Entry tags:
BUSINESS: A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK
LOCATION ► ODIN DISTRICT | ｈｅｒｅ.
LINK(S) ►
A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK INFORMATION
BUREAU INFORMATION
LAST UPDATE: July 25th, 2013
▋DESCRIPTIONSPURPOSES | PUBLIC KNOWLEDGEWhat is known of the building to any outsider looking in is that it is holds the shop A Needle in a Haystack. Made from four levels overall, the shop is located on the floor/bottom level of the building. The building seems as it is on the exterior and there is no acknowledged noise that seems to come from the upper three levels in and outside the shop.
In regards to the civilian level, what is known of the shop is nothing out of the ordinary. It is what it is and is known for it's wares, services, cuisine as well as the exceedingly grouchy shop owner. Located somewhere within the middle of Odin District it sits amongst a small outcropping of buildings similar in design, holding an antique quality to the appearance. The entrance to the assassin's bureau is located on the roof to reduce traffic and the changes of outsides wandering in out of curiosity. All other entrances on the second, third and fourth floors, including windows and doors, have been blocked, locked or barricaded intensely. IF one was to somehow find a way around this, the only staircase to the top levels is wrecked from the bottom floor, ruined and unsafe to travel upon while a large section is missing which proves difficulty for one to traverse. Also, if one could somehow ascend the staircase, it runs into a secured wall that has been recently included in the design of the building. Beyond that wall is the second floor in which there is only an seemingly endless supply of broken furniture and supplies. The only entrance to the upper floors is well hidden.
As far as public knowledge of the building of as a whole is concerned, it's a shop and the assumption is that things are stored on the upper three levels and nothing more. No one is ever seen though heading upstairs from the bottom floor. To civilian view, it holds an outside patio, a indoor sitting area, the shop and kitchen and nothing beyond that.INTERIORInside of the shop, things are decorated in a simple manner at the current time. Still in the style of Middle Eastern design, there are three main areas: the floor sitting area, the shop area and the kitchen. The shop is basic with many shelves lining the corner where it is located alongside with the front desk where costumers can buy goods from the employee working there. Spices and other natural bits can be found in burlap sacks open in the area in which a scoop is located for pouring their own sacks full as the items there are measured by weight. The kitchen is simple and most everything is cooked over a fire pit in a very ancient sort of manner. It is blocked off primarily from public view. The sitting area is on the floor though an archway leads to an outside patio that has chairs and benches for eating goods served. The ground has many comfortable rugs and pillows to sit upon with ottomans for higher support and a group table that is low to the groundEXTERIORDifficult to scale, a task to break into, no windows nor doors are opened with any ease or any sense of the word if attempted. Certainly one could break into the shop if they wished but anything other than that seems to be abandoned. All glass panes on the upper level have been covered by curtains, wooden boards or detailed covering patterns. It seems rundown in an antique manner, of little interest asides the general design and normally left alone, passed daily by civilians without a second glance asides towards the shop on the bottom level which see's steady traffic and diverts the general publics eyes from the top three stories the building holds. With it's catering to particular clientele though it's not the busiest shop in the district so can be easily passed by.
On the ground level though, there is the entrance to the shop as well as normally open windows that reach from the top to bottom of the facade. The colors are touched up and vivid, and the sign is hand painted that hangs over the double doors that lead inward. Outside there is a small patio area to the right of the doors and also has an arched entryway that leads into another floor sitting area for costumers wanting to partake in dine-in. The outdoor sitting area consists of two small round tables and wall-seats that accompany them as well as one extra free-floating chair per table. When the shop is closed, all outside items are brought in and the store is locked through windows and gates securely.
▋BASIC INFORMATION (PUBLIC SPHERE)SHOPA Needle in a Haystack is business where one can find a variety of wares for well and services to partake in. Consider it a general store that holds many things, as many shops traditionally do from the owners geographical location, and services due to a variety of employees offering them. Located on the lower level of a four level building, the decor of the shop inside and out is distinctively in favor of the style of the Middle East. Things that the shop offer differ from day to day, depending on what is popular and what is not. Yet they specialize in items from more ancient periods dealing with medicine, culinary items (some that can be served and consumed on grounds) and items used for more personal forms of communication such as writing utensils. At times the shop will hold household items catered towards the time periods of the past and in similar decor to the shop but it's all on a basis of production, supply and demand. With new employees and new minds brought into the mix it is likely that the selection of goods and services will grow but at the moment it's minimal. The stock and items held in the shop will update bi-monthly. If a character wishes to request an item/service for the shop to carry or produce particularly they may do so under this thread.
