"What are the details?" Ida asks earnestly.

Toryn pulls out his sword, freshly repaired in his Smith, and starts inspecting for any flaws. Seeing none he looks up.  I'm listening he says, leaning in intently. 

'You could say that. We have a job that needs doing and I have faith that you guys can get it done.' he stands up and comes to sit on the side of his desk nearest you.

'Theres a man who claims he's, what he calls, an Artificer. He claims to have invented a weapon that would put the power of a sorcerer in the hands of just about anyone. Well, a long story short, he's due to give a demonstration for the Emperor's Marshall and every other high ranking member of the military in the North. We need someone to escort him and make sure he gets there safely.'

Darwin leans forward on his chair. “And you want us to deliver the message to the people you want to escort him, right?”, he says straight faced.

”Just joking! I’m up for it”, he says grinning and looking at the others for their response.

Will we be allowed to try this device?  I have a few weapons that could use a... magical touch. I don't trust magic, but if it must be in the battlefield it must be on my side. 

Toryn is disappointed at merely being a bodyguard, but he is interested in what he will be guarding. 

The Chancellor smiles, but it doesn't reach his eyes. 'Sadly, no. That's one of the reasons we're asking you. The 'Artificer' has refused a military escort, believing that once they see the power of the artifact he has conceived that his guards would become his captors and his technology stolen from him. You all are about as close to an independent but trusted security guard as we can come up with'

Ida loves the fact that they are considered independent, and not simply "those that follow orders without thinking." It's music to her ears to know that they are considered a trusted, independent group. She smiles at the Chancellor and says "It would be an honor to protect the Artificer and his weapon. Hamish, I believe the rest of us are in agreement- what about you?"

Toryn is visibly bothered by this. Ida speaks for herself. If we don't be getting magic, what's in it for us? We don't be workin for free

The Chancellor rubs the bridge of his nose, 'Your wages will be negotiated with the Artificer. We are merely facilitating a meeting, so that both parties may be happy with his protection levels. All I need to know is if you wish to meet the man'

Aye, I'll agree to a meetin. But poor pay equals no service, in which case ye be on your own. Do we have an accord?

Darwin jumps down from his chair, looks at the others and shrugs.

"Ida can speak for me too, I trust her judgement", he says merrily. "Just let me know when and where, and how to spot this artificer and I'm golden".

Hamish has been sitting back, letting an illusory orb float and roll around his hands. He glances up, "Yeah, I'm in. It'll give me something to do other than practice."

'Excellent. He's actually right in the next room.' the Chancellor gets up and leads you all down to the next door.

The room is significantly more Spartan than the Chancellor's office but, it is still very clearly a room in a palace regardless.

Seated with a glass of wine and a rolled leaf of aromatic spices that he puffs on right as you come in is a High Elf with dark hair and goatee. He is dressed in fine clothes for a commoner and smiles as you all enter. 

'Antonius, I may have found you your escort.' the Chancellor announces.

Toryn shuts his damn mouth. 

Darwin enters the room and looks Antonius up and down. He had expected to see some kind of inventor type, if he was honest he had pictured a gnome in his mind, not the dandy in front of him.

He narrows his eyes. "You are the inventor?", he says a bit incredulous.

'Inventor, genius, philanthropist and, I might add, quite the hit with the ladies.' he said with a cocky swagger, punctuated by a wink in Ida's direction.

'So, who might you all be?'

Darwin winces slightly at his behaviour.

"I, am unimpressed", he says with a shake of his head, looking at his friends to see their reaction.

I be more inclined to hurt him meself than to protect him. Pompous arse

Hamish just looks confused at the elf, though curious in a morbid way. While still watching the new man, he reaches up a gently touches his ears. After Darwin and Toryn speak, he rasps, "I'm Hamish."

"And I am Ida Von Harding." She doesn't immediately rebuff him and his wink, although many other things come to her mind that she could say if he had any other comments like that in the next few moments.