Post by Bunhash on Jan 31, 2010 21:46:48 GMT -8
Tale of Captain Butterpaws and Theron York
The first Mi'firel boats to meet the world.
Originally, the idea was to make ships suitable enough for travel between the mainland and the islands. They expected to create pitiful versions of the few well made boats they had through purchase but were ultimately surprised to find they had a knack for woodwork and shipbuilding.
But the Mao's didn't realize the treasures they were sailing in. It wasn't until Captain Pinky Butterpaws were docked into a Felwyn port with a Mao made boat one day and met a ship builder named Theron York. At first, Pinky thought the man was sneering at his boat and feeling a bit self-conscious, he decided to ask the man if he found his boat repulsive. It had taken Pinky over a year for him and his boys to build the boat so he was a little nervous about what other thought.
Theron quickly laughed mirthfully and announced that it was the finest boat he'd ever seen. Feeling full of pride, Pinky offered the man a look around which he took eagerly. His eyes hungrily looked over the boat. He tested the structure, checked the wood and in the end asked what his selling price was. Pinky was so surprised but excited. He said that he couldn't sell the boat he had because he needed it but was happy to build one for the man if he was interested.
The man jumped with glee at the offer and asked again for his price. At this time in the world, the price of a smaller, rough sea fairing boat was about 20 Terram while a large, entirely furnished sea worthy boat was about 100 Terram or the price of 1000 standard horses. This boat however was worth more than that.
But poor Captain Pinky didn't have a clue what the cost of a boat was. The best thing he could think of was the price of a cattle, which was about one Goram a head. Looking at his boat, he assumed the boat could hold about 20 cattle and was the size of maybe 10 more (which was very inaccurate, the boat was much bigger) and that it had taken his sons and himself a year to build it which should be about another 20 cattle. Adding it up, he decided the boat was worth 50 cattle or five Terram.
Telling the man his price, Theron almost fell over in shock. It was pitifully obvious the cat had no idea what he was doing! Such luck! He was so tempted to yell 'DEAL!' he almost did but before he could, his mind returned to his mother's voice, a poor habit of his. She was a good woman, different than the other people of Felwyn and she had told him from youth "Theron, always do good. Don't swindle people, don't disrespect anyone. Keep in mind it was our own faults that the ogres took us over, we were too proud to see what was in front of us. If you stay vigilant and good, good things will come to you."
His heart was compelled to do the right thing and he declined the offer. He instead told the captain the boat was truly worth almost 100 Terram, probably more and he would be happy to pay the full price for one. The Mao captain was startled with the price and said he just couldn't take such an offer but would be happy to make a deal with the man. Feeling very up for his good choice, like his mother had said, he asked the deal. Pinky offered if the man would be willing to help him figure good prices, good sizes for boats to sell and find buyers, that he would probably be able to make many boats like these for him to sell and when he received his first boats he could call the price then.
Theron couldn't have been more pleased. To be in business with the finest boat makers before anyone else could get the chance? It was something he couldn't pass up. He told Pinky to come to his home that night after he was finished selling his goods and they would talk about everything.
That night Pinky returned to his new friend, Theron and the two stayed up all night speaking of boats and styles of boats, good prices and ideas. By dawn, Pinky had settled to going into business with the human and would sell boats directly to him. He promised to return within the year with the first boat.
Pinky returned home and sought out his children. He told them they were going to go into business making boats and that it was their holy charge to do so. He also told them that they wouldn't be sending out their goods as before, that he would speak to Turntail Chubs, their neighbor and offer him their goods in exchange for his sons and daughters' help. The deal with Turntail worked well and in addition to them, all their youthful friends came to work for Pinky too. Together they headed up the first boats for sale.
Together they were able to finish four boats, three of smaller size and one of grandeur in eight months.
Pinky and his sons; Tabby, Snip, River, Pugg Butterpaws, took the four new boats and his first to the Felwyn port as before. When they were close to port, a man who had been stationed at the docks daily for outlook of these cat sailors and their boats, quickly hurried to fetch Theron. Theron was there a swiftly as he could be and was able to arrive just in time for the boats to dock. Pinky was happy to see his business partner and didn't really take notice of the curious eyes now focused on him and his ships though Theron did. He felt like he could cry in joy and at his good fortune. He had been expecting a single ship maybe two but he never expected four fine ships.
His pride so swelled, he decided to speak of their arrangement quite loudly in the area so everyone around could hear it. "Good day, good day my dear friend!" He exclaimed. "I see you have brought your beautiful ships, oh and how beautiful they are! You are a true master of your craft, indeed you are."
People were listening now, terribly curious and envious. Such fine ships they were, no one could not see that and that Theron was speaking to the cat person... So jealous were there eyes.
Pinky replied with a happy tick of his tail, "Yes, it's wonderful to be back. I hope these boats will meet your standards. Could we perhaps head to your home for a while? It's been a long travel and my boys are a bit hungry, if you don't mind of course."
