The New Winds

He needed a great deal of things to be either bought or lended following his not-sure-he-wanted-to-but-he-somehow-agreed schem with Ginkarasu.
Aiichiro looked at the silver raven. Before proceeding to enter the "normal" part of the market, Aiichiro gave him his coin bag without a word.

Ginkarasu grins, but does what he can to lead the way. "Remind me, what all do we need? And what do we want?"

"We need to get access to a forge for at least four days, carpentry tools for at least our entire days, and a block of wood roughly the size of the old base of the toy. I would like to get my own carpentry tools instead of renting, and more material to giftgive friends as we spoke before."
He analyzes Ginkarasu up and down.
"Maybe you could get jade for you too, if we find it."

A brief nod. "Okay! Let's try getting the block of wood and tools first, they might have information on who has a forge that could be used."

"Guess it reminds you home?" Aiichiro asked. The scenario changed from quickly from speckled merchant tents amongst peasantry houses from a full market fair as they advanced seeking for somewhere that looked like it could sell woodworking tools, with all the noise involved. And too dirty flooring involved — one needed to enter the part of the markets samurai usually had low to zero interest in to find carpentry materials.

Ginkarasu hit his stride early, which was pretty easy in a town where any number of Kakita Artisans would want nice woods for their work.

"A bit! Though you'll want to decide if what kind of wood you want. They've got some from everywhere." He stops at one stall. He spends some time looking over some of the wood and bartering with the merchant, refusing a number of them seemingly at random.

"I always use sakura for this kind of thing, it is durable, rarely gets splinters, dense, glossy when painted over and is easy to maneuver. If I was building a siege engine I wouldn't use sakura in ten years, but for small delicated luxury pieces? Yes, wild sakura. But why are you negotiating before you know what you are looking for?"

The merchant and Yasuki exchange a brief look, and Ginkarasu answers, "Well, as the good proprietor here is of course never one to put poor wood in front of bad in the hope of gaining more then what something is worth, talking about their wares is a good way to learn! You're the expert in what you're creating, while," He looks to the merchant a second, "Akio-san here has become an expert in what is required and wished for by the local artisans."

Akio bows in agreement.

"Akio-san mentioned that cedar, oak, and chestnut have been very popular this season. As it is not your intent to compete with the Kakita artisans it's pertinent to not get those types of wood, as his duty to his lord requires he reserve more of that for local artisans instead of those visiting from outside the city. A few others are, what did you say Akio-san?" he smiles lightly.

Akio bends his head, "Traditionally used to honor the Fortunes, if you are referring to these that you set aside, Crab-sama."

He nods, "Hai, yes. And from our conversation last night Aiichiro-sama, you were not focused on such things so I knew I could eliminate those. My guess is also that you don't want woods whose meanings often indicate romance. Wild sakura however are some of these samples, yes Akio-san?" He gestures towards the rest of the table, where there are a myriad of options left.

"Hai Crab-samas, we have some wild sakura. And we have some keyaki from a 300 year old zelkova tree blown down by Kaze-no-kami, that is said to have once shaded one of the Brotherhood during their search for enlightenment. It was brought here today to help bring fortune to the Topaz Championship! We only let a little of it at a time be given to artisan's hands, in order to insure multiple generations have opportunity to work with the wood."

He was taken aback. Ginkarasu was not even a merchant, he was a yojimbo for all sakes. Perhaps it was the Clear Water stain, or the Yasuki skills, but likely a mixture of both. He only thought that he did well on bringing Ginkarasu along. And that it could be a social catastrophe if he used sakura like he did home here — or just attract Cranes in ways he would not like.
Then he thought on how strangely similar the peasant should be feeling. Crane lords probably just handed coins to their servants to do the buying and barely ever went to this part of the city. Then you got a full-blown bushi deep into the local business. Maybe even haggling, depending on which route the conversation took. This should be why this wood was not that requested — their lords not knowing about its existence. Makes for a prettier story than a random chestnut tree, that was for sure.
"So it is running for generations and did not rot. Well stored." He said. Even sometimes engines at the wall got problematic because of poor care, although the Kaiu would never admit that and punish harshly those responsible to look for the wood's health. "I suppose winds on those lands are strong. They took over such an old tree, and even laid down a carriage we saw earlier on the road. Keyaki is good wood. Which volume of this special tree could I get for one zeni, and which is the maximum portion you would be interested on selling me?"