HOURSSATURDAY thru THURSDAY: 0900 to 1300 | 1400 to 1900
CLOSED: FRIDAY
PRICESUnfortunately for the prospective buyer, prices in A Needle in a Haystack are NOT SET. Everything on the shelf/currently in stock is sold via the art of haggling. Depending on the employee behind the counter at the time, the level of their ability to do so can either get your character something for a decent price or perhaps more than what you bargained for. Assumption of the sold price is up to the character buying as everything does not have to be logged in-character but if one would actually want to play through the torture of haggling for something IC!ly they may do so HERE in which any employee may reply.
The only thing that has set charges for the shop is the eat-in food prices and services. If food is offered to be in stock and bought by the weight then it can be haggled down, if the item is offered to be consumed on site then the prices are set. The item list is updated bi-monthly and at times will offer these cooking supplies.
WARES (CURRENTLY IN STOCK)(COUNTER BOUGHT | TAKE AWAY)
➥ PARCHMENT
➥ QUILLS
➥ INK
➥ INCENSE | sandalwood. kyara. benzoin. borneo camphor. cinnamon bark. clove. frankincense. haiso-koh. kakkoh. kan-zo. kansho. kashi. mokkoh. myrrh. rhubarb. safflower. san-na. star anise.
➥ ITEMS FOR NATURAL REMEDY | alum. anise. arak. asafetida. banana. black seed. caraway. cardamon. camomile. cucumber. frankincense. garlic. mint. myrrh. nakhwa. petroleum. pomegranate. saffron. thyme. turmeric. walnut bark.
(EAT IN)
➥ ASSORTED TEAS
PRICE: (1 COPPER RUNES)
➥ ARABIC COFFEE
PRICE: (2 COPPER RUNES)
➥ HUMMUS | traditional. carrot. garlic.
PRICE: (3 COPPER RUNES)
➥ TAHINI
PRICE: (3 COPPER RUNES)
➥ TABOULEH
PRICE: (3 COPPER RUNES)
➥ BABA GHANNOUJ
PRICE: (4 COPPER RUNES)
➥ PITA BREAD
PRICE: (1 COPPER RUNE per two piece)
SERVICES➥ COURIER SERVICES | items and letters will be taken in and hand delivered.
PRICE: (5 COPPER RUNES)
➥ TRANSLATION SERVICES | in arabic. italian. french.
PRICE: (10 COPPER RUNES)
➥ DICTATION SERVICES | purchaser can speak out letters to be written or other hand-written services such as pamphlets or small texts. delivery of said items are included in price. copies of the dictation will be half of the price for each copy made.
PRICE: (15 COPPER RUNES)
➥ CARTOGRAPHY SERVICES | making of maps. price includes employee travel time and effort.
PRICE: (OPEN and is determined based on location and reasoning)
EMPLOYEES | TASKSCurrently the shop is OWNED byMalik Al-Sayf (Ezio Auditore da Firenze (dai)
The shop is looking for employees that are dedicated to costumer service on some level. While it is not basis to be perpetually a spot of sunshine those that work for the shop should know how to handle situations professionally and maintain a level of discretion. It is preferred that those seeking employment have some knowledge of a helpful skill that can provide some use to the store. All employees looking to work behind the counter must have a decent grasp on price haggling and be willing to learn information on the items held in shop if not already knowing. Those wishing to cook should have a decent hold on their cooking skill and service as well to those eating in.OPEN | TAKEN EMPLOYMENT
As the business shrinks or grows, more openings in employment or types of employment will be available. As of the current date, everything is minimal. IF your character wishes to be an apprentice in any of the services they are allowed to do so but will not be paid for their time. The jobs that do not have options for apprenticeship currently are: cleaning staff and front counter. Those wishing for an apprenticeship can select the employee they wish to work under without permission of said employee but if an employee does not wish to have an apprentice they will have it noted next to their name as listed below.FRONT COUNTER STAFF [0/3]
➥ name(s).