Theron was overjoyed and welcomed them all to his home, after calling up his men to guard the new ships first.
That night he had his portly wife Minerva cook up a grand meal of savory pork sausages, boiled potatoes with basil and rich butter, quail eggs, hardy sweet rolls with honey and Theron's only bottle of Chubbybottom Ale. They ate til they were ready to burst and almost resisted dessert until they got a whiff of Minerva's Blackberry Cream Pie.
Fully sated, the bunch retired to Theron's sitting room and they got down to business. Theron spoke rather quietly however because apparently he hadn't told his rather stubborn wife his intentions. While Theron had always been alright at making ships and could sell a decent one for a price, he was never the best out there and was always able to make just enough to create his next boat to sell. He was taking a risk by forking over that much platinum and investing into someone elses talents so he didn't want to tell her until the money started to come in. Not to mention that he had expected the Mao captain to bring a single boat and would be forking over more than he had planned. But he wasn't going to turn it down.
Knowing he needed to keep Pinky's shipments of boats to himself, a wise salesman would usually have to pay the most. In Theron's case, he didn't have that kind of money so he had to rely on becoming a friend to the cat person and if he pegged him right, Mr. Butterpaws wasn't interested in the most money, he was interested in doing his best. Still, he needed a good price out there for the Mi'firel so he wouldn't be swayed.
He offered the captain a total of 30 Terram per smaller boat and 50 Terram per large one. It felt scandalous to himself but he thought it would be a moderate price that the cat would agree to. And it seemed the Mao was a little distraught at being offered so much but after Theron insisted for the sixth time, the Mi'firel had to agree.
Happy as a clam, the human man wrote up a paper for each boat. It stated their accepted prices, agreement and terms and was left to be signed by both party and two witnesses. Both he and Pinky signed and Pinky's two eldest sons signed witness and the deal was done. Theron went to his bedchamber and collected the money. It was hard to hand over such an amount but necessary. What he would get back would be so worth the price. One-hundred and forty Terram.
With the deal done, Theron was now the owner of the first Mi'firel boats and Pinky Butterpaws was off to his home once more, eager to start on his next few boats.
In the time to come, Theron would become one of the wealthiest men in all Terrastra and a noble to boot and the Mi'firel boats would become the most coveted in the world. When Pinky passed away, his sons took over the business. By then the business was now sending out a dozen boats every six months. Theron lived until he was 85 before passing his business to his nephew, Sir Dallis Sorne.
The first Mi'firel boats to meet the world.
Originally, the idea was to make ships suitable enough for travel between the mainland and the islands. They expected to create pitiful versions of the few well made boats they had through purchase but were ultimately surprised to find they had a knack for woodwork and shipbuilding.
But the Mao's didn't realize the treasures they were sailing in. It wasn't until Captain Pinky Butterpaws were docked into a Felwyn port with a Mao made boat one day and met a ship builder named Theron York. At first, Pinky thought the man was sneering at his boat and feeling a bit self-conscious, he decided to ask the man if he found his boat repulsive. It had taken Pinky over a year for him and his boys to build the boat so he was a little nervous about what other thought.
Theron quickly laughed mirthfully and announced that it was the finest boat he'd ever seen. Feeling full of pride, Pinky offered the man a look around which he took eagerly. His eyes hungrily looked over the boat. He tested the structure, checked the wood and in the end asked what his selling price was. Pinky was so surprised but excited. He said that he couldn't sell the boat he had because he needed it but was happy to build one for the man if he was interested.
The man jumped with glee at the offer and asked again for his price. At this time in the world, the price of a smaller, rough sea fairing boat was about 20 Terram while a large, entirely furnished sea worthy boat was about 100 Terram or the price of 1000 standard horses. This boat however was worth more than that.
But poor Captain Pinky didn't have a clue what the cost of a boat was. The best thing he could think of was the price of a cattle, which was about one Goram a head. Looking at his boat, he assumed the boat could hold about 20 cattle and was the size of maybe 10 more (which was very inaccurate, the boat was much bigger) and that it had taken his sons and himself a year to build it which should be about another 20 cattle. Adding it up, he decided the boat was worth 50 cattle or five Terram.
Telling the man his price, Theron almost fell over in shock. It was pitifully obvious the cat had no idea what he was doing! Such luck! He was so tempted to yell 'DEAL!' he almost did but before he could, his mind returned to his mother's voice, a poor habit of his. She was a good woman, different than the other people of Felwyn and she had told him from youth "Theron, always do good. Don't swindle people, don't disrespect anyone. Keep in mind it was our own faults that the ogres took us over, we were too proud to see what was in front of us. If you stay vigilant and good, good things will come to you."