Akio looks between the two of them. "Apologies Crab-sama, are you looking for some of the wood that has been refined, or some that is unrefined? "

Ginkarasu nods, not sure what Aiichiro's answer will be. "Do you have any recommendations on who makes good tools for working with wood, Akio-san?"

"Refined." He saves the 'of course'. Probably the heimin just didn't want to assume anything.
Aiichirō also noticed he did not know their, or at least his, family. "The surname is Kaiu." ...and its meaning in Rokugani was an odd pun at the moment he only noticed some seconds after the words left his mouth.

Akio bows. "Hai Kaiu-sama, thank you for educating me. We have 4 sections cut currently. With kayeki, my family has learned that keeping it as the log in a clean, dry and cool environment preserves it for longer, and so we have only cut what we are thinking should be sold in the current generation. I am glad that you only seek what is available as I do not wish to disappoint!"

The merchant hits his stride, "For sakura you could get 2 meters of wood for 1 zeni. For kayeki, and for a guest of the Crane during the Topaz Champion I could do 1 meter for 1 zeni, though would ask for 1 bu for all 8 meters, should that be your wish, as it would deny any other artisan access to it. As to tools, I have a cousin just a few stalls over who has a collection fit for a master's hands!"

Ginkarasu nods a bit, following decently well although his commerce was more focusing on his awareness of Akio by assessing him and planning his route of attack, rather then be too direct: "You've surely heard about the skill of the Kaiu? Why," he takes out the toy Aiichiro had given him, "This is what my friend can make with his hands and simple tools. Just imagine how much acclaim your store of kayeki will gain when he makes something out of it? You'll be able to charge much more once he does. Surely you could do say, 3 zeni for 4 meters of kayeki and 2 meters of sakura?"

Akio looks at the toy a second. Ginkarasu pushes it's base, it falls down. He lets it go, and it stands up again! Akio looks at in great surprise.

Ginkarasu looks to Aiichiro, if that is as much as he hopes for.

"Just between us, I intend on making art for our great Kakita." It was technically one or two Kakita, but okay. "Perhaps under that terms you could maintain those proportions even if we reduced the price by the same amount?" It was quite a loophole of thought.
Even if the original area would be enough, the Yasuki seemed eager to please his superior and he would not steal this pleasure from him by just refusing the discount found.

Akio looked at the two of them, claps his hands and bows deeply.

"Hai. I hope the my lords in the Kakita will be honored to see your work."

Ginkarasu looks to Aiichiro with a nod, as if to say, good job!

The audacity to ask for advert. Compassion wasn't one of his strong points. Studying amongst Kuge children and all. Still, he had to be swift about it as the merchant didn't agree still. He could reprehend him for even asking in an impetus of cruelty, but thought three times before doing so.
"If I gift an artisan and the wood is truly marvelous, I will."

Akio bows again, "Then I'm sure the gift you leave will be equal to the gift you receive Kaiu-sama!"

He nods his head shallowly and looks to the Yasuki. "One zeni for a meter and a quarter."

Ginkarasu gets out the zeni and sets it down to one side.
Wow! I'd gotten a better deal, and look at Aiichiro's Compassion!

Akio blinks. "Hai, Kaiu-sama!" And then gets to work making sure the generous Crab has what he asked for.

He turns to Ginkarasu whilst waiting. "I must say I'm astounded. It's, like, what the merchants do. But oddly perfectioned as it somewhat became a samurai craft. You didn't need to haggle for quarter a zeni."

"My family and the rest of the Yasuki do everything they can to make sure The Wall stands and everyone has what they need. That means we do, although your way also may help insure you have a supplier in the future as well!"

Akio brings the keyaki wood and bows deeply in thanks for the exchange of gifts.