Tristan Ashcroft was by no means a noble Hero of his people, or a savior of the world that you might find in some fantasy novel or wonderous moving picture. Though by no means would anyone call him a monster or villain in his world either, a man who's wit and craft led him to the harsh travels of a merchant, in the budding days of industry and steam he made his way through life drifting from place to place. He kept his cart stocked with traveling supplies and wares he thought the next city might find profitable and they often were. He was one of the first merchants to be able to afford a car, quite the noisy steam engine outfited custom made by one of the best mechanics this side of the flint river. Yes his wagon was not pulled by horse but by steel an flame something that made hime one of the more notable merchants as a vehicle was still something of the rich and upperclass. He prided himself on the connections he made through his travels which allowed him actress to some of the finer things only the upper class of the world treated as precious toys but he saw the profit such a thing could make. At the time it had cost him his life savings to have such a traveling cart made, it was custom ordered with a dual engine in order to accommodate transporting such wares. The nobles considered it a waste for such a machine to be in the hands of a common man but gold spoke quite loud in the halls of the wealthy. Nevertheless the venture paid for it's self countless times over as the attraction of his cart drew in countless times the customers as it did before and his travel times were cut in over half as compared to his rounds through the country before his cart made it's rounds. A year after he began his steam powered journey he had received quite the wonderous gem from a passing noblewoman, she had accidentally found herself without money and stuck halfway across the country after an escapade he dared not ask the nature of. In exchange for the 2 week long journey back to her hometown he had offered to her she paid with an heirloom that she wore round her neck. He couldn't dare bring himself to accept the gift but she refused to tack it back from him. " Keep it, my family once told me it brings great fortune and I find myself very fortunate to be able to return home, I think I used up all the goodwill it might have for me in saving me from my plight, perhaps it will be of more use to you." She said as she left to the manor which looked more as if a kings castle in his eyes. While he never brought it up he suspected she looked as if she had barely escaped a prison when he found her so it might of been that it was her life he had saved when he offered her a ride rather than just her traveling time. Either way he found the gem to precious to part with and wore it a a necklace since then. Three years have passed since that failful encounter and Tristan business had expanded to be one of the largest material transport operations in the country, with contracts that spanked across continents, his trading company managed to grow to something riviling the tech conglomerates of the modern day where he stood at the forefront of innovation and interpersonal connection not just in his country but across the world.
'truly' he thought to himself as he ran his thumb over the necklace around his neck. ' this necklace must have been fortunes favor for a merchant like me'. He had traveled all across his world yet never once had he ever found a gem like the one placed in the necklace, it was crystal clear like glass with countless swirling furrows of orange purple and gold reminiscent of the sight of star clouds he had once seen in something called a telescope. He had won it in a game of cards against a scientist he considered a close friend. " He was quite mad about losing that device but what's there to it I bet an entire cart of ale for it." He smiled as he thought about those times but today felt different to him for some reason. He couldn't quite put his finger on it but perhaps it had to do with the mysterious package that had shown up at his door. It had no name or address on it. It was a wide and thin crate, taking it inside he studied it with upmost caution. Fearing the worst he had opened the crate with a crowbar he had wedged into the lid he had tied to a broom while he hid behind a metal cabinet he had slid over, fearing it might have been one of his competitors who saught to take him out
Cla thunk. Then nothing, letting the crowbar hit the floor he peeked out from the cabinet glancing over at the opened crate. Approaching it slowly all he found inside was a decorative silver tray with gold finishings on it looking like something you would take to serve guests, beside it was a note addressed to him reading.
Dear Tristan, my regards to the Ashcroft estate
In my travels I have found a artifact quite peculiar, you yourself seem like quite the collector of oddities. I thought to myself that this item would suit most wonderfully with your bedroom decor, condolences for any misunderstanding with the packaging, I couldn't let my wife know I was giving this item away she was quite attached to it but in all honesty I found it an eyesore.
Oswald,
P.s get a life, collectibles do no good when you don't have anyone to share them with.
After reeding the letter Tristan let out a massive sigh as he leaned back against the chair in his den." That bastard Oswald he knows I've been paranoid ever since the incident with the east windia company." Letting out a turbid breath he calmed his nerves as he took a good look at the silver tray his Friend had sent him, " I Must admit he is quite right this would go nicely on my nightstand." he thought about his room the light whites and deep yellow and orange flourishes would match nicely with the peice. His heart was a little pained when his friend mentioned a companion but he brushed it off knowing he had a point. The silver handles were carved with intracade pictures of rustic traveling wagons it looked as though it depicted the history of a merchant from many years past, the actual tray was made of polished glass coated with silver, countless gems and crystals were scattered around the borders of the tray as the gold inlays depicted the travelers adventures further. " In all honesty it looks like he had it made rather than it being some precious artifact, like he knew exactly who it was for..." He trailed off as he simply assumed it was his friend just deciding to sent him a gift for something random holiday and it had only just arrived. " Either way it's quite the nice gesture." Calling his assistant to tend to the mess he had made he took the mysterious treatment to his room and situated it on the nightstand, mad a good place to hold his drink and things when he went to sleep so he thought. Not paying it anymore mind after that he went to finish his work for the day, not a clue of what his friend had delivered right to his bedside.