The Art of the Deal!

"Yes, I would like to speak to someone in charge," I said as I sat down at the bar.

"Have you encountered a problem within The Thoughtful Hatchet Pub?" asked the bartender.

"No sir, I rather like the environment here. I was trying to see if your pub might be interested in purchasing a potion of mine," I replied.

"Oh, you are a potion master young noble," said the bartender as he nodded his head.

This must not have been the first time some arrogant noble had came by to try to sell shabby potions to the pub. It seemed as if he was playing along with me. I was quick on the uptake, I had to dispel the image that I was some frivolous young noble.

"Yes, sir. Do not compare me to those that have come before to peddle off potions to you. I am on my way to become a dignified Mage and have taken up potion making since my youth. The potions I am selling are a quality product," I said.

"Ah, I understand young noble. I will take you to meet the barkeep. Be warned, the barkeep doesn't have much patience. If you are only planning to playing tricks, then he will ban you from reentering The Thoughtful Hatchet Pub. Although we are not the most prominent establishment in the Slivia Kingdom, it is no doubt a great shame for a noble to be banned from an establishment," said the bartender.

He motioned for me to follow him to the back of the bar. I followed him, leaving Miya to stay in the front, as it was not customary for servants to loiter around during business dealings.

We walked through stores of kegs and food supplies as we made our way to the back of the bar. Eventually we came to a heavy oaken door. The bartender knocked three times in a rhythmic fashion on the door then said, "Barkeep, I have a young noble that's interested in selling potions to our establishment."

"Mason, you know I don't like dealing with impetuous young nobles, especially this early in the morning. Go ahead and send him in, you better hope for your sake he's got something good!" said a gruff voice behind the door.

The bartender opened the heavy oaken door and motioned for me to enter. Inside was a large office space with an oaken wooden desk. Behind the desk sat a portly middle-aged man with a bristly walrus mustache and circular glasses.

"So what do you have for me today, young noble?" asked the walrus with a frown on his face. Maybe it was just the huge mustache that made him look like he had a frown. But from his tone of voice I could tell he was unhappy I had come into his office today.

I paid his cordiality no mind as I closed the door behind me and took a seat.

"I've come to sell a few kegs of quality potion to you, sir. You may check them out to determine their value to you," I said. As I placed a keg of my Potion of Minor Endurance on his desk.

"So this is what you've come to sell?" asked the walrus as he looked at the keg.

He pulled out a brilliant bejeweled shot glass from within his desk.

"I had this thing specially made, its one of the reasons I could come so far in the pub business," said the walrus as he showed off his shot glass.

"It can test the quality of any beverage and has never steered me wrong. Its why no one questions the product we sell in The Thoughtful Hatchet Pub. Everything I sell here goes through the authentication of this magical shot glass."

He put a bit of the potion into the clear bejeweled shot glass as it began to change color. The magical shot glass changed color slowly. At first it started out as a light blue, then it went to a light green. Eventually the shot glass settled at a light red color.

"It's an acceptable product you've got here," said the walrus as he looked at the shot glass with a slight smile.

"So what do you want for it?"

This old walrus was the perfect negotiator. He had kicked it back to me to set the initial price point. I had no idea what the different colors displayed had meant. I had gained a bit from our exchange so far though. I now knew that potions could be brewed at different qualities now. Daquan's books were too low level to point this out.

I was at a disadvantage in this negotiation. If my initial price was below the potions value he could bring me down without a sweat. I'd be counting the money for him while he ripped me off. And if I set it too high with this guys temperament, he might kick me out of his office all together.

I decided to go with the age old top tier negotiation tactic. Silence!

As long as I didn't speak it was up to him to start the negotiations. That would also let me gage his want for the product, and better assess its value from his social ques. I sat there staring down at the walrus, not saying a word.

The atmosphere in the room started to change as he looked at me and looked at the magical shot glass. He had grown impatient with my silence. He began fiddling his fingers on the desk as he waited for me to speak. I would never speak though, anything I said put me at a further disadvantage.

About three minutes had rolled by before the walrus finally couldn't take anymore of the silence.

"How does 120 Gold a keg sound?" asked the walrus.

I was caught off guard now. The value he said was higher than I knew this potion could sell for. I didn't let my excitement get the best of me though. I continued my stark silence, waiting to see if he would up his price!