A Trade Venture to Africa

[Xion]

At the docks owned by Sextus Erucia Mergus, groups of workers carry boxes, barrels, and other items filled with various trade goods valued at a thousand denarii by Mergus or one of his agents from the marketplaces of Capua, Rome, Perugia, and Ostia ranging from foodstuffs to a few exotic pieces brought to the marketplaces by traveling merchants. The senator oversees the process from the deck of one of the two quinqueremes that along with several triremes will be serving as a escort for the six liburna on the journey from Ostia to Carthago and back. Mergus is approached by the captain of the warship, who salutes the senator. "The last liburna will be filled within the hour. Shall I order the fleet to begin preparations for departure?" "Yes, captain. This ship shall lead the formation, with the triremes divided between the flanks, and the other quinquereme defending the rear. The liburnas will be positioned in the center of the formation." The captain salutes again and calls over several men to serve as messengers to the other ships to inform them of Mergus' orders.

Once the final ship is loaded, the fleet begins it's journey to Carthago. Sextus mutters a prayer to both Neptune and Jupiter as he watches the port of Ostia grow smaller as the ship sails to the southwest.

Objectives
1. Roll for travel from Ostia to Carthago
2a.Acquire citrus, minerals, and exotic goods of Africa in exchange for goods produced in Rome and the surrounding area.
2b. Acquire dates for Quintus Caecilius Metellus Pius
4. Roll for travel from Carthago to Ostia.

Potential Threats :
Pirates

ooc : If anyone is interested in playing a merchant in Carthago if my characters successfully makes it there, feel free.

[Pontifex Maximus]

The voyage from Ostia to Carthage goes smoothly. No ships were lost and no squalls arose to threaten the passage of the fleet. It seemed as if Neptune had been either asleep or well disposed to the voyage.

once the fleet arrived in Carthage, many merchants could be found in their stalls near the protected port.

[Xion]

The journey from Ostia to Carthage would take the vessels four days to complete, with Sextus joining several of the crew in praying to Neptune once the harbor of Carthage was in sight in thanks for the favorable seas and winds. The ships dock at the harbor, and Sextus disembarks from his ship to meet with the harbor officials while the crew of his liburnas begin the process of unloading the various wares in the cargo hold. Mergus makes his way into the market, inspecting the wares of several merchants before approaching one of the merchants with a larger stall than his neighbors. "Ave. Do you happen to have any modius of dates?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

A man of a bronze color greeter Sextus. "Dates? Yes of course, from the interior, we have many for sale."

[Xion]

A man of a bronze color greeter Sextus. "Dates? Yes of course, from the interior, we have many for sale."

"Good." He orders some of his men over with the goods the senator has brought from Ostia. "In exchange for these goods, how many modi of dates would I be able to acquire?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"I could sell...twenty. But no more." the merchant replied

[Xion]

"I could sell...twenty. But no more." the merchant replied

Sextus pauses for a moment to consider the offer, before replying with a counter offer. "How many modi of dates would you be willing to sell for 1,500 denarii?"

[Pontifex Maximus]

"Three." he replied

[Xion]

"Three." he replied

Sextus pauses to think for a moment, his goods were worth twenty modi of dates to the merchant, and for fifteen hundred denarii he could acquire three more. "The twenty are likely enough to fill two liburna of dates." he thinks before presenting a new offer. "I offer you the goods I have here along with two thousand denarii for twenty five modi of dates."

[Xion]

After dealing with the date merchant, Sextus decides to return to Ostia instead of seeking out a merchant selling citrus. Supplies for the journey are purchased and the next day, Mergus' fleet begins the journey back to Ostia after conducting a prayer to Neptune.

Rolls required -
1. Date merchant accepting/denying the offer or making a counter offer
2. Travel back to Ostia.

[Rhapture]

1) The merchant accepts the offer
2) Travel is swift back to Rome as the south winds blow at the end of the year.