1. I certainly am that. My merchandise is quite special, however. It has to be fed and watered twice a day and tries to run away if I turn my back.
2. You sell livestock?
3. Near enough. It is thanks to me that the galleys of the Sublime Porte move, by my grace sail the taridas of the king of Sicily and even the ships of Louis the king of France.
4. Ah, galley slaves...
5. Galley slaves, indeed! This city prospers thanks to my living goods. I am but its humble servant -- so to speak.
6. Where do your slaves come from?
7. They come to me in a number of ways -- some are Yesir, Tatar captives or prisoners of war, or bandits and deserters captured during raids... You can't be picky about your suppliers in this line of work. You wouldn't happen to have any prisoners yourself, would you?
8. And why not? You're a warrior clear enough, and in your battles you might take a prisoner or two. Anyhow, I pay good money for every man you can offer.
9. Hmm. I'll think about it.
10. See that you do! There's a lot of silver to be made, make no mistake. More than enough for the both of us.
11. Good. So, all you need to do is beat the sorry sod down with your weapon, and then when the fighting's over you clap him in irons. It's a bit different for nobles and such, since they tend to be protected well enough that it won't matter what kind of weapon you use. But your average rabble-rouser will bleed like a stuck pig if you go at him with anything sharp. I'm not too picky about what I'll buy, so long as they can walk.
12. No? Heh, well, this must just be your lucky day. I've got an old club lying around that I was going to throw away. Here, have it, it's still strong enough to knock someone unconscious.
13. Thank you. I'll give it a try.
14. Alright, I'll try and explain it again in simple terms. The basic rule of taking someone prisoner is to knock him down with a blunt weapon, like a mace or a club, instead of cutting him open with a sword. That way he goes to sleep for a little while, instead of bleeding to death, you see? It's a bit different for nobles and such, since they tend to be protected well enough that it won't matter what kind of weapon you use. But your average rabble-rouser will bleed like a stuck pig if you go at him with anything sharp.
15. Alright, I think I understand. Anything else?
16. Well, it's not as simple as it sounds. Blunt weapons don't do as much damage as sharp ones, so you'll have a little more trouble bringing your enemies down. And trust me, most of the scum you run across would just as soon kill you as look at you, if you give them half a chance. So don't expect any courtesy when you pull out a club instead of a sword. Plus, having to drag prisoners around will slow down your party, which is why some people just set their prisoners free after the fighting's done. Me, I call that madness. How could anyone turn down all that cash, eh?
17. Is that it?
18. Ah yes, just one last thing. Managing prisoners is no easy task -- you could call it a skill in itself. If you want to capture a lot of prisoners, it'll take no little sweat, or you won't be able to hang on to a single man you catch.
19. I want to review the fortress garrison.
20. Of course, here be our lists, {sir/madam}. Let me know if you require any changes.