➥ name(s).
➥ name(s).
KITCHEN | SERVING STAFF [0/2]
➥ name(s).
➥ name(s).
BOOKKEEPING [1/2]
➥ Caterina Sforza (
➥ name(s).
COURIER STAFF [1/3]
➥ Ezio Auditore da Firenze (
➥ name(s).
TRANSLATION STAFF [0/1]
➥ name(s).
DICTATION STAFF [0/2]
➥ name(s).
➥ names(s).
CARTOGRAPHY STAFF [0/1]
➥ name(s).
STANDING IN:
➥ name(s).
EMPLOYMENT | APPRENTICESHIP APPLICATION
Please post your application HERE.
E M P L O Y M E N T
A P P R E N T I C E S H I P
▋DESCRIPTIONS
PURPOSES | PRIVATEThe BUREAU is considered a safe-house and information center located upon the outskirts of the realm, hovering at the edge of the city amongst a small outcropping of buildings that hold an antique quality to their appearance. The building serves the primary purpose knowing only to those who come to know it or are informed and the knowledge of its existence and reason behind it is kept away from innocents and citizens, privy to only to those from the order of brotherhood.
The primarily focus and purpose of the bureau is a well kept secret, hushed away from prying eyes outside of those belonged, past, present or future to the assassin's order. An establishment for the order in general, the bureau and the leader of the bureau provides members with information upon their arrival and make it their sole purpose to remain informed throughout; to provide, distribute, gain and record information to the realm deemed important for further successes and endeavors. It is the job of the bureau leader to remain informed so that they can properly inform those present and in reverse, it is also a duty of the assassin to relay their own found knowledge to ensure the circle of trust and understanding is contained.
To keep from alerting the prying eyes of the society beyond and it's law enforcement, precautions must be taken due to the new methods of technology and sorcery found throughout the environment, keeping those out who do not belong and using only discreet methods to enter and exit the building, and keep voices low even when located within the building. Such former tasks such as assassinations and orders for anything such are no longer an assigned task of the bureau unless brought to the attention and deemed necessary within the future. Until then, all actions of necessary defense and retaliation are to be recorded and kept on file for future study. The primary task of the bureau currently is to hold information and anything that can figure the formula for return to the normal realm each follows.
Bureaus also serve to as a place of distribution of items necessary for protection. Hording and purchasing from throughout the realm provides items such as blades and other useful equipment within the field, assassins can request items from the bureau leader or associates to be obtained if at all possible. Members are also allowed to remain as the space is utilized as a place of rest and mediation beyond the eyes of the establishment of the current realm, a place to physically and mentally stable themselves. Medical assistance can be granted as well though methods are of the old style if healing compared to the new technology of the era until notified otherwise.
INTERIORThe building itself contains four floors in which the bureau itself is located on the top floor of the establishment. The bottom floor is decorated and is catered as a facade, the shop: A Needle in a Haystack whose description can be found in the write up of the shop located HERE. All entrances and manners of access to the top floors from the bottom have been either blocked off, removed or professionally secured. It should be noted that while the bottom and top floors are completed and second floor is still under basic construction.
The second floor is there purely as a deterrent for any possibility of someone outside the Order being able to pass from the bottom floor. There is nothing located there asides seemingly endless piles of supplies and broken furniture. The only way higher is a well hidden staircase that is pulled down from the roof. The third floor is being cleaned up and organized to serve as rooms of storage and the mediation/rest area of the building. Ladders replace old stairwells, wooden floorboards are covered in found rugs in areas while the walls are being refurbished. For the moment though, due to lack of funds and furthering attempts to located scrap and abandoned items to place within the rooms. There are currently three rooms that have been set up as living quarters for anyone who wishes to take up residence within the bureau. Each room contains an area of pillows and rugs for rest as well as one bedside table and a desk. Those who take up residence within the bureau are welcome to customize it as they see fit. The current members of the order who are living within the bureau are: NAMES | JOURNALS HERE [0/3].
