(April 18th, 2015)

~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~
This is related to the following event:
Auction & Fashion Competition in Grenrill
~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~

Captain's Quick Report: Grenrill Trading Guild Ribbon-Cutting & Auction (Grenrill Village Anniversary Festival)

  Today marked the continuation of celebrations relating to Grenrill Village and The Northern Garrison, with the grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony of the Grenrill Trading Guild building, just slightly into the village and on the left past a few houses beforehand.

  And as I sit here just an hour or later in the evening past my departure, it is with a good smile and nod of thanks towards the folk of Grenrill Village and The Northern Garrison, that I begin to recollect, for the purpose of this Quick Report, my memories and a rough overview of today's lovely proceedings to submit for The Grey Repository.  While of course a later, more full report from my perspective shall be published and written when circumstances allow sometime in the future, as always.

  I would begin by writing my arrival to the event was a most warm and welcoming feeling bestowed by the Northern Garrison folk present, with greetings and cheer that uplifted this old Bree Captain's spirits -- it was without much further stress upon my mind that I had the welcome chance to meet and converse with Master Elf Mattharan and Missus Brundela, on much better terms by the end of today than the week before. 

  With Master Silon making the swift journey to Grenrill Village soon after, it was shortly revealed at the opening ceremony that Brundela was also now the rank of Guild Master for the Grenrill Trading Guild, taking the place of former interim Guildmaster Pall Edgarsson.  And by the end of the night much later on, Mattharan was revealed to be an important First Marshall to the Northern Garrison. 

 When the newly-appointed Guild Master Brundela made a speech introducing and describing, in healthy depth, the vision and goals of the Grenrill Trading Guild, it was a most engaging thing to hear, and a following copy of the speech is included below:

~ ~ ~

Guild Master Brundela's Opening Speech and Vision on the Grenrill Trading Guild

'Thank you Pall for the warm welcome and thank you to the Glenrill community for placing your trust in me for this exciting endeavour!'

'And exciting it will be!'

'I would like to share with you my vision of how we will expand and grow our reach in the global market.'

'With Pall's help, I have devised a strong four Rs approach designed to maximize our revenue, reach, reputation and retail.'

'First, we will be building out our offerings in auctions. We will continue to hold auctions such as the one today on a weekly basis but will also offer handling auctions for out partners.'

'At our auctions, we will include items given to us to sell and remit the profits, minus a small fee. This will allow our partners to benefit from our reputation and advertisements to have their items reach a larger population and gain a better profit!!'

'That brings us to our second r, reach, which is to open up trading routes, the first of which is from Glenrill to Michel Delving.'

'This route of about 120 miles will take two weeks to travese. We will have official trading locations during this two week journey, at various cities along the route, for all of laurelin to to join us in trading goods or stories.'

'Depending on the feedback we get, we may open up more routes as there is great room for expansion in this!'

'Thirdly, for reputation, we will attempt to fill a niche that hasn't been done before. We will open up the guild to investors!!!'

'Investors will deposit funds with us which we will then devote to our large community of crafters and sentries to turn your investment into double, triple or more!'

'The longer the investment, the more we both profit!'

'Lastly, my vision for the future is that of replacing Lalia's market and the skirmish camps with the Glenrill Trading Company.'

'Both Laila's market and the camps definitely fill a needed space but they use a specific currency that the common people do not necessarily have.'

'We will stock dyes, cosmetics, class items and more available for purchase with regular gold, silver and copper currency. We will have prices available for all to see so bring your money and what you want and walk out happy!'

'All of this without using the auction house but instead a quick conversation or mail message to one of us.'

'Thank you for listening to me and my plans for the Trading Company. With your help and patronage, we can realize increase revenue, a larger reach, a greater reputation and break into retail!'

'We will take the Company into an exciting direction where all profit!'

~ ~ ~

 Afterwards, the current leader of Grenrill Village, a Lady Mindriana, completed the ceremony with the cutting of a ribbon, across the front door into the large building before us, and we were invited inside to await the beginning of the Auction that would mark many more of such planned for weeks to come, so it was said.

 The auction went smoothly, from as much as 700 silvers and even 4 gold did some items go for, and Master Silon, in the end, won some lovely tokens that seemed to spread a warmth of great hope.  Others won a well-trimmed hedge sculpture of what I must assume was an Elven Lady, a fine Gondorian-crafted chair, and even a rare but fine sturdy key of sorts!

 It was a most calm but quick-paced proceeding, watched over from behind the auction table by two of the Northern Garrison members on guard for any unbecoming conduct or biddings.  With luck, I had kept my wallet safe and tucked away from any tempting, mistaken troubles I might have blundered into otherwise, and most of the other bidders were also as tame.  There was one of The Bloody Dawn I believe however, and though I don't recall any trouble at the time to disrupt the auction, he did have quite the stern and strong look about him.  Master Basaran, I do think was his name, there was some fine bidding from the fellow indeed to say the least!

 The activities afterwards mostly ranged from conversations of relaxed nature back in the main hall of the building.  Master Silon and I had a good chat about many things, and he also played a soothing collection of tunes once again for those nearby in the vast room.  His talents on the harp are most commendable, I would dare to warrant the Order of the White Flame kin is quite lucky to have him join their ranks proper recently!

 Near the end, I was also able to have a most fulfilling and warm discussion with the former Guildmaster Pall about several thoughts that had crossed my mind, and we conversed most heartily on several more topics and potential opportunities as well. 

  With the future of the Grenrill Trading Guild looking quite promising as time and the efforts of it's members might reveal someday soon, I took my leave to prepare for the possibilities tomorrow -- the Grenrill Village Anniversary Festival moving onto a planned Fashion Show and Competition at around the same time as today, and continued rumours that a search for singing badgers far in the Shire, in Bindbole Wood, is still to take place just a few hours prior.

  Congratulations to this grand opening of the Grenrill Trading Guild, to the promotion of it's new Guild Master Brundela, and also former interim Guildmaster Pall, for bringing together a most promising creation of trade and commerce, to begin it's operations and embarking on it's vision for Grenrill Village, and beyond.

Signed,

Captain Naismithea Willarc

Watcher of Roads
Representative of the Bree Captain's Guild
Officer of the Sworn Wanderers

 

A handful of drawings and sketches from the event.