The skiff glides gently on the calm and clear water of the river, as I ply my oars towards Nashkel. The tranquillity of the river is such that several times, I have observed fish gracefully gliding beneath the surface, sometimes in shoals. My attention was abruptly engaged when a large fish suddenly broke the water not far from me.
I granted a respite to my weary arms, allowing myself to be carried by the tranquil flow of the river, while listening attentively to the sounds of nature. The landscape is of staggering beauty, with hills covered in a carpet of verdure and scattered forests. At a distance of about thirty kilometres, possibly more, I can discern on either side of the river, a mountain range. The birdsong, the wind playing in the trees, the noise of the oars and the skiff are the only sounds reaching my ears. It is so peaceful. If I had not been transposed against my will into another universe, I would almost say that I am savouring this moment.
After less than an hour of navigation, I finally spot wisps of smoke rising on the horizon. I continue to row a little and soon, the rooftops of Nashkel appear around a meander. I pass under the bridge then moor the skiff on the bank and take a moment to stretch and catch my breath before making my way towards the town.
A certain effervescence reigns in the main artery of Nashkel, children run and play, soldiers from the city of Amn patrol cheerfully, and the inhabitants are busied by their daily tasks. I notice on the left bank what seems to be one or two farms, surrounded by what must be their lands. The town unfolds on the right side of the bank, dominated by the imposing temple dedicated to the god Helm.
Thanks to my knowledge of the town acquired from my past as a player of the Baldur's Gate game, I head without hesitation to the merchant's shop, the only true tradesman in the town.
As I disembark from my skiff that I tie to the first bridge of Nashkel, I am called out by a young boy who I recognise from his insistence in constantly asking for attention: it is Noober.
"Noober," I murmured. He is known for being a... unique character around these parts. Let's see if my patience will be rewarded."
I know that letting him talk will allow me to gain some experience points for my patience. He talks to me 32 times before my system displays and indicates 400xp. I smile.
The Aura screen briefly lights up before displaying:
[Level: 0
Experience: 450 / ???
You have gained some experience from your interaction with Noober. Continue to interact with people and explore, and you will be able to increase your level.]
[Information provided by A.U.R.A (Anima Ultra Rationis et Arcanorum)].
I briefly question the origin of the first 50 experience points that I have accumulated. Before the episode of the steroid-overdosed ostrich comes back to mind. I proceed towards the shop, a nascent smile on my lips at the thought of the interaction with Noober. At least, I am certain that I can increase my level easily, without having to kill.
When I reach the shop, I notice a middle-aged man, adorned with a neatly trimmed beard, standing behind the counter. Raising his eyes from his work at the echo of the door's bell, he greets me with a nod.
"Greetings, stranger. What may I do for you today?" he inquires, a congenial smile lighting up his face.
His English accent is not as dreadful as I feared. I had braced myself for much worse. However, I will need to become accustomed to conversing constantly in English, or rather, I should say, in common. As for local news, I am aware that the shopkeeper is not the most reliable source of information. But precisely, I wish to verify whether there are discrepancies with the game I knew where only innkeepers, tavern keepers and priests could inform me about local rumours. Or if I am truly in a parallel world.
"Salutations, sir. I have sought you out with the intention of establishing a trade agreement with you. And also, to gather information about local news."
"Trade, you say? That's always a good thing," the shopkeeper retorts, a warm smile adorning his face. "Well, what do you have to offer for sale or purchase?"
"Well, as it happens, I have a... sort of farm nearby. I have an abundance of apples to sell, as well as vegetables from... what is the name of the continent that has been discovered across the ocean? Regardless, among these vegetables is one I call a potato. It is delicious… And I believe with proper promotion, it could sell very well. Only, I am not really a farmer, and I am looking for individuals who could assist me..."
The shopkeeper seems interested. His gaze brightens and his expression hardens, preparing himself to negotiate.
