Baldur

Baldur smiled and picked up the mats.

"I'll be sure to put both of these gifts to good use."

His smile was one of pure joy as he opened the menu and equipped the sword and transferred the mats to his inventory.

"I really am the luckiest guy and player in the world." His eyes twinkled at her as he shared a smile that was only for her.

"I love you."

Baldur felt the weight and shape of something she placed in his hands, and his heart skipped a beat, but he waited until she told him he could open his eyes. When she implied that he could, he opened them and saw one of the most beautiful things in this world in his hands.

The perfect quality Katana she had forged for him.

Baldur opened his mouth, and then closed it again. He couldn't find the words he was looking for to thank her. The cold was really getting to him, because his eyes started to water and he blinked them away. He gripped the sword and slowly, almost reverently, drew the blade.

"I... I don't know what to say... it's... it's perfect. Thank you, my love." He held the sword to the side and the blade glowed blue for a moment before he slashed the air. It felt so comfortable, so natural in his hand. With a ceremonial precision, Baldur sheathed the sword and held it at his hip. "Thank you so much." He reached out with his right arm to pull her close and kiss her.

Baldur pushed open the door to the bar and walked in. He had unequipped his armor since he was in town and was perfectly safe, but he kept his sword at his hip, simply because it felt the most comfortable there. As he walked through the bar his left hand just rested causally on the pommel and he took the seat next to XWuZHeAR, though the game didn't let you see what another person's name was unless you were in a party with them. The blue clad player leaned forward on the bar on his elbows and smiled at the bartender.

"I'm sorry about your friend," He nodded to the kid next to him. Baldur was taller than most people in SAO, being that he was American and stood roughly six feet tall. He was also older than most, and since the helmet displayed their real face, it was obvious to others he had left his teen-age years behind a long time ago.

"I think that's an unfortunately common story. We lost thousands of players in that first month and hadn't even cleared the first floor."

Baldur smiled as he surveyed the wintry wonderland. The snow blanketing the fields around them looked pristine and beautiful. in the distance large pine trees found their branches weighted down as snow continuously dropped from the floor high above them.

if only stars had greeted them in the sky above, today would have been perfect and the view complete.

He turned to face Tyger as she asked him to close his eyes, and he gave her a mischievious smile, but did as she asked.

"I'm so glad i have such a trustworthy girlfriend that i don't have to worry about her attacking me with snowballs as i close my eyes."

Math disagrees with you, but doing stuff in groups is what RP is all about!

I like that too Lessa.

+1 Hype for Zelrius

Yes! And believe me, you want me to have vouchers to sell! They let you change the enhancement bonus on items!

L nodded, he felt as though his standard prices where a bit low but then again, uncommons where close to useless to high level players. "Yeah sure, that's fine with me as long as you take the boots to. I just want to get rid of this stuff" He accepted the offer and watched his inventory fill with a whole lot of potions. They will most definitely be useful for the up coming boss fight. He though back for a moment, girlfriend? He suddenly felt a sense of loneliness come over him. He looked back over to baulder and tried to smile nodding his head weakly "Anyway, thanks. I'll definitely be coming back" 

 

Cost: 3200Col

Gain: 300Col(150+100+50)

Transaction: -2900Col. -3items. +8 health potions.

Baldur nodded and smiled to L, "Thank you for your patronage, and good luck out there."

He scribbled some notes into in ledger.

Sale of Boots: +50 Col

Self Bought Amulet: -100 Col

Self Bought Gauntlets: -150 Col

0 Col gained from Health Potions

+1XP

Ariel returned from halfway, she just remembered she had some extra col and didn't want to risk anything in the battle ahead. She entered the shop once more, slowly approaching the counter, timidly saying:

"I'll take one of those rations and a basic teleport crystal as well."

 

+ 1X Basic teleport Crystal

+ 1X Field Rations

-1300 col

Baldur smiles and place the items on the counter and completes the sale with her. "I am glad you returned, I hope these items help keep you safe."

He then makes another note in his ledger.

+100 Col teleport crystal

+80 Col field ration

+1 XP

Nikki walked swiftly into the store. She was on a mission, and needed to collect some health potions fast. She had the money just not the time to wait around. Thats why she was here instead of at an alchemists. She walked briskly over to the counter and pulled up the sales menu. It listed off several items but she was only interested in one right now. Healing potions, 400 col each. She sighed as she tapped on the button 6 times, adding 6 potions to her inventory and subtracting 2400 col from her bank. She gave a small sigh knowing that other players may end up in trouble and she proceeded to tap the button 6 more times. She also purchased a pair of field ration kits to grant her an additional 2 health for the fight. She made a few other purchases while she was there. She smiled pleasantly to the merchant before turning around and leaving the shop as quickly as she had arrived.

