"I'm glad you asked!" Hobnob said in response to Kayden's question. Hobnob pulled out a blueprint and unrolled it on the table. "Say hello to The Obstacle Flattener Mark 4!" Hobnob said "This little beauty is a perfect blend of advanced enchanting techniques and modern technology. It has 1 purpose: Flatten all in its path. And it's previous incarnations have all excelled in doing just that...until they exploded. But I can assure you that The Mark 4 will not explode for a least 7 years, by which time The Mark 5 will be ready for constriction and will - by my calculations - last for at least 7 decades. But I digress. Construction of The Mark 4 began the moment we got settled in, and we've been making excellent headway, especially with Jex providing some high quality Drabarian Fire for all of the metal work. And I believe we could make even better headway if we had the help of some fellow inventors, artificers, and/or enchanters who know what they're doing. Don't consider this too high a priority though. My crew and I are doing just fine on our own. Why even now I imagine Titch, Pint-sized Pat, Small Benjamin, and the rest of my crew are chugging along with Gnomish efficiency as we speak".

---

Meanwhile at Hillcrest...

"CATCH THAT DOG!" Shortstack yelled as he and the rest of Hobnob's crew present at the fort pursued the small white dog that Hobnob had used in his bandit trap the other day. They were chasing him because the dog had stolen an important spanner believing it to be a bone, and was now looking for somewhere to bury it. Needless to say, the Gnomes were none too pleased by this turn of events and sought to retrieve the tool from the fleeing canine.

Well, he pondered after registering her presence, that's one way to get some questions answered quickly. Though the timing was most unfortunate: regardless of anything else, Nuva felt like Morek would react rather poorly to learning he was part dark elf (if of course he didn't already know), given the history they and the dwarves had with one another. Or maybe he'd accept it and move on, defying expectations. And that was the crux of things: anybody who learned what he was might simply shrug their shoulders, or they might try to murder him on the spot, and whilst he could readily kill anybody who did so, he imagined that wouldn't be taken too kindly by authorities. He couldn't exactly read Morek overly well as it was, so best not to risk it with him.

And on the other hand... 'Secret,' Nuva greeted her, resigned to chatting with her for a moment with Morek gathering their respective food items. 'I wasn't expecting to see you here. I imagined Captain Kayden would have work for you at the guild house?' Realistically, there wasn't much Nuva considered them to have in common, so he figured smalltalk between them might turn somewhat vacuous rather quickly; best to stick to questions relating to aspects of herself, if anything. 'Or, perhaps, he'd have sent you out on another mission for him. I'm not exactly clear on the specifics of your work under him, of course,' he offered with a shrug. He didn't really care either; that wasn't part of his skillset by any means.

Kayden was about to reply with some questions to Hobnob, like how he could know how long a model that he had not even made yet before the model he had not even made yet would last, but decided against it. He wasn't going to argue with a Gnome on his equations, especially such an eccentric Gnome as this one. "Fascinating." he replied, and it was earnest though tired. He was even more impressed that Jex had agreed to help Hobnob with his flame breath.

Kayden glanced up from the schematics to see a large, burly man waiting patiently at the front of the mealhall. "Ah yes," the Captain called, waving Allard in once the man introduced himself. "Please, come in. If you're looking for work, this is the day to prove yourself. Allow me to introduce both myself, Captain Kayden, and my associate and engineer expert, Hobnob...the Gnome." He must have forgotten if Hobnob had a surname, if the Gnome had ever told him at all.

"Please, sit." he offered Allard, and once the big man had seated, Kayden continued while waving over one of the newly arrived staff off their lunch breaks with whatever drinks the three desired. "Now, why did you seek us out, Allard? And don't swell on ceremony, there's plenty here that I'm glad to be working with, that began with purely selfish reasons. Right Hobnob?"
@rush99999@Jollan

---

"I am not beholden to him," Secret shrugged, amused. "Though he does provide good work, and I will more than likely travel there within a day or two when he comes crawling back for more information. For now though, why not bask in the spoils of war?" Behind them both, Morek's grumbles were heard as he moved aside large items to get to the food within the vault. "I merely find out things that others are not meant to know. But the real question is, why are you ever so curious on my work?" she mused. Her smile was one a woman often had when she knew far too many secrets for her own good, though, perhaps that was the reason for her name.