"Apples and 'potatoes' from Maztica, you say? Well, I am convinced there is a market for such products. Especially for a brand new exotic product. People are always in search of new things to try. As for the assistance you need, there may be some people in town who would be interested. There are also some adventurers who often pass through these parts looking for employment. I could keep an eye out for you if you wish."
I nod thoughtfully at his words.
He continues:
"I could also assist you in establishing connections with other merchants and suppliers in the region. It would be beneficial to have a wider distribution network. Unless you don't have the means."
He smiles.
"Of course, if you need supplies for your farm, I am certain that I could help you find what you need. What do you say?"
"With pleasure. Let's not waste time with unnecessary chit-chat, let's talk business. How much would you be willing to offer for me to become your supplier of potatoes and apples?"
The shopkeeper meditates for a moment before responding.
"Well, it all depends on the quality of your products and the quantity you can supply. If your apples and potatoes are of good quality, I could offer you, let's say... 2 silver pieces per pound for apples and 1 silver piece per pound for potatoes. But of course, that depends on market demand and competition. What do you think?"
I am taken aback and nearly choke. Mentally, I ask AURA to confirm that 10 silver pieces indeed equal one gold piece. She tells me no and adds:
[Here are the conversions for each coin:
1 platinum (PP) = 5 gold (GP) = 10 electrum (EP) = 100 silver (SP) = 1000 copper (CP)]
"Aura, calculate for me the potential profitability of these apple trees. I have 25 mature apple trees and we are in harvest season. How many pounds can I expect to harvest for this season?"
Aura responds quickly to my mental question.
[On average, a mature apple tree can produce between 100 and 200 pounds of apples per harvest season. With 25 apple trees, you can expect to harvest between 2,500 and 5,000 pounds of apples this season.]
I am astounded. I know that a pound is roughly half a kilogram, so I can produce between 50 and 100 kilograms per apple tree. Which is a little over a ton at a minimum, and in the best-case scenario, two and a half tons. On average about one ton nine, to simplify let's say two tons, not bad for a man who just arrived.
"Aura, set up for me how much that represents in gold pieces for the apples. Then, I have 100 potato plants, estimate the number of kilos I can get from them. Knowing that I intend to negotiate them at 1 and a half gold pieces per pound."
Aura quickly performs the calculations for me.
[For the apples, at 2 silver pieces per pound, you can expect to earn between 500 and 1,000 gold pieces this season, depending on your yield.]
(As for the potatoes, a mature plant can produce on average between 5 to 10 pounds of potatoes. So, with 100 plants, you could harvest between 500 and 1,000 pounds of potatoes.]
[If the shopkeeper accepts your proposal of 1.5 gold pieces per pound, that would mean you could earn between 750 and 1,500 gold pieces for your potatoes.]
I notice that Aura has not correctly taken into account the conversion between each coin. I do the calculation quickly in my head.
"For one gold piece, I have 20 silver pieces so I do 2000 times four silver pieces roughly which makes 8,000. I divide by 20. So… Wait, there are 4 times 20 in 80 so 400 gold pieces. Now, I do the same thing for the potatoes. Ah, it's annoying that AURA doesn't know how to do normal calculations."
~"...So, that makes 750 pounds on average. Half of 750 is 375, therefore 1,125 gold pieces."~
~"Aura, I'm tired of calculating mentally, add 400 to 1,125. You noted my corrections well."~
[400 + 1,125 gives 1,525.
By adding up the potential profits from apples and potatoes, you could harvest between 2,775 and 4,025 gold pieces in one season, depending on your yield. This is an estimate that could fluctuate depending on many factors, including the quality of your products, weather conditions, and market variations.]
~"Decidedly, you should never ask Aura to perform calculations or equations."~
I regain my composure, sitting up slightly, and fix my gaze on the gentleman who, for his part, has likely also been making these calculations.
"Sir, I fear that you may not have taken into account the considerable rarity of these potatoes. I believe a price of 1.5 gold pieces per pound would be more appropriate."
The shopkeeper seems somewhat taken aback by my proposition concerning the potatoes.