 

+12 Healing potions

+2 Field Rations

+2 Teleport Crystals

+2 Antidote Potions

-8500 col

Nikki was a woman on a mission. Baldur processed her sale and wished her luck as she left, making a notation in his ledger.

+160 Field Rations

+200 Teleport Crystal

+100 Antidotes

+1XP

Baldur bowed politely to L as he came into the shop. "Yes, my girlfriend has been running her forge for a few weeks now, but I just opened up this shop today." When L commented on the cost of his health potions, Baldur nodded.

"I think health potions are something everyone needs to have. It could be a matter of life or death. To me, it's not worth 50 or even 100 col to think that someone couldn't afford to buy a health pot. So I sell them at cost, and hope that you'll come back here to buy other things as well."

He looked down at the trade window L pulled up. "Well, my standard price for uncommons is 50 Col, and 100 for rares, but I want some items for my glass case, and I think the Amulet and those gloves would be good additions. I'll give you 100 for the Amulet, and 150 for the gloves.

He put the Col into the trade window and waited for L to accept or reject it.

"And 8 Healing Potions will come to 3200 Col."

Ariel walks around looking for a merchant, she then notices a sign saying "Catfish forge and Sundries" she searched for meaning of that last word in her head..."Sundries that's something related to the merchant job right?" and with that she enetered the shop. Taking a look around she decided she was in the right place then she made her way towards the counter and ordered:

"Can I have 5 hp potions please? I'll really need them on the next battle."

+ 5 HP potions

- 2000 col

Baldur passed Ariel the potions and took her Col. "Good luck, be safe, and come back again if you need anything else. I might recommend the rations to give you bonus HP!"

He made another note in his leder

0 col gains

+1 XP

 

Oske entered the newly updated shop, hold her hands nervously in front of her chest as she walked. She walked along the sides close to the walls, where the general store items were displayed. She finally spotted what she needed—healing potions. She quickly paid for five, then thanked the store manager and hurried on her way.

 

+5 potions

-2000 Col

Baldur thanked Oske for her business and asked her to come again in the future and made a note in his ledger.

0 Col gained

+1 XP

Baldur smiled when Tyger came over to him and give him a kiss.

"Thanks pretty lady. I'm really excited to see everything so busy!"

He watched her try on the cloak, "It looks really good for you. We'll have to test it out some night going for a walk up on the 4th floor."

He made a note in his ledger

Sold 1 basic armor

+50 Col

+1 XP

Merchant Crafting Attempts:

1/30

[iD: 7945 CD: 10] +3 XP & 2 Rare Vouchers - 1 Material

[iD: 7946 CD: 6] +1 XP & 2 Uncommon Vouchers - 1 Material

[iD: 7945 CD: 10] +3 XP & 2 Rare Vouchers - 1 Material

[iD: 7946 CD: 6] +1 XP & 2 Uncommon Vouchers - 1 Material

Baldur took his first pack of supplies that he got from his mentor the <<Master Merchant>> and went back to the warehouse. There he saw the burly <<Warehouse manager>> and Baldur set down the pack of supplies.

"You again?" The manager asked.

"Yup! I'm opening my own shop now." Baldur grinned proudly to the manager. "Please take care of me." He bowed to the Manager.

For an NPC, the manager seemed to be impressed by Baldur's manners.

"Well, seeing as how you just started up your own shop, and I hope to do lots of business with you, I'll cut you a break. I'll take what you got for 2 Rare Vouchers, and 2 Uncommon vouchers. How does that sound?"

Baldur smiled, it seemed like a good deal to him. "Since I denied your first offer from the old man, I will graciously accept this offer from you in hope of developing a good working relationship. Thank you."

Baldur accepted the Vouchers and ran back to his store.

The sign for Catfish Forge was modified to read "Catfish Forge and Sundries." Inside the largely forge dominated building, a section of the store area had been set aside for shelves and and an extra counter. The counter was littered with all sorts of basic essentials every player would need to survive in Aincrad, and the cheerful face of Baldur waited behind the counter playing with a [Perfect] set of weights and scales crafted by Tyger which helped him in his mercantile endeavors.

"Welcome! How can I help you today?"

By each item on the shelf was a price, and one of each weapon type hung on the wall as well with a hand scrawled price hanging from it as well.

"If there is anything you don't see here, let me know and I can try to get it for you. If you're looking for any special heavy armor or weapons, please talk to my partner, Tyger, as the resident master smith."

