Taking a sip from the cup set before her, the Warden merely quirked an eyebrow from time to time as she listened to your words, her more passionate speech calming down once more as she reclined back into her seat, tapping against the length of her sword once more as she slowly watched the lot of you go through the different emotions her little speech had brought up – or failed to bring up at all. Tilting her head lightly at the maid's question, she pursed her lips before shrugging lightly:
"To be honest: my lord - ours soon I hope- hasn't been able to pin down just how your pursuers are and have been able to find risks like you in the past. It is not unlikely that they have an network of information across the whole known world, but the greatest danger still seems to come from their grip on the Shardscape. As long as you do neither throw around your true name, nor get into the middle of too many gossip networks through your actions to come, the Risk of your discovery should stay considerably low. Thus while you won't need to hide in dark places like this forever, it might be wise not to catch the public eye too much."
Shifting her view to the dwarven warrior, she shrugged once more, tilting her head towards the fire as she replied easily: "The Status of my lords other assets aren't information you need to be privy to right now, while you are indeed in a position that needs protection, you could very well strike out to try finding yourself a place with my lords rivals. I do assure you that this kind of information will be shared with you when it becomes necessary or when your loyalty has been proven and laid out before me. The same can be said about the goals and other plains of his Lordship. But as for the estate itself…"
Gesturing around with her free hand, while the other held her sword horizontally, she mused: "The Estate has been chosen as your base of operation for now – the two servants are at your disposal and I will serve as your link, you won't need to worry about beds or meals as long as you are agents. As the rooms are spacious and there are enough tunnels leading back and forth from here, you can decide yourself with to do with the remaining capacities that are available here."
Giving the healer her attention next, she nodded firmly and said: "This brings us to our next issue: your payment and status. Additionally to the comforts and care of the Estate, you will be paid a hundred coins per week for whatever projects you may pursue in the time between missions, with the later being a variable reason to reward you with a bonus for a job well done. Of course you are expected to take on all missions given to you by me, aside from compelling counter arguments arising in your preparation time. If one of you finds it in themselves to dedicate their remaining downtime to taking care of the sick, training soldiers or tinkering with whatever dwarven mechanism you find on the market, that is solely your decision. His Lordship presumes that allowances have to be made for such…. illustrious agents in his employ."
With the primer for your future said, she crossed her hands once more and gave you all a long glance, before inkling her head towards the poetic feeling elf, eye flicking to the quill and back to her bare arms:
"I have decided to start your career in our lords employ with a vital but hopefully not too gruelling and risky task. I do presume you noticed the industrial district on your way to the Estate? The nearly constant ash cloud above it and the steelworks should have been enough as navigation aid and as I said before: the Melthus family owes multiple manufactories that are creating war materials: armours, halberds, grenades, ammunition, swords, crossbows and larger war machines. We are also equipping the cities naval fleet with ballista's and owe a sizeable workshop that specialises in copying and producing small scale models of dwarven steam engines for a variety of uses."
Taking a small breath and giving you a pause to let her words sink in, she continues: "As you can imagine we are employing a workforce of hundreds with a firm core of masters and apprentices to lead the gaggle of former farmers through the process of production. While the common labourer is replaceable, the master smiths and craftsman are not – something that we became painfully aware of when one of set of master and apprentice disappeared one day, taking along with them the plans of a new and improved crossbow design we had hoped to sell to the Toulesian City States in next summer's war-season."
Opening a pocket at her side, the redhead pulled out a small silvery box, opening it with a small frown and hint of disgust, before turning it around to present you with five little crystalline orbs, a heavy spicy smell emitting from them and making the wardens nose crunch up:
"Soma Rocks – found in the apprentices dorm, together with an earthen vial that had held them in the past.", putting the silvery box that wasn't larger than her palm down once more, she pulled out the next item: an nearly hand long piece of pottery that might have once held them and which was bearing a stamp that showed two crossed tankards:
"This is the symbol of the Benivolenses – Friends of pleasure and people as they prefer to call themselves. They are a group of human minor nobles, whose estates border to the production sites of the elves and who have secured themselves the lion-share of Soma Trade in the city through old family obligations and treaties with the closest elven tribes. Sadly this doesn't help us much at this point – the production of Soma rocks is heavily frowned upon in the city and only the consumption of the leaves is legally allowed. Most likely a smaller producer has been creating this rucks and recycling the pottery to showcase the purity of the Soma used for their production – but that as it may:
Your task is simple but most likely not too easy for you: you are to secure the apprentice, the master and the plans for the new crossbow production they have been working on. Everything else is up to you as long as you do not stand out too much in your work – finish this task and I will report your reliability to my Lord."