Behind her, half a dozen soot and dirt covered Gnomes suddenly scrambled into the great hall, chasing after a small dog that yapped and bounded around with a piece of equipment that was apparently precious to the diminutive folk. Just past them, Haukford entered the room on one of his crutches. His chest had been bandaged up, and if it had not been for a few healing potions within the vault, the DeathKnight's sword would have surely killed the Knight and devoured his body.

"By the Gods, keep the racket down, small fellows!" he bade them, looking quite odd in his coat of plates while still using crutches like an elderly chap. @BCTheEntity@rush99999

"Well met, and I appreciate your hospitality" Allard started as he introduced himself as he took a seat with the two, "My name is Adelhard Baldewin. I've been living here for a few years making a living off of odd jobs and 'tidying up' a particular tavern I frequent." He raised an eyebrow as one of the working girls passed by with the drinks and made a sheepish grin as he gladly accepted his with a quick thanks.

"As for why I'm here I must be honest with you, I was requested by the owner of that tavern to come here and give this a shot. After some though I believed that this may be a prime opportunity to settle a few, uh, debts I presume is a good word for it." After taking a sip of his drink he thought about other cut-throat merc groups he had head of before, as well as some he has got into fights with. There was one thing he had to know before even thinking about joining this group: their ethics, sense of morality, a code of honor of sorts. He wanted to make sure it wasn't just another group of organized brigands looking for the next purse to cut. "There is one question that I must ask of you, however, before we begin anything. If you don't mind me asking, what is the nature of this ensemble of mercenaries? I'll have no part in deeds of the nefarious sort."

Hobnob smiled and waved at the new arrival when Kayden addressed the Khalahar at the door and nodded in response to Kayden's question as he got down from his stool and moved aside. He remained silent because he didn't want to scare off any potential recruits with his eccentricity. While Kayden and the new arrival spoke, Hobnob glanced at Kayden occasionally. Ever since he 1st read that name in his invitation to join Kayden's company, Hobnob couldn't shake the feeling that he'd heard that name before, but he couldn't remember where from. This bothered Hobnob to no end, he hated not being able to remember things.

---

"Sorry Haukford!" Shortstack replied as he and all but 1 of the other gnomes at Hillcrest followed the dog out of the great hall.
Doctor Diminutive elected to stay behind when he noticed Secret. The eyes looking out of the plague doctor's mask the gnomish physician usually wore regarded the elven rogue with an evaluative gleam before turning to a mix of amusement at the fact that the elf Hobnob was looking for in Starkvale was currently right here in Hillcrest, and a small amount of disappointment that he had no form of justification for applying leaches to her exposed flesh. After a moment, Doctor Diminutive approached Secret and cleared his throat to get her attention. "Am I correct in assuming that you are Kayden's roguish associate?" Doctor Diminutive asked "It would be good if you are, we've been looking all over for you for the last 7 days".

Nuva nodded at her explanation of her tasking under the captain, and again at her brief job description. He was brought to a pause, however, at her own question about his curiosity. Not that he'd explicitly asked, but since she mentioned it, it struck him that he was now wondering about how she functioned... and, once again, how much she knew about him. She hadn't explicitly suggested knowing the truth, but when it came to finding out things that others weren't meant to know, his true heritage was one of those things, and her smile suggested she knew all too much about that.

He blinked himself back into cognizance by the time Haukford called for the gnomes to quiet down. By then, the room was getting a tad too full for his liking, even considering the reduced size of the gnomes, and he scrambled for words to answer his conversation partner: 'Uh. Uh. W-well. I mean, it is, you know, always a good idea, I think, to uhh, to keep track. Of-of what everybody in the team can do. To help coordinate them, of course. Yes.' The stuttered explanation was, he felt, full of holes, namely where he'd learned that gauging that sort of thing was a good idea to begin with, but if she knew already, he hardly needed to explain himself further. And, since one of the gnomes was now grabbing her attention, he hardly wanted to explain himself further anyway. And since she was in fact preoccupied now, he took the chance to sidle off into the vault proper, wondering if and when Morek would return so he could take his food, and with it his leave of the situation. Maybe he'd ask the dwarf how he was doing, just to give himself a reason not to head back out until the others had left.