He gestured to the <<Catfish Forge>> section of the shop.

"If you're here for Healing Potions know that I only charge cost. I don't want to cost someone's life in order to make a few Col. I appreciate your business." He gives a polite bow.
 

General Items

((General Items may be bought automatically. Simply post buying the item and deducting the Col from your inventory))

Antidote Potion - Cures the target of one Condition. Requires a post action.
Customer Cost: 150 Col
Healing Potion - Heals the user for 15 Hp. Requires a post action.
Customer Cost: 800 Col
Field Rations - Grants +10 MAX HP for duration of a thread or one role-play day. Requires a post action. Cannot be used in combat or if threatened. [TEMP BUFF Cook] +Max HP
Customer Cost: 300 Col
Immolation Potion - Grants the user rank 2 thorns. (Opponent suffers 6 DMG on opponent BD: 6-8 if you were a target of their attack and are hit.) Duration: 5 Posts. Rquires a post action. [TEMP BUFF Alchemy] +Thorns
Customer Cost: 500 Col
Basic Teleport Crystal - Returns the caster to the primary safe zone location of that floor. Requires two post actions to complete teleportation. Example: You use the crystal on your first post, but do not teleport away until your next post.
Customer Cost: 2,000 Col
Basic Armor - Generic good quality armor. Provides no enhancement bonuses but may be used to gain the benefit of armor skills. All types available.
Customer Cost: 100 Col
Basic Weapons - Generic good quality weapons. Provides no enhancement bonuses. All weapon types available.
Customer Cost: 100 Col
Dimensional Backpack - Adds +1 to player carry capacity. (This item does not take up an equipment slot) May only ever have one Dimensional Backpack at any given time.
Customer Cost: 10,200 Col
Custom Fishing Rod  Gives a +1 CD to the fisherman who uses it.
Customer Cost: 2,000 Col
Custom Instrument  Gives a +1 CD to the performer who uses it.
Customer Cost: 2,000
Recording Crystal  Allows the performer using it to gain EXP.
Customer Cost: 800
Tier 1 Mats - Any basic material for any craft-based profession of tier 1.
Customer Cost: 500

Merchant Cost Ledger:

Sell Your Items

(The way this works has changed. It is no longer automatic)

"If you have any items you're no longer using, I can always use more stock for my store. I will give you a modest amount of money based on the quality of the item." He looks down at what you have to offer.

"I'll buy:

Uncommon Items: for 50 Col each

Rare Items: for 100 Col each

Perfect Items: for 200 Col or a negotiated price

Baldur rubs his chin, "If you do have a perfect item for sale, it'll really come down to what enchantments are on the item for if I can give you a better deal or not.

The Glass Display Case

Baldur gestures to the glass case under his counter showing the rare special items he has accumulated.

"In here, you'll find those special items that I felt deserved a better price, or were unique enough I thought someone with a discerning eye like you might be interested in."

Quote

A small sign in the case reads "Buying: Perfect and Rare quality Items"

 

Quote

Item: Ring of Balance (200 Col)

Item type : Lucky Charm
Quality: Uncommon
Enhancement: +1 Evasion
Shop: Catfish Sundries

Description :  A ring made of white gold with black diamonds on it forming a Yin-yang pattern that protects the user.

Quote

Item: Gentleman's Rapier (200 Col)

Item type : Weapon
Quality: Uncommon
Enhancement: +1 Bleed
Shop: Catfish Sundries

Description : The weapon of a good man. Or just an OK man. Activates Bleed on an 9-10 and deals 2 damage over the next 2 rounds.

Quote

Item: Tsurugi (2,000 col)

Item type : Weapon (Katana)
Quality: T1 Perfect
Enhancement: +3 Damage
Shop: Catfish Sundries

Description : This beautiful katana is as dangerous as they come in T1 Weapons. Originally forged by the legendary smith Tyger, it belonged to the Baldur for over a year and has seen it's fare share combat. The wielder has always come out undefeated.

Quote

Name: The Golden Night (2,000 col)
Crafted by: Tyger, Catfish Forge
Armor Type: Metal, Breastplate
Rarity: T1 Rare
Description: A black breastplate, trimmed with gold. the sheets of metal fit over each other, allowing for easier movement and better protection as the pieces shift. This armor covers the chest and falls down slightly, covering the tops of the legs.
Effect: +2 Damage Mitigation

Quote

Name: Silver Sights (1,000 Col)
Crafted by: Tyger, Catfish Forge
Armor Type: Heavy Bracers
Rarity: T1 Rare
Description: A heavy set of metal bracers, carved with the intent of increasing one's accuracy.
Effect: +2 Accuracy

Quote

Name: Kongo no Yoroi
Profession: Blacksmith
Rank: 8
ID: 60772
Roll: 12 [12+1]
Item Type: Heavy Armor Chestplate
Quality: Perfect (Tier 2)
Enhancements: +54 Mitigation
Description: Heavy samurai style armor in the colors of the sunset offers the maximum protection that one can afford.