His heart was compelled to do the right thing and he declined the offer. He instead told the captain the boat was truly worth almost 100 Terram, probably more and he would be happy to pay the full price for one. The Mao captain was startled with the price and said he just couldn't take such an offer but would be happy to make a deal with the man. Feeling very up for his good choice, like his mother had said, he asked the deal. Pinky offered if the man would be willing to help him figure good prices, good sizes for boats to sell and find buyers, that he would probably be able to make many boats like these for him to sell and when he received his first boats he could call the price then.
Theron couldn't have been more pleased. To be in business with the finest boat makers before anyone else could get the chance? It was something he couldn't pass up. He told Pinky to come to his home that night after he was finished selling his goods and they would talk about everything.
That night Pinky returned to his new friend, Theron and the two stayed up all night speaking of boats and styles of boats, good prices and ideas. By dawn, Pinky had settled to going into business with the human and would sell boats directly to him. He promised to return within the year with the first boat.
Pinky returned home and sought out his children. He told them they were going to go into business making boats and that it was their holy charge to do so. He also told them that they wouldn't be sending out their goods as before, that he would speak to Turntail Chubs, their neighbor and offer him their goods in exchange for his sons and daughters' help. The deal with Turntail worked well and in addition to them, all their youthful friends came to work for Pinky too. Together they headed up the first boats for sale.
Together they were able to finish four boats, three of smaller size and one of grandeur in eight months.
Pinky and his sons; Tabby, Snip, River, Pugg Butterpaws, took the four new boats and his first to the Felwyn port as before. When they were close to port, a man who had been stationed at the docks daily for outlook of these cat sailors and their boats, quickly hurried to fetch Theron. Theron was there a swiftly as he could be and was able to arrive just in time for the boats to dock. Pinky was happy to see his business partner and didn't really take notice of the curious eyes now focused on him and his ships though Theron did. He felt like he could cry in joy and at his good fortune. He had been expecting a single ship maybe two but he never expected four fine ships.
His pride so swelled, he decided to speak of their arrangement quite loudly in the area so everyone around could hear it. "Good day, good day my dear friend!" He exclaimed. "I see you have brought your beautiful ships, oh and how beautiful they are! You are a true master of your craft, indeed you are."
People were listening now, terribly curious and envious. Such fine ships they were, no one could not see that and that Theron was speaking to the cat person... So jealous were there eyes.
Pinky replied with a happy tick of his tail, "Yes, it's wonderful to be back. I hope these boats will meet your standards. Could we perhaps head to your home for a while? It's been a long travel and my boys are a bit hungry, if you don't mind of course."
Theron was overjoyed and welcomed them all to his home, after calling up his men to guard the new ships first.
That night he had his portly wife Minerva cook up a grand meal of savory pork sausages, boiled potatoes with basil and rich butter, quail eggs, hardy sweet rolls with honey and Theron's only bottle of Chubbybottom Ale. They ate til they were ready to burst and almost resisted dessert until they got a whiff of Minerva's Blackberry Cream Pie.
Fully sated, the bunch retired to Theron's sitting room and they got down to business. Theron spoke rather quietly however because apparently he hadn't told his rather stubborn wife his intentions. While Theron had always been alright at making ships and could sell a decent one for a price, he was never the best out there and was always able to make just enough to create his next boat to sell. He was taking a risk by forking over that much platinum and investing into someone elses talents so he didn't want to tell her until the money started to come in. Not to mention that he had expected the Mao captain to bring a single boat and would be forking over more than he had planned. But he wasn't going to turn it down.
Knowing he needed to keep Pinky's shipments of boats to himself, a wise salesman would usually have to pay the most. In Theron's case, he didn't have that kind of money so he had to rely on becoming a friend to the cat person and if he pegged him right, Mr. Butterpaws wasn't interested in the most money, he was interested in doing his best. Still, he needed a good price out there for the Mi'firel so he wouldn't be swayed.
He offered the captain a total of 30 Terram per smaller boat and 50 Terram per large one. It felt scandalous to himself but he thought it would be a moderate price that the cat would agree to. And it seemed the Mao was a little distraught at being offered so much but after Theron insisted for the sixth time, the Mi'firel had to agree.
Happy as a clam, the human man wrote up a paper for each boat. It stated their accepted prices, agreement and terms and was left to be signed by both party and two witnesses. Both he and Pinky signed and Pinky's two eldest sons signed witness and the deal was done. Theron went to his bedchamber and collected the money. It was hard to hand over such an amount but necessary. What he would get back would be so worth the price. One-hundred and forty Terram.
With the deal done, Theron was now the owner of the first Mi'firel boats and Pinky Butterpaws was off to his home once more, eager to start on his next few boats.
In the time to come, Theron would become one of the wealthiest men in all Terrastra and a noble to boot and the Mi'firel boats would become the most coveted in the world. When Pinky passed away, his sons took over the business. By then the business was now sending out a dozen boats every six months. Theron lived until he was 85 before passing his business to his nephew, Sir Dallis Sorne.
