That's very generous, %PCName. Thank you. I accept this gift more confident than ever in the East Empire Company's ability to deliver.

That is fair. I accept your offer. Despite this bump in the road, I'm more confident than ever in the future of my partnership with the East Empire Company.

%PCName, this is nothing personal, but you're a bad negotiator. Give me a better offer or go back to mercantile school.

Come now. That's almost acceptable, but surely the East Empire Company can afford a bit more generosity for a local merchant.

Really? That's my compensation? Okay. Because we're friends. And my wares had better be top-quality when they arrive.

I'd only take a deal like that from a friend. And you're not a friend.

Flin? Do we look like an officers' club to you? Come back when you're serious.

Time is money, outlander.

Some of my clients are pretty picky with what souls they use. I'm interested in this crate you have to offer, but I assume you're not expecting me to pay full price.

I may be. Are you offering a discount?

I am pleased.

I am satisfied with our arrangement.

Yeah, I'm fine with it.

Indoril cloth is more popular than ever now. I'm liable to lose hundreds of drakes, perhaps even a thousand. How are you going to make things right, %PCName?

Soul gems aren't my most valuable product, but they're a high-margin commodity. I'm liable to lose MANY hundreds of drakes here, %PCClass! How are you compensating me?

Llotham is cheap, but it sells fast. My clients can't get enough of it. I'm losing several hundreds of drakes here, %PCRace, and it's your fault. What are you going to do about it?

Flin is a splendid idea.

Such is life. With the conflicts between House Hlaalu and House Indoril, the Thirr River has seen piracy increase at unprecedented rates. That's not been good for our ships or our shipping.

No one is ordering flin at Jodald's little hole in the wall. That's another tax bracket.

I do believe word of this has reached my ears. I'm sure you're the right %PCRank for the job.

I know what you're talking about! In addition to being the factor's deputy, I am also this agency's officer-in-chief of transportation. A big part of my job is keeping tabs on the ships. That means if you need help breaking the news to these merchants, smoothing over some hard feelings, I know about some excess goods coming in that we can give away at a discount. Let's see: Yaguz gro-Dhaluk the clothier, Wayrian Eulorius the enchanter, and Jodald the publican. How can we help them?

I'd recommend paying a visit to Ma'Shavir, our resident savant, and investing in some mercantile training before you speak to your new clients. They want fair compensation for these delays, but business isn't about what's fair; it's about what you can negotiate. Try and save yourself some cash.

Maybe one of your clients is looking to buy some scrib jerky.

Back at the guildhall, we're having a similar issue with some soul gems.

I don't think I can help you, but Nyshu gro-Nasdakh, who patrols your basement, would be more familiar with your inventory and operations.

Your counterparties will accept payment in gold, but payment in goods is preferable. Say a merchant tells you our delays have cost him 1000 drakes in sales. You can pay that balance, or you can give him 800 drakes' worth of cargo as a gift; if he thinks he can upsell it to his customers for over 1000, he will accept it, saving you 200. Then the question is whether we have cargo these merchants want. Why don't you go upstairs and ask Zenurie Mondette what she knows? She isn't just a secretary, you know.

This is a sensitive matter. I'm not discussing our supply chain with an ex-employee.

Perhaps more accurate than "shipping delays" would be "unclassified shipping." Marki evidently negotiated some shipments on his last business trip, and we've received some of them, but the man wasn't around to handle the relevant documentation, so we aren't sure what's arrived and what's still underway. In this uncertainty, we haven't been able to reap any profits.

Well done on the damage control there, %PCName.

Thank you, %PCName. Fortunately, on your next assignment, all the haggling's already been done for you.

Are you serious?

You spent %TR_m3_EEC_GoldDelays drakes, but unfortunately, you only had 2000 to work with. If you want to be in good standing with the Company, you'll have to cover the difference.

So overall, you cost us %TR_m3_EEC_GoldDelays with these merchants. Unfortunately, you only had 2000 to work with. If you want to be in good standing with the Company, you'll have to cover the difference. Do you have %TR_m3_EEC_GoldReward drakes on you?

So you gave Yaguz %TR_m3_EEC_GoldYaguz drakes in jewelry, you gave Jodald %TR_m3_EEC_GoldJodald drakes in jerky, and you got Wayrian to give you %TR_m3_EEC_GoldWayrian for a crate of soul gems on which you spent 200. That's a net loss of... zero. That's some masterful bargaining, %PCName. You've saved the Company 2000 drakes, and as promised, half is yours. Also, this platter just came in from Vvardenfell, and I'd like you to have it. Talk to me when you want your next assignment.

So overall, you've cost us %TR_m3_EEC_GoldDelays drakes out of an original budget of 2000. That's %TR_m3_EEC_Cano3_TalkingTo left over, and as promised, you take half of what's left. Well done, %PCName! Talk to me when you want your next assignment.

So Yaguz gro-Dhaluk, Wayrian Eulorius, and Jodald are all happy? Well done, %PCName. Now walk me through your expenditures...

Talk to me when you've compensated Yaguz gro-Dhaluk, Wayrian Eulorius, and Jodald. Feel free to ask around the office for advice on how to proceed. I'm just a small fry, but Quilmaro and Mette are old hands.

We've had some supply chain issues lately. I need you to go to town and tell Yaguz gro-Dhaluk his Indoril cloth's coming in late, Wayrian Eulorius his soul gems, and Jodald his llotham. They won't be happy. We've set aside 2000 drakes to cover their losses; whatever's left in the end, you can keep half. See me when you're done. Oh, and this goes for all my jobs: feel free to ask around the office for advice. I'm just a small fry, but Quilmaro and Mette are old hands.

That sounds tough. I'm sorry I can't help you. But maybe Quilmaro can.