Quote

Name: Magatama
Profession: Artisan
ID: N/A - Approved in Grandfather Thread
Item Type: Trinket
Quality: Perfect
Enhancements: +3 Accuracy
Description: This jade amulet in the shape of Yin bestows a balance of mind to the wearer, granting them greatly increased accuracy

The Catfish Exchange

Baldur gestures to a large worn ledger he keeps on his desk.

"I can also offer you an exchange service. If you have an item you no longer need, I can exchange it for an item of equal value with different bonuses. For example, if you have a Rare Sword +2 DMG, but want accuracy, with a voucher, I can get you a Rare Sword of +2 Accuracy... for a small fee."

Voucher Types: (These are legacy items and can no longer be created. They are the last of their kind)

Quote

Uncommon (500 Col) - Allows the player to re-assign enhancements to an uncommon item.
Rare (1,000 Col)- Allows the player to re-assign enhancements to a rare item.
Perfect (SOLD OUT) - Allows the player to re-assign enhancements to a perfect item.
VIP Perfect (SOLD OUT)- Same effects as Perfect Voucher. But in addition allows the player to change the item type to any other item type of the same or lesser quality. Example, you could exchange a Perfect One Hand Straight sword (Weapon) for a Perfect quality leather tunic. (Armor)

Voucher Inventory

Baldur's Crafting Ledger

THREAD COMPLETE

QUEST <<Earning a Living>> COMPLETE

Reward:

The <<Merchant>> Profession

A [Merchant Shop]

1 SP for a completed thread

400 Col for 1 Page/20 posts

Baldur burst into the general store, quite excited from his bargaining skills.

"Sensei, sensei! I look how much I got for that box of supplies!" He quickly ran up to the <<Master Merchant>> and handed the old man the vouchers he could use to exchange items of a kind at no cost.

"Impressive young man." Baldur held back a smile. It had been a long time since anyone had called him that. In this game he sometimes worried he was the oldest person there.

"With this, you have completed your apprenticeship to me. Now go forth, and open your own shop using what I have taught you, and this gift."

The <<Master Merchant>> knelt down and picked up another box of supplies like that one he had just given him. Then he reached down and picked up a ledger of his own and place it on top.

"Now you have everything you need to start your own shop. May fortune be ever in your favor young man."

He smiled, adjusted his glasses, and then patted Baldur on the cheek. As the old man walked off, Baldur pulled open his character window and saw "Merchant: Level 1" off to the side. He picked up the box and the ledger and then left the store at a jog to tell Tyger about what he had just done.

The manager frown, and considered Baldur's words and his box of supplies.

"I'll give the old man 5 uncommon vouchers, 3 Rare vouchers, and 1 perfect voucher for the whole box."
 

Baldur shook his head, and the manager seemed surprised.

"He told me you always low-balled him on the first go round. You're gonna need to give me more or I'm taking this somewhere else."

The manager rubbed his chin, and then shook his head like he couldn't believe what he was about to say.

"Fine. 4 rare vouchers, but not a single one more."

Baldur was quite surprised. A rare item was like a blue in any other MMO. That was the best kind of item you could hope to get before you started raiding. The <<Master Merchant>> had to be happy with this exchange. Baldur took the vouchers and quickly ran back to the general store.

Baldur rolled his eyes, getting into the game of it as if he were role-playing with another player rather than a system controlled non-player character.

"Well you can't expect him to give you the best stuff, he would run out of money in a heartbeat at the prices you're paying him."

The large warehouse manager scoffed at him. Did an NPC really just scoff?

"I have to make my own mark up, to someone else who has to mark it up. If I gave him what he asked, I couldn't sell it to anyone else."

Baldur shook his head and gestured with the box, "You and I both know you make your money on scale, not sale."

Ha! Baldur thought, I'm a poet and didn't know it. I wish Tyger had heard that one.

He stood a little straighter, quite proud of his rhyme.

Baldur picked up the box and he saw a ping appear on his map. Baldur bowed to the <<Master Merchant>> as he held the box before hurrying out the door. He had once and a while seen people with such a box scurrying about the city. This is the quest they must have been doing.