@POOHEAD189@rush99999

Kayden almost snorted, letting out a small chuckle at Allard's suggestion. Not that it wasn't serious or unwarranted, granted. But it seemed like any other day Hobnob would be acting up and a newcomer wouldn't question them for being malevolent, but instead sane. "Well Allard, I won't lie to you. The nature of this Guild was built on those who were good at doing jobs with blades without having many questions asked on their methods. However, this is a legitimate Guild of the city of Starkvale, and we are bound by its laws just as any man or woman is. I'm not a criminal, and while some of our teammates might have once been so, they are now members of this guild. Does that sound good to you?"

Just then, Virgil the older sellsword waltzed in. Trousers and tunic fit for relaxing, not having gotten a new job just yet. His handlebar mustache and weathered face belied the fit frame and energy that still burned in his eyes. "Morning" he said with his customary drawl. He gave a nod to the newcomer, Allard. "Hobnob, how's the project going?" he asked, setting down. Little did any of them know, a new job was just heading towards the door.
@Jollan@rush99999

---

Secret seemed far too amused at this stuttering Skayleigh, but before she could speak, the Gnomish doctor grabbed her attention. She was savvy enough to see the larger Half Elf making his escape, but she decided that was not her concern at the moment. She bent down to hear him, then lifted herself up top her full height once his request had been heard. "Indeed I am. A purveyor of information that others might not want me to find out, at your service...as long as I am paid for my efforts. What might I do for you my diminutive friend?"

Meanwhile, Morek was just striding out with the food wrapped up in cloth for Secret and Nuva. "Oi, no need to be impatient." the oft silent Dwarf said at the doorway. Behind him, huge shelves of ale, wine, and foodstuffs towered over the Dwarf and even Nuva, with stout chests lining the walls, and various weapons and items of odd make hanging from the stone. It looked like a small chasm wrought within the mountain this Fortress had been built upon. The Dwarf handed him his food, and then gave him the wine as well. "Hand that to the Elf."
@BCTheEntity@rush99999

@POOHEAD189

"The project goes well, Virgil" Hobnob said in response to the older sellsword's question "And there's a chance that it'll go even weller if I can get my hands on some help. I'm having a hard time finding such help though, and was hoping I could track down Secret to gain her aid in locating the help necessary to expedite the completion of the project".

---

@POOHEAD189

"After our lordly sponsor heard of our work, we have a slightly heavier coin pouch to work with than the other mercenaries" Doctor Diminutive replied "Rest assured you will be compensated fairly for your information".
"Come back here you white furred menace!" Shortstack exclaimed as he and his fellow gnomes chased the dog into the hall through 1 door then quickly out of the other.
"The information we require should be well within your abilities to obtain" the gnomish doctor continued "While we're perfectly capable of finishing our project ourselves, we wouldn't mind some extra help".
A horse suddenly galloped into the hall. The small white dog was sleeping on its saddle, the spanner still in its mouth.
"Where did that horse even come from?!" Shortstack asked as he and the other gnomes desperately sprinted after it.
"So we were wondering if you happened to know of any ingenious inventors, skilled artificers, or gifted enchanters in Starkvale who might be willing to help us with our project" Doctor Diminutive concluded.
Shortstack and the other gnomes suddenly ran into the hall pursued by the dog. Shortstack suddenly stopped, causing the other gnomes to almost crash into him. "Hold on a moment" Shortstack said "Weren't we supposed to be chasing you?".
The dog's simple reply was to turn around and run in the other direction.
"HEY!" Shortstack yelled as he and the other gnomes took off after the dog.
"Do excuse my associates" Doctor Diminutive said "The spanner Toby took is a very important spanner and for reasons I cannot fathom, we only have 1".

'Right. Thanks.' Taking the food and drink in hand, Nuva put off moving for as long as he dared without invoking Morek's wrath- the gods knew how protective he'd be over the bounty in this vault- then reluctantly turned and re-entered the hall where the elf had caught up with him. Things had gotten... weird, in there. Aside from anything else, there was inexplicably a horse being chased around. Where had the gnomes gotten a horse? Why were they chasing it? Who knew. Either way, Secret was still talking to the gnome; since he had to, Nuva walked over to her, handing her the wine with a gruff 'Here,' only to hesitate about moving away. The desire to know how much she knew of him was still present, and realistically, he'd only figure it out if she told him herself. No, he had to know, if only to soothe his own worries.

