2. Digging in Sand

Arrakis, Carthag, House Heslin
Having returned from the Sihaya Ridge and the smuggler's den you found there, you return to the city of Carthag, and Kendon Ordway drops you off near the manor. You make your way along, and are soon inside. The relief from the desert heat is immediate. If anything, the city streets are more oppressive than the open wilderness. It's as if the buildings, colored light to reflect the heat, instead contain it, condense it. But Sina is modestly wealthy, and it is her way to pamper her household.

Modestly wealthy. As one of the premiere water science experts on Arrakis, House Heslin has more than it's share of solari and water.

The local cut marble, harvested from the north pole, shines with pride, and seems to cool the air in a way that feels like home. A massive fountain shoots an untellable wealth into the air, you skin sighing in relief with the humidity.

Standing before the fountain, you find Sina, taking measurements and recording those on a recording device.

Marya walks up to Sina,

"Lady Sina, our meeting went well with the smugglers."

"We learned that Ordway, the contact we were directed towards, is responsible for most of the smugglers' ability to transport goods here in Arrakis, and also off-world. This group of smugglers is a small operation, but competent. We all feel that we can rely on their trust and loyalty if we work with them - trust and loyalty are the basis of their entire operation. They will be there to back us up, as long as we are true to our agreements with them."

"We agreed to work out the details of prices and payment later on, once the operation is in action."

"We revealed to them that we are working on behalf of you, of House Helsin

"We let them know that our interest in talking to them is for, firstly, their help building a new Grand Market here in Carthag. That we would look for their help sourcing and acquiring the kinds of non-illicit goods required to make the market a success. They currently traffic mostly in high-value smaller items - spice, but also art works, weapons, and high-tech machines."

"Secondly, that we have the skills to highly refine melange and that we're looking for their help moving this melange off-world to customers. They told us that they have previously trafficked raw melange, working with raw spice. It was a lot to move, as it is mostly sand, and that made it difficult to work with. They would be very interested to work with more refined melange, however."

"We agreed that we would work as independent partners, with each of us keeping control of their own methods and processes."

"I was able to capture the attention of their leader, The Owl. He is now desperate to spend time alone with me. He is a charismatic man, is smitten with me, and is very eager to please me. He may be an invaluable contact for the work we are planning here. In an effort to impress me, he indicated he would convince the others in his organisation to offer us an initially reduced price while we establish the trust and processes required."

"We left the meeting agreeing to stay in touch via Ordway. The Owl indicated he will be in the city more often than he has previously, so we could meet here."

"As next steps I suggest we compile a list of goods we would be interested in sourcing from them for the market here in Carthag, progress other plans towards setting up the market. That we also prepare a sample of the refined spice to share with them, so they have a sense of quite how fine our product is - and hence how promising their prospects are when they do indeed work with us."

"Does that fit well with your plans, Lady Sina? If they do, then perhaps our team can start the processes of intrigue and heavy-handedness that we would need to protect and conceal our plans?"

Rook's primary contraband had been flechette pistols. Unfortunately, those would not be legitimate market items. Still, it was a lucrative operation and he hoped to have it grow. He didn't see any reason why he couldn't move weapons for both the market and his own operation. He'd tend to Lady Sina's and this group's goals as well as his own.

He listens carefully and watches Sina's face. He expects her to be pleased with their progress. Everything appears to be coming together nicely although it was very early days yet. Marya had her developing relationship with Ordway to cultivate and maintain and they had a list to make.

"Art always provides a vast area of legitimate works to display," he suggests.

Hural remains stoic and observant during Marya's relay of their meeting with The Owl. Specific, detailed - Sina would know exactly what they had accomplished. He watches for signs of dissatisfaction on her face.

"Art is good, yes. Any luxury products - water, of course, coffee, clothing, perfumes, cosmetics - to name some more."

"This is excellent work, all of you. I'll trust you to handle the details, in order to keep that side of the business open. The market will be entirely legitimate trade, on the surface, where people might acquire domestic goods, sundries, exotic foods, furniture, arts and crafts, all the way up to vehicles and luxury goods. Below the surface, if it is known that certain things might be acquired within the maze of stalls, then so much the better. Mystique and opulence, hand in hand "

She runs her fingers through the water of the fountain. "There are those who will oppose us. I've heard word that the criminal element, or one of their many faces, wishes to discuss security concerns for my proposed market. In addition, the builders guild has purchased several buildings in the most opportune site, likely going to cash in on the venture. I've purchased most of what I need, but not all, and the word has gotten out somehow. Tomorrow, I'd like you to meet with the protection racket and convince them that opposing us will be to their detriment. Then we'll need to meet with the builders to make sure their investment doesn't interfere with mine. "

"Forgive my thinking, Lady Sina. Would it be possible these criminals might be of some use to us? As you say, there are many faces of criminality within Carthag. It is unlikely we can rid us of them all. Perhaps instead we identify the strongest among them and ensure our support in exchange for specific limits on their collections, we might exert some control over things?"

Rook nods enthusiastically.

"Yes and Shadran Korr might be able to suggest the more reliable of those criminal elements. It's worth mentioning too that we can profit handsomely from Artwork. Only the wealthy can afford reputable works and this affords a sizeable markup, whereas necessities don't have the same profit margins."

When the discussion turns to threats to Lady Heslin's operation, it has Marcus's full attention.

She nods at Hural, as if acknowledging that he's caught on at once (not that she expected otherwise). "I'm certain that they have useful skills, if they could be bent to trustworthiness. I do have a reputation to maintain, but Arrakis is what it is. I'll say this as unguarded as I can, since it is just us -- results are all that matters, and if we have to work with a gang of cutthroats and thieves, then so be it. Best we know that in advance, of course, and take precautions. I'm sure Rook can coach you on what those precautions look like."

"Yes, Lady Sina. You can be assured that I will offer all my advice on dealing with the criminal elements."

Hural nods curtly, "Cutthroats and thieves, so long as they are our cutthroats and thieves - agreed." He pauses, then adds, "And we'll deal with the builder's guild. Should we have the option to negotiate a purchase of those properties they have taken ahold of, I assume a reasonable budget would be allowed? I believe that would be my first approach, if in agreement Lady Sina."

Marya listens to the others, feeling no need to add to the conversation at this moment. The plans that are developing sound like good next steps to her.

You settle on a budget, but you know that the funds she has for this project will not last indefinitely, and so achieving some kind of savings would allow more freedom later.

With the prospect of your first visit to the proposed site of the new grand market, which Sina privately refers to as her Souq, you set a time to go together.

Marcus and Rook both know that the area will be rougher than the merchant district, as it lays between a good zone and stricken poverty. As the market develops, the surrounding area will increase in wealth making the the market itself ever more secure, but at the moment, it's going to be more dangerous.

When you arrive by a discrete, less flamboyant kind of limocar, you find the shops in question to be in good shape, but around them is a maze of small rough buildings. While the buildings you need to secure are in surpassingly good shape, the buildings in the surrounding part of the city were once sturdy enough to withstand sandstorms but are showing signs of imminent collapse. Shady, hooded figures gather in the shade, countless eyes upon you from a myriad books and crannies in the warren.

"We're looking for the Builders' Guild," Rook says as he approaches the less threatening of the shadows, his hand obviously sliding toward his knife. Rook knows that he has a reputation among many of these criminal elements and their patsies. He therefore hopes that one or more of them will recognize him as a person not to be trifled with.

"Your bosses too. How might we find one or more of them?"

Marcus watches people come and go, keeping an eye out for trouble.