While I’ve been splitting my time between watching Jello and watching the baby scythemaws, others are still busy. For one, the few nests in the spiderkin enclave are starting to hatch, too, giving me a nice windfall of mana. I mostly push it into the ally pool for now. I want to grow that emergency pile of mana for when we need it, and to encourage the Southwood to make a second scion. Having a bit of a safety net should help him with the learning process of not really issuing orders anymore.

Poe went and got Tarl to get his opinion on the baby scythemaws. He thinks they’re cute, too. I knew there was a reason I liked him. He doesn’t have much advice for me about them, though. He’s no Ranger, but staying out of their way should be enough for them to keep doing what they do. He did say he’ll ask the rangers for their opinion, but neither of us really thinks they’ll have anything new to contribute.

They’ll probably send someone to at least come take a look. I think the more outgoing ones are already off to the Southwood, leaving mostly the nerds, but what self respecting nature nerd could resist seeing and recording a hatching nobody else has?

Aranya has been working with the enclaves to make sure they’re all ready, and has apparently gotten help from a snakekin tailor. I’ve noticed him visiting the enclaves, but I’ve had more pressing things to pay attention to lately. He seems built more like a constrictor, but he has a hood and fangs, so maybe he works out? Or tailoring is more physically demanding than I thought? Either way, he’s enjoying a meeting with Aranya, Larx, Folarn, and Norloke in the public war room.

I should probably ask the Southwood if there’s a more generic meeting room or something I could trade for. The war room is convenient for gathering and talking, but the maps are kinda in the way for what sounds more like a merchant meeting than battle planning.

I can see Aranya smile as she notices my attention, and soon she speaks up. “Ah, Mr. Harlenss, would you mind repeating your proposal? Lord Thedeim is watching us right now, and I think he would like to hear what you have to say.”

My dwellers perk up a bit at that, while the snakeman looks a little confused. “Does he not know already?”

Aranya shakes her head. “His attention has been turned to other matters recently.”

He nods in understanding. “Ah, the trouble to the north. I probably shouldn’t be surprised he’s been preoccupied then. Well… to get to the point, I may have a way to ensure everyone stays warm on the march.”

Oh? He had my curiosity before, but now he has my attention. Aranya motions for him to continue, so he does.

“I’m a haberdasher by trade, basically a tailor specialized in men’s clothing, not just hats,” he says with a smile that indicates he’s had to explain that many times before. Haberdashers really deal in more than just hats? Of course, I can’t exactly interrupt him with Teemo still up at the Southwood, so he continues without much pause.

“I’ve noticed the wonderful silks of your aranea and your spiderkin, so over the last week or so, I’ve been attempting to form some kind of trade deal. Imagine my surprise to learn they have a pressing need that potentially falls under my purview.”

Norloke nods at that. “While we’ve been able to weave thicker silks, the process is just too slow to be able to provide enough for everyone.”

“But I know some sheep ranchers with an excess of wool. This winter is shaping up to be on the milder side, so they have more supply than is needed for the usual winter clothing needs. I can buy the wool and trade it for silk, and everyone wins,” he finishes with a smile, and I mentally nod at the proposition. I’m hardly an expert in cloth, but I imagine if he trades a bolt of wool for a bolt of silk, he’ll be making out like a bandit, and my spiderkin will be able to be safe and warm on the journey.

“He’s also at least passingly familiar with leatherworking,” speaks up Larx, and the snakeman nods at that.

“I wouldn’t be able to outfit an army on my own, of course, but I can also offer pointers to the ratkin, in exchange for their strange mushroom fabric.”

Mushroom fabric? Larx must be able to feel my confusion, because he smiles like a grandfather who has had a gift to a grandchild revealed.

“Yes, Lord Thedeim. We’ve been experimenting with the mycelium itself, and we’ve managed to make a comfortable and durable fabric. I brought a sample for Mr. Harlenss, too.” He lays a square yard of what looks a lot like denim to me on the table, and I can see the look of need in the snakeman’s eyes. Yeah, he knows his stuff. If he makes men’s clothing, he’s going to make a killing selling mushroom jeans.

Aranya smiles as she speaks. “Lord Thedeim seems to approve of the trades, so let us discuss price.”

“I believe I can get fifty bolts of woolen fabric on short notice, and possibly fifty more later, should it prove necessary. I would offer trading it, bolt for bolt for silk. For my instruction on leatherworking, I’d like ten bolts of the mycelium fabric,” comes his initial offer, which Norloke parries with a smile on her face.

“Twenty bolts of silk for fifty of wool. Our silk is the highest of quality, and rare in the market besides.” Larx steps in and combos with her offer.

“Two bolts for the instruction. I would also offer some of our fabric to help our fellow dwellers, perhaps fifteen silk and ten mycelia for the fifty wool?” Norloke nods at that, and the snakeman needs to think quickly to counter their financial attack.

“Twenty-five and twenty, silk and mycelia, for fifty wool. Wool is a known demand, and there will not be any more until until the spring. You would have me trade a known and stable product almost one for one for an unknown in the mycelia, and in a fabric not known for retaining warmth? Insulation is valuable to my other potential clients.” He weathers the twin assault with aplomb, setting up his own counter-offensive. My dwellers are put on the back foot, but they aren’t giving up the fight just yet.

“We also know little about your wool, or how to work it,” points out Norloke. She and Larx exchange a look before she continues. “We could go as high as… twenty and fifteen, if you are willing to extend your expertise to show us how to properly clothe ourselves with the wool.”

Their counter leaves Harlenss’ wallet bleeding, and I can see in his eyes he can’t outright reject an offer like that. Still, he will not go down without obtaining his own pound of flesh. “I agree, on the condition I also get three bolts each of silk and mycelium for each day of instruction.”

It’s my dwellers turn to reel from the financial impact. They know how valuable his expertise would be, just as he does. Another glance is shared before Larx speaks up. “Two bolts of one, depending on which you teach that day.” Harlenss grins at the counter, and my dwellers realize they’ve made a mistake as he counters and goes in for the kill.

“Two of each. I can teach both in a single day. We can even discuss after the first day if you want more of my instruction or not.” Harlenss smiles in his victory, already knowing my dwellers will accept.

“Deal…” comes the inevitable reply from both Larx and Norloke, and though they can feel the sting of what they had to give, they both also know the value of what they gained. Harlenss claps his hands together in excitement and slithers back a bit from the table.

“So, shall we off to the enclaves? I don’t think either of us is quite ready to deliver that many bolts at once, but if I can get a look at your facilities, and get four silk and three mycelium bolts, I can return in the morning with ten wool and begin the instruction!”

My dwellers are cheered by his enthusiasm, and soon lead him towards the spiderkin enclave. The snakeman toys with the sample of mycelium cloth the entire trip down, testing and planning. Once deep in the heart of the weaving rooms, he looks like he’s in paradise. The orbweaver spider ply their trade, weaving and looming, sewing and dyeing. He just watches for a few seconds before his mouth betrays him.

“If you had shown me this place first, you could have argued me down further.”

Norloke smiles and guides him deeper into the busy workplace. “Perhaps, but I’m happy with our deal as it is already.” Her eyes gleam for a moment as she meets his gaze. “I’ll keep that in mind for the next fifty bolts of wool, though.”