'Find me later, when there aren't so many people about.' Keep things brief, don't get caught up in another conversation he'd rather not have at that point. With that sentence uttered and the wine delivered, he promptly turned and left with his bag of food in hand, heading out of the hall- at the same time as the gnomes and whatever dog they were chasing, incidentally- for one of the less occupied corners of the castle. If he was lucky, he'd get that uninterrupted conversation with Secret during lunch. Otherwise, it'd be an anxious wait for him.

@POOHEAD189@rush99999

Allard raised his hand and nodded towards Virgil in greetings as he continued listening to Kayden. "Does that sound good?" he echoed. This time it was Allard that let out a small chuckle, and with a large smile then continued, "I'd have to say that is all one could really ask for. Alright then, if you would have me, I'd be honored to be given the opportunity to serve under this guild." Albeit not his originally enthralled with the idea of joining a mercenary guild, this one had a different air about it, and it seemed that He would finally be able to continue his quest, which was good, he had started to think that he may be getting rusty after a while staying in town. He wondered about what Cooke and Mable would think should he return and say that he joined, but that would all depend on what Kayden's response would be.

"Very well," Kayden said, palm smacking the table before him as if it was a crudgel. He took out a quill from his back pocket and received a piece of parchment from one of the serving wenches. He wrote down Allard's name to the Roster of his growing Mercenary Guild, citing he was a newer member. As Kayden placed his mark, a small Knock was heard from the front door. After the knock, a clearing of the throat was evident even behind the thick wood of the Oaken door.

"Come in." Kayden called, and there was a bit of a hesitation before the door was opened fully. Within eyesight was a tall man with a hawkish nose that he seemed to perpetually look down on people from. He was garbed in a comfortable but exquisite suit that fit him like a shirt upon a hanger. The man strode forward, glancing about.

"I am to assume that one of you is Captain Kayden?" The man asked, raising an inquisitive eyebrow at the people around the table. They were all set down casually, so Kayden stood up and took an air of authority as he spoke. "That I am. What business could I help you with?"

He gazed about the room once more, but took a deep breath as if he was realizing this new guild was still under construction and renovation. "Yes, I am a representative of a Lord Pembrook whom you no doubt have heard of. I was sent to negotiate a contract on having you and your...men helping us with a particular problem guarding a certain vault. Would you deign to meet my master?"

Kayden looked to his comrades for a moment. "Certainly." The Captain spoke as if he himself were a Lord. He seemed to have a knack at being commanding when he needed to be. "Tell your Master that he merely needs to name the time and place."

"Tomorrow at his estate." The servant said, handing Kayden a partchment and making his leave. "Be on time, and bring whomever you'd wish." Those words were heard just before he made it to the street. Virgil raised an eyebrow, having watched the exchange with a curious eye. "So Captain...what do we got?"
@Jollan@rush99999

---

Secret opened her mouth to speak, about to ask if they could simply just make another spanner, but the conversation flowed far too quickly and she decided to let it slide. "Well, I can certainly find out." she replied, with hands on her hips and a professional interest once the Gnome had mentioned she would be paid for her services. "Give me a day or so," she said, "once I reach the city, granted, and I'll tell you or your leader all there is to know-"

She glanced back when Nuva spoke to her and handed her the food. She raised an eyebrow, amused once more it seemed, but let it slide and continued to speak to the Diminutive Gnome about payment for the time being. Haukford grumbled and made his way past them all with his crutches. "Do us a favor and see if you can grab me a healing potion from somewhere" he bade Secret, voice echoing from his helmet. "If you do, I'll pay double what it costs to buy one for the fetching of it. I just want to be off these damned things and back into the fight." @BCTheEntity@rush99999

The castle, having been navigated quite a few times at this point, was not quite so winding as it had initially been for Nuva. Certainly, there were parts where it took time to reorient himself, but he'd specifically gone to lengths to figure out where most of the rooms and halls were in relation to each other, giving him a degree of ability to navigate the place that was... somewhat above what he assumed most others would be capable of. Secret, naturally, would find him regardless of where he chose to hide out; Morek was the Vault's guardian, and not inclined to move away from there; and in truth, he wasn't quite sure what exactly Jex and the gnomes did around the place in their spare time, though the gnomes seemed preoccupied with invention. Most everybody else was engaged at the official guild house, of course, which meant Nuva was typically left on his lonesome for much of the day.