"I guess this beats a 'kill 10 rats' quest." He didn't know if they had any of those or not, since they had fled to the field to try and farm out the first few levels before the area around the Town of Beginnings became so dense with players that you had to fight over mob spawns.

"I can't wait to tell Tyger what I've done." He spoke to himself as he wove through the streets. The map told him where he needed to go, but it didn't tell him how to get there. He ended up going down several dead ends, and going in a full circle several times before he came to what looked like a warehouse.

"oho! Greetings, errand boy." The NPC warehouse manager greeted him. "I see you have supplied from the old man." The large warehouse manager looked like he would be more at place in the front lines with a giant axe than in a store, but Baldur supposed you certainly worked up some upper body strength working in a warehouse.

"Yes, and he told me you always try to low-ball him on the first offer." Baldur smiled softly. Would the language engine be able to barter?

"He did, did he?" The NPC said after a moment of peering into the box, "Then tell the old man to stop sending me the bottom of the barrel." 

"The last thing I must teach you." The wizened old <<Master Merchant>> said gravely to Baldur, "Is where to find the Merchant Exchange." He reached into a pocket and took out a small pin and pinned it to Baldur's lapel. Suddenly Baldur saw a small icon appear near his health bar.

"This will let you access the exchange. Your first order of business will be to take this crate of supplies and exchange them, and bring the vouchers back here."

The <<Master Merchant>> reached below the counter and pulled out a basket with a wide array of materials inside. Horns, bolts of cloth, bars of metal, leather straps, it was all piled tightly inside of the box.

"Now be sure you get the best value for this that you can!"

Baldur nodded his head as the <<Master Merchant>> walked them through the step by step process of all the different facets of being a merchant. His mind was already considering all the ways that his shop and Tyger's could synergise. Having both of them in the same location would surely help players only need to stop at one place in order to get everything they needed... or at least the basics. If they had someone who could do cloth gear, then they really would have a one-stop shop.

"I can't wait to get started. I can sell Health Potions at cost, and if that keeps even one person alive who wouldn't have had the money otherwise, it's worth it."

"The final aspect of being a merchant you must understand is the commodity market."

Baldur thought he knew where this was going, but he had never seen it in action inside the game.

"Depending on supply and demand, certain materials have higher values on some days than on others. If you buy metal when its cheap, and then wait for it to get low on supply which drives the price up, you can sell it for more money... or in the case of the merchant exchange, you trade it in for more material. That one <<Pure Silver Ore>> might be worth 4 <<Hardened Leather Hides>>, or it might be the reverse. It allows us to always keep stock with what you have... if you do it right. You might win some gambles, and loose others."

"Another facet of the exchange -" The <<Master Merchant>> continued, "- is that you can use a <<Voucher>>  to exchange like items. If you find a <<Straight Sword>> with a damage enchantment, but you have a customer who wants a <<Straight Sword>> with an accuracy enchantment, then using a <<Voucher>> you can exchange it with another merchant."

Baldur nodded his head in understanding and rubbed his chin at the thought.

"That's very handy."

Baldur pointed to the glass case that was under the counter where they were reviewing the ledger.

"Why didn't those items go to the exchange?"

The Merchant NPC made thoughtful noises for a moment, probably trying to analyze Baldur's question. 

"Custom, or very special items can make more money if they have high demand bonuses." The <<Master Merchant>> "You can sell them to the merchant to make a quick col, or you can put them out for sale and a player can come in and pay you full price."

As they were reviewing the ledger, a player came in. The <<Master Merchant>> gestured for Baldur to join him.

The player pulled up a menu and made a few swords and materials appears on the counter.

"Sell items." The player said, and the NPC obliged, touching each item and making it disappear with the sound of Col jingling in his ear. The player gave Baldur a curious, but left the store without any further comment.

"What happens to the items he sold?" Baldur cast a glance around the store, but nothing the man had sold appeared anywhere.

"The merchants have an exchange. Items players bring to you go out into the trade network for other merchants who want to sell them. We sell low to each other, and add a mark up to the consumer."

"Merchant-Sensei."

The elderly man turned to Baldur and blinked as he looked around the store.

"Well done. You are now familiar with the primary goods of a merchant. Now you must understand profit."

He reached under the counter and pulled out a ledger. In the ledge, her listed several factors which showed how many of what materials it cost to make each item, and an approximate value for those materials. According to his book, it cost 500 Col in materials to make an <<Antidote Potion>> and 400 Col to make a <<Healing Potion>> using standard merchant supplier pricing. Depending on the cost of mats, you could make or break your profit margin. If Baldur could get a steady, reliable flow of materials and items, then he could offer less for an item, but it meant making less as well.