We need to take a step back and reconsider our business model here. War can be good for business, but if there is too much war, there's nobody left to give us the money to make payroll. We want three things, customers, payroll money and suppliers. Widescale destruction doesn't actually get us those. What does actually get us one of those is creating a careful balance of power.
"This is going to be complicated. You see, our company is bankrupt. We need support. And, we'll, we're in the business of war... But now we are caught up in the middle of diplomacy of all things right now. The elves have a load of Adamantium that I have persuaded to leave to me for safe keeping. If I turn it over to you, I'd be starting a war. But if I let them hold onto it, they'd go starting a war with it. This is a war that we are about as prepared for as a sandstone block in lava. And if this factory goes down, then our nation's last weapons making industry is belly up.
Councilor, if you want my advice, what we should do right now is slow this situation down and play dumb. Get the council ready with a mandate for the construction of locomotives and tractors but keep it under wraps. As soon as the Adamantium is delivered to our yard, you make the announcement of the mandate. We are the only one that could meet the demand so Dwarven law will obligate us to suspend current production until the mandate is filled. Locomotives and tractors will be useful if it comes to war, but they aren't war materials per-se. Stall the elves through the typical diplomatic channels and we will stonewall them over here. That will give us time to consolidate our position. In a few months, we'll be secure enough to force the elves into selling the Adamantium to us, all strictly nice and legal. Bastards will be getting what they expect for trying to strongarm dwarves."
After the conversation with the council member is done, we need to call up the human traders guild. Tell them that we would like to arrange for a 300,000 Urist loan starting next week. At the time of the loan, we will be willing to provide evidence of collateral of the high value and contractual guarantees of payments from highly creditworthy customers sufficient to cover the loan.
One might ask why we are seeking this loan if we already have operating income from the elven deal. The answer is that tripods are more stable then bipods. We are going to make it so that the Council and Elves are both seeking to yank control of the Adamantium away from each other. In the middle will be us. We will get the human bankers into the situation by giving them an incentive to support us in maintaining the status quo. They will be making a profit off their loan from us, so they will want us to stay in business so they can keep profiting. When you owe the bank 300 Urist, the bank gives you mandates. When you owe the bank 300,000 Urist, you give the bank mandates.
(Xanatos, eat your heart out.)
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Topic: Titans of Dwarven Industry! (Updated 5/24) (Read 21487 times)