Overall, he imagined, he was quite difficult to find within the fortress if he didn't want to be found. Though in fairness, he'd discovered a few "favourite spots", so to speak. Perhaps not a good habit, to get into using the same areas for seclusion over and over, but it wasn't as though he'd not be fighting on the front lines anyway should the place be invaded. And, he supposed, it'd make Secret's inevitable appearance more likely to occur now than later, assuming she knew his spots. Today, he'd decided to take lunch in what was perhaps once a bedroom, but now contained rather few decorations at all, save a couple of ragged blue banners and the frame of the bed itself, still mostly intact. A wonder that that hadn't been taken apart for firewood, but it made for a reasonable-enough table. Unrolling his food bundle and placing his drink on the frame next to it, Nuva knelt down, began to eat, and waited.

Thanks to those bastard highwaymen, Lis was very late in her arrival to Starkvale. The borderlands themselves had been hard enough to traverse, but with the competition taking part in Starkvale, the roads and wilds were crawling with foes. Many were bandits or goblins, riled by the sudden onslaught of supposed do-gooders and treasure hunters; some escaping, others revelling in the bloodshed about to occur over the next week or so. As for Lis, she had been somewhat luckier than most; only running into a handful of whelps with badly dulled swords, demanding her coinpurse... and other unmentionable things that could be taken from a woman. Despite her short stature and young features, Ninlisus Jadan was not someone to be underestimated, especially on the road. While it would have been easy enough to injure the fools and slip away into the shadows - she had fled from far more nefarious creatures than village idiots, after all - the thought of them convening on another innocent traveller was too much to bare. Not all women were as she was; indeed, not all men were either. The highwaymen had to be dealt with.

And so, she was late.

There was a bittersweet feeling as she arrived at the gates of the bustling city; there was a grim satisfaction in ending the lives of those men, even relieving them of certain appendages after their threats of rape before cutting their throats. But alas, she had missed the competition; and with the competition ended, many of the mercenary groups had left... along with potential job prospects. All that was left for the young half-dwarf to do was to enter the city, and hope to find some coin there. Killing for money was a lucrative and booming business, after all; there'd be some noble in the city looking for someone like her. Hopefully.

Approaching the gates, the guards stood there looked down at her, lips curling up in amusement at the sight of the petite lady. Their sneers faded quickly after gauging the woman before them properly; from her dark scowl to the weapons she carried; her scraped knuckles to the blood-stained bandage wrapped around her forearm.

"Open the gates. I'm looking for work." Lis' tone was brusque, arms folded in a business-like manner. The guards shared a hesitant look with one another before turning back to the short woman. Like so many others Lis had encountered in her life, she could tell they were trying to work out what she was; a tall Dwarf, or a tiny human?

"Uh...for the mercenary guild?" One asked uncertainly. Lis' eyes narrowed ever so slightly at the guard's choice of words - so the competition had been more than just some coin and fame. They did actually get a guild... but if this made getting a job easier or more difficult, Lis was unsure of that at the moment.

"Of course - what else would I be here for? To dance and entertain your jumped-up nobles?" Snapping in response, her eyes glinted - daring the guards to make a joke. The one she was staring down (And it was quite a feat to stare down a man nearly 2 feet taller than oneself) was now visibly sweating, and he shouted the order to open the gates. Stuttering slightly, he stated that an escort would be necessary in some attempt to gain control of the situation; she simply strode ahead and ignored him, only allowing to be overtaken when realising she did not know the way. That was one thing an escort was good for, after all. Sprawling cities like this one were far too easy to get lost in. One wrong direction and you could easily find yourself stuck in a blocked-off alleyway... and then you find yourselves killing more idiots who think they've snared an easy catch.

