestured proudly to the flagons, "and cobbled to keep down the mud. Let's go back inside and get out of this damnable rain."

Taril gestured for Lugrin to lead. The warehouse was finally complete and this was his final inspection. If everything was up to spec, he'd be paying more marks to the Mine Hall than most men saw in a lifetime. It was a good investment; a warehouse of his own reduced the tithe he paid to Sunstone Seahold since he was now just using the land instead of land and storage. It also meant that he was much less accountable to the Hold's Stewards. Eirock seemed reasonable, but the fewer people who knew his business, the better for everyone involved.

The merchant paused at the threshold of the big bay doors, taking a moment to admire the way the rock wall fit together too smoothly to climb, and the great metal door frame painted a dull black to keep away the rust. Heavy, solid and thread-proof. He patted the wall, then limped through.

Inside was a large storage bay with a stone floor marked with runnels every few feet to redirect water should the roof leak. Which it shouldn't. The walls had brackets to fit shelves on, if they were needed, but otherwise the space was empty and dark.

"This way," Lugrin gestured Taril further inside. He shut the door behind the merchant and picked up a glow stashed just inside. "Your... special request." The mason stepped into the gloom, walking confidently to the mid-section of the right wall. He stuck his hand in one of the holes for shelving brackets, reaching up and pulling a lever. A soft click echoed through the warehouse bay, then there was a grinding of stone as weights hidden inside the wall fell. A section of the wall about as high as Taril's hip slid outward.

Lugrin slipped his fingers into a divot on one side of the wall, and the whole section swung outward on a hinge. He thrust the glow inside revealing a space inside the wall about as big as a barrel. "There's a ladder built into the side, and a storage space dug out and lined with rock beneath. It's about six feet high and about half as wide as this room. Want to take a look?"

Taril shook his head. "I'll trust you." Maybe he could get down, but it would be difficult to climb back out with only one leg. "Waterproofing?"

"Lined with cement, just as you requested," Lugrin said. "We are above the high tide mark, though, and I had to go through some bedrock to dig it out. It might flood if the seawall fails in a major storm, but so will the rest of the dockyards. But that's the least of the risks you're taking, hmm?"

Taril shot the mason a black look. "Loose lips sink ships."

"Duly noted." Lugrin swung the door to the secret room shut. It latched with a soft 'snick!' and, to Taril's eye, looked no different than any of the other stones in the thick wall. Bringing in a Master Mason to do the work meant that even with a subterranean storage room and a little less wall to bear the weight of the flagstone roof, the structure would stand tall and sturdy well beyond his lifetime. "Want to see the office and shelf room?"

"Of course." Taril followed the mason out of the storage bay, blinking in the sudden light. The office was at one end of the massive warehouse; a small room with enough space for a desk and some filing. He'd be able to move out of the dockmaster's building, which was another relief. Out of the building but not out of sight; Taril had paid for a window set with several small panes of clear glass, providing a clear line of sight from his office to the front door of the dockmaster's office. He'd be able to see just who the man spoke with, and when, without having to wonder how porous his office walls were.

The shelf room was on the other side of the warehouse; a narrow room built to contain the thick planks of wood that could be attached to the walls in the warehouse and expand the amount of space he could use for storage. The brackets had arrived, but the wood itself would be bought next turn in order to spread his investment out a little. Wood was expensive. Everything was expensive.

"Everything seems to be in order." Back outside, Taril leaned on his crutch squinted up at his new warehouse through the rain. Blue slate roof, smooth stone walls, and wide metal doors painted black against the corrosive sea air. He grinned. "Tell the Hall that their payment will be in their hands by the end of the week. You've done well, Master Lugrin."

"It's been profitable for all of us." Lugrin tucked his thumbs into his belt, his grin echoing Taril's. He'd been promised a healthy kick-back for building a secret room-- one off the blueprints for the building. "Now all you need is the tavern done, and you'll be in business."

"Are we still on track for just after Turnover?"

Lugrin nodded. "Sure. Soon as I can get my hands on that wood flooring. Then it's just finishing the bar and installing the spits on the firepits in the kitchens."

The merchant licked his lips. If the flooring came sooner and they could open for Turnover... well, competing with the Hold for Turnover festivities wasn't the wisest idea. It would be fun, but ultimately more profitable to open afterward. "Good," he said. "I'll look forward to it."

Last updated on the February 10th 2015

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The Warehouse