The top floor is used for the bureau itself and is lined with newly installed shelves from scrap wood found throughout the city in other abandoned buildings. Any texts are parchments that had been located in such searchings have been brought back to be evaluated and a counter-space as been replaced with an old wooden desk. Nothing is completely organized as of yet, but the basic idea is there and such will develop throughout time and what effort is put forth. Overall it is starting to look something akin to the basic bureau outline with modifications due to the building such as wooden floors, window types and lighting.
EXTERIORThe building itself can be scaled from all sides, but there is only two approved routes that members should take to avoid public notice. Those two routes are one from the back and another from the southwest corner that all have decent platforms to ascend from but also hold difficulty to deter civilian interest. The rooftop entrance that has been installed can be shut and locked and is only open during hours in which the bureau leader or another assassin is present. Anyone within the bureau and running it at the time per assignment can deny access by locking the rooftop hatch to prevent outside forces discovering the bureau and subsequently violating the creed.
▋BASIC INFORMATION (PRIVATE SPHERE)
PRIVATE/EXCLUSIVE KNOWLEDGEThose of the order are privy to any and all information that has been given or traveled through the bureau at some point in time. All that is requested of the existing members is that files and documents are placed back according to where they came and cannot be altered without bureau leader or the original informants permission and for the sake of remaining to what had been recorded previously, both stories must be analyzed. If the original informant has left the current realm then only bureau leader permission is needed and evidence of information alteration.
Various members should be expected to be regularly assigned to tasked involved in information gathering or defense and attack if at all needed.
RULESAsides the basic concepts listed throughout the write-up, there are a basic set of rules that members of the order should abide by and are listed for debate and consideration. A breach of the rules and understanding of them may not have immediate repercussions but disrespect is noted found entirely unacceptable on a certain level. While certain actions cannot be helped in times of duress, it is expected that the regulations are followed to the best of one's abilities.➥ Above all else, follow THE CREED.
➥ No innocent should be allowed openly within the realm of the bureau or be allowed to know of its whereabouts. → Civilians are and not limited to anyone outside of the assassin's order or those not informed. With permission of a member, which has to be requested and secured, civilians can be brought into the loop as a PRIVILEGED NON MEMBER or MEMBER of the Order but only by vote with a margin of two-to-three of those present within the realm at the current time.PLEASE NOTE: while sharing pivotal information to those outside the order is common ground to spread assistance to those who need it, a member is under their own discretion as to what information is to be given freely and what is to remain under secrecy yet the primary focus is to use knowledge wisely and be exceedingly wary of what is being said and offered to who.
➥ Entrance and exit from the bureau should be unseen from the outside world.
➥ Only selected civilians that have been approved by an existing member and are cleared are privy to information held within the bureau and can request it. It should be noted though that this is done always through a secondary source and never are these civilians allowed within the bureau itself. See below for further details and required paperwork.
➥ Talk of the bureau and any assignment given from within to any civilian is strictly prohibited.
➥ In times of duress the entrance to the bureau will be and remained locked until further notice is given. Amongst a chaotic state of realm the bureau will remain closed unless notice of arrival is sent ahead of time as any voice or request from the outside will be ignored despite circumstances and belief of the one requesting entrance. There is one set of keys and one set only that are to remain in the possession of the member on-call within the bureau and transfered only during change of shift; whomever is holding them during the time of crisis is the one in-charge of abiding by this selected rule and is under no circumstance allowed to hand them off to another unless dire.
➥ Any member who compromises the bureau in any form is submitted to a system of no tolerance in which the offending member is removed and banned from the premise until further notice. Repeat offenders are permanently prohibited to return unless a vote of two-to-three is established and requested by members remaining within the realm.
➥ While rest and residence is allowed within the space, all those who remain within are expected to leave the bureau in the order in which they found it. Failure to comply will result in such allowances taken away.
➥ Weapon usage within the bureau, unless under such threat as an attack, is completely and utterly prohibited.
➥ No running.
COMMUNICATIONCommunication methods are made primarily through letters delivered and secured by hand. The only time anything can be mentioned through a public space, such as through the network, is in an emergency in which the phrase he leaves the eye and seeks the mark is posted ANONYMOUSLY and members are expected to check in within no later than two hours to the main level of the bureau. Private or filtered contact are allocated to discussion amongst members though warning is noted that such heavily reliance on such an open means of communication is frowned upon as it is unknowing to whom or what organization of the current realm can seize such information.