As Lis walked in silence beside the marching soldier, she pulled at the tattered bandage around her forearm, lips pursing in annoyance as she tightened the cloth. One of the highwaymen had landed a lucky blow; a glancing catch of her arm by his sword. The blade had been dulled and rusty beyond anything vaguely useful, but it had still left a sizeable - yet shallow - cut where her bracers did not cover her flesh. Thankfully her coat sleeve had been rolled up. Lis had no time, money or patience to have the battered leather coat repaired. Glancing back up at the street as the guard came to a stop beside a sizeable manor, he motioned towards the door and began marching rather quickly back to the city gates. Lis sometimes forgot just how effective a dark glare from herself could be. And speaking of glares...

As Lis approached the rich oak doors, a well-dressed man left the guild; he had the very familiar look on his face that noblemen often had when dealing with peasants - nose stuck high up in the air, a fruity expression of lingering disgust as he walked down the street. He glanced at Lis, and the pair shot daggers at each other simply on principle. Lis didn't like jumped up rich people - and this jumped up rich person obviously didn't like half-dwarves. Or maybe just tatty looking people. Or was it women? Lis didn't know, or particularly care; now ignoring the man, she opened the door to the guild and stepped inside, looking around. Her scowling expression eased up into a more neutral one (Which still looked somewhat annoyed, unless you know her very well.). The guildhall was indeed a pleasant looking place. Calmer and cleaner than she had expected, barring a door nearly smashed to pieces.

Ahead of her stood four men at a table, all having glanced her way at her arrival. Three humans, and a gnome with some rather striking hair. Two of the men looked battle-hardened, but the third looked far too young, uninjured and handsome to be a mercenary. Still, Lis tended to avoid assumptions and ignore first-impressions, especially in regards to potential new employers. Time and talking would be the judge of everyone in the room.

"I understand you gentleman are taking on new recruits? If that's the case, I'm interested. If not, I have a guard to severely injure for wasting my time." She began, walking towards the table and stopping a respectable few feet away from the men. "I have plenty of experience taking orders from outfits like this, and been in more merc groups than I can count. However, you're the first I've found to have their own guild hall." Lis' deadpan expression gave way to a vaguely impressed one as her brown eyes once again regarded the room. It was certainly much better than the camping sites and battered ruins she was used to staying in with merc outfits.

Virgil eyed the newcomer casually, giving her a nod as smoke from his pipe lazily wafted into the air. Kayden blinked, surprised to see a new recruit show up so soon after their potential employer they might as well have bumped shoulders. He couldn't help but grin though, with this short but very likely competent woman speaking in such an upfront manner. He already believed that she was used to Mercenary work.

"I think we can spare the guard some trouble today," Kayden told her, gesturing her to take a seat. He ordered another pint for the newcomer. It was a stout Banian Ale. "Now, did you pop in here because you're looking for some work, or was it to get a ticket into the city?" he asked her, his voice confident and blunt as if he was talking to a new recruit in the military. The Captain was young and perhaps dashing to some, but there was a wisdom behind his measuring gaze, and he looked like he had more than a few scratches from previous engagements.
@MiddleEarthRoze

Upon closer inspection, the supposed Captain of the outfit seemed to have a bit more about him; perhaps it was the commanding tone of his voice, or his steady gaze? Whatever it was, it did instil some encouragement in the young rogue as she approached the table, settling herself in a chair beside what she assumed was another newcomer. While he fit in his seat quite comfortably, her feet barely brushed the surface of the floor as she settled herself.

"Both, I suppose. A ticket in meant work - and work meant a ticket in." She replied, offering up a slight smirk, before it disappeared; Lis came here to do business, after all. "I set off from Vrettonia a few weeks back when I heard about the competition here, hoping to find an outfit and do my bit. Unfortunately for some highwaymen, they waylaid me on the road, so I missed it. However, you seem to be a decent enough group; I may have joined you had I arrived in time. Knowing of a handful of the others - " Lis paused, now scowling at what were obviously some unpleasant memories (If they were unpleasant for Lis or for the companies she had encountered in the past, nobody would know; knowing the young woman, it was probably the latter, if not both), but she carried on talking. "- I'm pleased to see what looks like a decent group won." She paused again, this time glancing at the gnome. "You're certainly diverse, that's for sure."