"One and a half gold pieces per pound? That's a relatively high rate, I must admit. But if these potatoes are as rare and delicious as you claim, I am willing to take a chance. I'll order a small quantity to start with, let's say 50 pounds, and if they sell well, we can consider a longer-term supply contract. What do you think?"
I give a small smile, take an apple from my travel bag, and toss it to the shopkeeper. I let him taste it.
"As for the potatoes, I agree. Taste this apple; I believe it is worth rather more than 2 silver pieces."
The shopkeeper catches the apple I toss him with dexterity. He first examines it visually, then takes out a knife from his pocket and slices off a small piece, which he brings to his mouth. He chews thoughtfully, then his eyes light up.
"This is an apple of excellent quality! A juicy and flavorful apple, such as one rarely finds." He ponders for a moment and then makes a counteroffer:
"Very well, I accept your proposition of two and a half silver pieces per pound; it is a fair price for an apple of this quality. And for the potatoes, I suggest we stay with your offer of 1.5 gold pieces per pound for the first 50 pounds. If it sells well, we can renew the deal. What do you say?"
"Agreed," I replied, shaking his hand. "However, I would like to have an idea of the employment cost of the people you will recommend to me."
"That truly depends on the type of work to be done and the necessary skill level," the shopkeeper responds. "For general agricultural work, you could likely find people willing to work for about 1 copper piece per day. This would include tasks such as planting, watering, harvesting, and general farm maintenance."
He pauses, and discreetly, I gesture for him to continue.
"If you require more specialised skills, such as a master brewer to make beer, a baker to make bread, or any other skilled worker, that would probably cost a bit more, maybe around 3 to 5 copper pieces per day. Of course, these figures can fluctuate depending on the local labour market situation and the amount of work available. A particularly skilled worker or master craftsman will certainly ask for several silver pieces per day."
He gives me an empathetic look as I grimace slightly.
"I understand that hiring staff can be a significant expense, especially when starting out. But remember, a good worker can help you significantly increase your production and, by extension, your profits."
I thank him for his advice while asking AURA how many days' worth of labour I will need for the fruit harvest, and I estimate the salary of these workers for this period, planning to pay them 4 copper pieces per day.
AURA quickly performs the calculations.
[Taking into account the amount of apples and potatoes to harvest, as well as the average productivity of a worker paid 4 copper pieces per day, it would take about 7 to 14 days to harvest all the fruits. If you employ three people to do this, it would cost you between 28 and 56 copper pieces for the entire harvest, depending on the time required to complete it.]
"Perfect, there's no way I'm doing the harvest myself. I would also need to equip myself with armour. I'm well informed that the shopkeeper sells it, but for now, that's not my priority. However, it is imperative to find these workers."
I smirk at the shopkeeper and ask him:
"I would give you 5 silver pieces if you manage to find me two dedicated workers who work more than usual. And 10 if you can find them by tomorrow."
The shopkeeper nods, apparently satisfied with my proposition.
"Very well, I will set to the task of finding two suitable candidates to assist you. I will come back to you as soon as possible with these."
"AURA, assist me, what should I do next, knowing that I plan to spend the night in Nashkel but that I am bereft of financial means?"
AURA displays a long response that I quickly skim. The fifth point she proposes catches my attention.
[ [ ...]
5. Offer your skills to the community: If you have particular skills, like knowledge of certain languages, medical skills, or craftsmanship, you could offer your services to the community. This could help you earn some income, or at least build useful relationships.]
The fifth point reminds me that Nashkel has a tavern where I could narrate stories from the literature and cinema of my other world. I am also aware of my talent for storytelling. I just need to convince the innkeeper to pay me for brightening up the evening so I can pay for my room at the inn and the shopkeeper, should he come across the personnel.... However, I must keep quiet about the fact that I am not from this world to avoid any complications. I will simply say that I invented these stories. Yes, it's a form of plagiarism, but who in this place is going to sue me, I smirk mischievously.