MEMBERS OF THE ORDERThe core and reasoning of the bureau, members of the order hold precedence over civilians despite the circumstances of interaction. Trust is placed into them completely to their assigned tasks and handling of information to create a steady flow between each other despite the era in which they came. Members willing to participate and be involved within such activities the bureau contains should be expected to maintain an understanding of what is expected of them while following guidelines and rules listed above to insure the secrecy of the order as well as the existence of the bureau. Those unwilling to do such will be deemed unfit and will only have limited access to the bureau and the information within, if any at all permitted. Asides this, members are allowed to travel freely to and from the bureau as they please in a discreet manner as long as an on-call member is located within or the bureau leader. Temporary residence can also be permitted to those in need of it and is served on a first come basis to a total of three. CHARACTERS OF THE CANON THAT ARE IN THE ORDER do not have to fill out the section that is listed as referring member.
To keep numbers in consideration and information on members of the order, the following form should be filled out and posted here so that all members of the order can be listed for future reference in a chart that will be created
POST HERE.
| FULL NAME: entirety of characters name. RANK: see here for information. WEAPONS CURRENTLY IN POSSESSION: what weapons does your character possess on their person. ASSIGNED RESIDENCE: where is the character currently living. REFERRING MEMBER: WITH permission of a member, which has to be requested and secured, civilians can be brought into the loop but only by vote with a margin of two-to-three of those present within the realm at the current time. IF the character is recruited by one already in the order that is outside of canon, the recruited member must provide up to THREE samples of sufficient in-character interaction with the referring member. |
PRIVILEGED NON-MEMBERSSuch a group has permission and access through request of information and actions held by the bureau unless deemed inaccessible to outside sources under the realm of total secrecy. Civilians are never allowed within the bureau and information is delivered on a secondary basis outside the walls unless stated otherwise. The existence of the bureau or its whereabouts should never be mentioned or discussed under any circumstance. To be considered for application of such practices, any interested must be requested and recommended by an already existing member of the order and then placed into a screening process to assure that information that could be deemed as exclusive is being divulged to the right hands. It is impossible for an outsider to request interest as such talk of the bureau should not exist to those not involved. Those interested are expected to fill out the following form, post it here and already have permission of a referring member through in-character interaction. It is possible for those of such level to later be promoted by the referring member though it is a rarity and a practice that should not be placed into action often. It should be noted that there is only a certain amount of privileged informants/those receiving information allocated. When the number has been breached and the influx continues, consideration of who holds precedence will be reevaluated and reconsidered.PRIVILEGED N O N - M E M B E R APPLICATION
POST HERE.
FULL NAME: entirety of characters name.
ASSIGNED RESIDENCE: where is the character currently living.
REFFERING MEMBER: full name of member.
REASONING: for what purpose would this serve the character.
INFORMATION ACCESSED THROUGH SCREENING: after a follow-through, what would be learned about the characters personality and habits.
LINK TO IC INTERACTION: a link providing sufficient in-character interaction with referring member.
In the future an entire new thread and post will be made available to check the progress and raise the ranks of recruits. Said post will inclue missions, training, schedules, information about Asgard, and potential allies/enemies.ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS/SUGGESTIONS CAN BE POSTED HERE FOR REVIEW ► please keep in mind this is a work in progress and opinions are highly valued as to make the entirety of the application of the bureau run smoothly.
EMPLOYMENT/APPRENTICESHIP
no subject
REQUESTED JOB: Bookkeeping
WILLING TO TAKE APPRENTICE: If she has to. :|
no subject
REQUESTED JOB: Front Counter Staff
WILLING TO TAKE APPRENTICE: Yes
no subject
REQUESTED JOB: Courier Staff but really he'll do whatever needs to be done
WILLING TO TAKE APPRENTICE: Yes
no subject
REQUESTED JOB: Translator
WILLING TO TAKE APPRENTICE: he'd be utter shit at teaching anyone how to language probably but if someone makes him, sure