Grasping her tankard as it arrived with a brief nod of thanks, Lis took a few deep gulps of the ale before continuing to speak. The taste was very familiar - in Bania, this was practically all she and her first mercenary group drank. It had a strange sense of nostalgia about the taste. Finishing her mouthful and placing the tankard back down, she jabbed her thumb behind her, towards the door.

"I'm assuming the fellow with the broom-handle shoved up his ass offered you a job of some kind?" She asked drily, figuring it was probably right about the man who had left as she arrived - people like him didn't get lost in this part of town on purpose.

Before Allard could properly thank Kayden for taking him into the guild, a strange man had entered the door to request a job. If Allard hadn't known better, with that beak of his and lanky stature, the man could sprout wings and fly away any second. It must be a hard life having to manage looking down at people from behind such a large obstruction. As the man left, Allard took another swig of his drink before turning back around. "Well, he was very to the point and in a hurry. Must have heard somebody throwing bread-crumbs outside. Wonder who this Pembrook person is to be able to own a whole vault for something. Sounds impressive." It probably would be much to the servant's surprise if he were here, but Allard had honestly never really heard of the man before.

Nearly as soon as the man left, however, another new face walked in for a job themselves. He gave a quick wave as she came in and stayed at the table. He listened as she introduced herself and found himself thinking that this seemed like they were gathering quite the assortment of people under this banner. No doubt that this would prove to be entertaining. Though, after everything was said and done, he had the same question in his mind as Virgil voiced a moment before the new arrival came through the door.

The mansion was impressive in a utilitarian and ominous sort of way, much as most great Banian structures were. With a tented roof and stout stone walls, and corbel arches caved in the likeness of werewolves. Though the owner had definitely taken great pains to adorn it with his prizes, trophies, and collections of swords and armor. Within the walls were also various fountains within a garden that surrounded the inner mansion. He must have spent a fortune for such an expansive private structure within a city as packed as Starkvale. Then again, Starkvale was not always this packed.

Kayden had given Allard and Lis their own rooms on the upper floors of the Guild, and had sent word to Secret, Morek, Nuva, and the rest at Hillcrest that there was a new assignment to be met. Though granted, different members could take on different assignments. He merely wanted them to be informed. Virgil had stayed at the Guild to keep an eye on it.

Now, Captain Kayden stood in the center of a large foyer area near the great front doors of the Pembrook Estate. It had turned to dusk outside, and great torches had been lit along the walls, beside armor stands and shields emblazoned with various sigils of Andred and Banian nobility. Kayden gazed at one of the shields in particular as he stroked his chin, as if he recongized it from somewhere. "Odd..." he muttered. Beside him, or at least, waiting with him, were Hobnob, Lis, and Allard. They were merely here to meet with Lord Pembrook and gauge what it was he needed from them.

There was a foyer drawer desk along to Kayden's left, with an expensive dias atop it holding a book written in script of some forgotten language. Within the drawers, no one had checked yet. In the corner was a massive chest that looked unlocked. There were various comfy chairs around them as well, for even the foyer was large and extravagant. Down the hall, a larger room could be glimpsed with a huge painting that looked as if it displayed a raging battle with demon hordes.

"Wine?" a servant asked them, a handsome woman of about 30. She had 3 bottles atop a plate she carried expertly. They had assured them the Lord would be by shortly.
@Jollan@MiddleEarthRoze@rush99999

From the Banian ale the night before to the decor in the manor they stood in, Lis was getting a serious sensation of deja vu. Part of her remained uncomfortable at the memories of Bania; she had left the country precisely for a different kind of work, and now here she was, seemingly thrown back into it. Either that that, or she was just over-thinking the entire thing. They were still in Starkvale, after all. The other half of her, however, seemed rather content at her situation. Lis had gained access to an up-and-coming mercenary group with their own guild hall (God, the beds were so comfortable she nearly slipped into a coma - not that she was going to tell anybody that), and they already had a job. Well... they might have a job. Pursing her lips slightly in annoyance, Lis glared at the servant as they offered wine.

"Why is it every time an outfit like this gets invited to some noble's mansion, they're never available to greet us? It's always "They're in a meeting", or "He's busy at the moment, have a drink while you wait and stand out like a leper in a ballroom." Lis' glower seemed to increase as she spoke to Kayden, not putting any effort in keeping her disgruntled complaining down. Still, she did have a point. The servant stepped away uncomfortably before Lis could even take the offer of wine - not that she was bothered. She didn't trust this place, no way she was going to start drinking in it. Perhaps this was paranoid of her, but the half-dwarf had never been harmed by cautious thinking before. Especially in a place that reminded her of the monster-ridden Bania.

Allard shared the news with his friends back at the tavern to which they celebrated in drink, food, and laughter. When it came time to gather his things, Allard simply bundled the small amount of belongings he owned in his claimed alley into his hammock and slung it over his shoulder. Upon moving in he was amazed at how well furnished and comfortable the room was. It had more places to put things than he had things to put! He was able to fit all of his odds and ends into his small bedside drawers and set a candle on the tabletop of it. While the bed was luxurious and insanely comfortable compared to what he was used to, he still managed to hang his hammock in the opposite corner of the room next to the window, which was kept open at all times unless he wasn't there. The night before his first mission with the guild, he still slept in the hammock.

The next morning before leaving, Allard checked over all of his gear, making sure everything was fit to fight and that he had all his personal necessities in check, as he placed his flask in his back pocket and leather survival pouch in his cargo pocket. He secured his heavy sword to the back of his harness and straight cutlass to his right side. He the walked to the mirror, something he had never really done in the past considering he never honestly owned one. He placed his shoulder cape on over his right shoulder and then looked at his left arm which currently was, and normally is, concealed by an arm cover that he made himself. He unbuckled the top buckle and slid it off. While he had become used to the gaunt and gruesome thing, seeing it in the mirror was a different story. While he hated it he supposed it had come useful in a fight. Since it copied the strength of the other arm, he could use it to guard serious injury, but sometimes, he wished it could be completely healed instead of the gnarled mess that it was. Even if it meant giving up that ability.

Upon hearing people start to stir outside, he quickly pulled the sleeve back on and fastened it, double checking to make sure it wasn't loose. "Alright, time to go to work"
---
Well, work wasn't quite what he thought it was. When someone summoned you, he thought it was normally the proper thing to do to be available to your guests when they arrive, but he guessed that this is probably how rich people operate. Send an invitation and have them wait while you are 'busy' so that you can gawk in awe at their riches. Allard wasn't going to feign that he wasn't impressed, though he did feel uneasy about the whole ordeal. Somebody should have been here by now, right? He was studying the painting when a woman asked if he wanted any wine. He politely refused saying that he didn't drink on the job, which wasn't entirely true due to the flask in his pocket but what he really meant is that he doesn't drink anything offered to him while on the job.

Meandering his way back toward Kayden and Lis, he noticed the chest and strange book, taking the time to look at them while he walked by. "Curious," he mentioned to the others as he got closer to the book,"an uncommon choice for a book. Never seen anything like that before." He had one arm crossed as his left came up to his chin while he leaned forward slightly to look at the unknown language. "Can't make heads nor tails of it."

Why Hobnob had to come along, he could not fathom. He simply wanted to get back to Hillcrest to see how the work on The Mark 5 was going. But instead, Kayden had decided to drag Hobnob along to the home of their 1st voluntary employer for some reason. Hobnob's only consolation was that a letter from Doctor Diminutive had arrived that told Hobnob that Secret had been found. The letter also said that even though Doctor Diminutive would only need to apply 20 leaches at most, Haukford still refused medical treatment from the gnomish doctor.

While waiting for their new employer, Hobnob was adding to 1 of his blueprints. Ever since few weeks before he was inducted into Kayden's mercenary band, Hobnob had been playing around with an idea for a firearm capable of firing even when wet. Such a thing would be accomplished by making this gun fire bullets by hitting them out of the barrel really really hard with a tiny hammer, rather than igniting a small amount of gunpowder to launch the bullet out with the resulting explosion. Such a thing should be impossible, but when you have enchanting in your toolbox, the list of possible things increases sharply.

Hobnob looked up briefly when wine was offered. "None for me" he said "I don't drink". With that said, he looked back down at his work.