Villamov gingerly accepted the locket, reached for a pincette and carefully tugged at the portrait, until the picture came free. To both your disappointment, the locket behind it was empty. Putting it down and instead focussing on the portrait, you can now easily see the layers of paint on the base sketching paper. Turning the portrait over, the sketching paper showed some stains from age and a few line drawings of flowers and the like. Whoever painted onto this likely reused the sketching paper. A bit deflated, Villamov looks up at you: "Sorry, it appears there isn't much more I can tell you about the locket or the portrait- I'm afraid to point out the obvious, but maybe you might get more information from the person that gave this to you. Or if they are no longer alive, someone close to them?"

Brandt looks at the assortment of individuals in front of him. "What are all of your capabilities? If I'm gonna work with you, I need to know what you can do. I think that everyone in town knows what I'm bringing to the table, but I don't know anything about you all and what you can do in a fight, as well as your skills outside of a combat situation."

Arnander and his lot give you a self-satisfied grin: "We got some folks know their way 'round forges an' we got plenty a' access ta "waste" steel. Can fix all of yous up wit' some fine armour platin' or weapons. Most o' me troupe is reg'lars at the factories an' in the Forge, if ya need sumthin' done there, we blend in easily enuff. An' we all seen gruesome deaths inna factries, ain't none of us gonna run at the sight of a little blood."

 Mack speaks up: "Most o' us're reglar Forgers or Dockers, wit' nuffin' ta do with the gangs. We got a voice inna community an' can help ya get the word out an' get people onto the streets or provide shelter for anyone havin' ta lie low. A few of us are also brawlers an' bouncers- we know how to take a hit an' how to dish it out."

 Ajax stops playing with her knife: "The Skinners have a rep an' I intend ta show you that me an' mine live up to it! You need something you don't have already, we can get that for you. We might draw attention from the Boradsters an' the wach, but we will get the job done, whatever it is. In a fight, we strike hard and fast an' then get out of dodge before the Watch gets there."

Tarian, you make the flower out to be a hand- drawn sketch of valley lilies, a common, though beautiful flower common to meadows and Brooks of Eastern Breland.

Brandt takes a moment to formulate a plan using the information he's been given. "Arnander, I need your guys to work at the forge. I need you guys to make armors, some hammers for your guys and Mack's, and some knives for Ajax's guys. Mack, I need you guys working with the people. I need Borrick to be public enemy number one and I need the people willing to provide whatever aid they can to any enemy of his. Ajax, I need your guys to use their stealth to sneak inside Borrick's organization, let me know what they're doing, give me the layout of their lair, and someone needs to tail that gross bastard Borrick and let me know what he does everyday."

The assembled crew perks up at the military bearing shining through in Brandt's words and in turn, Arnander, Mack and Ajax nod in the affirmative. "Will do, boss" Ajax quips.

Milo beams at Brandt: "I'll make sure to have my boys and girls inform you of whatever they find, and when we're ready, we'll hit them hard."

"Good to hear. Anything else that you need me to take care of right now?"

MIlo, ever affable, replies: "I've already imposed on your rest here after your admirable work in the Wildlands. I know where to find you. And my greetings to her."

Brandt gives Milo a nod before heading back to the Glove and finding Colette. "Hey, while I was gone, did anyone come here and leave any other packages for me? Any packages that contain parts to something that I was gonna make for you?"

Gyselle spends her first couple weeks in town wandering around taking in the sites and trying to get a fell for the place. She would make special note of any ruined/abandoned buildings she could turn into a church/temple. Not having anywhere in particular to stay she would ask Thia if she could stay with her. Should she refuse she will look for an inn near one of the prospective building sites. (I assume this is well before what’s going on with Brandt right now.)

Brandt, as you arrive back at the Velvet Glove, Colette gives you a wide smile. "Yes, in fact about three days later, a package arrived with some metal parts and a note. It apologised profusely for some transgression or other, but I didn't know what it was referring to and kept it, together with the pieces up in my room. Are they the pieces for the gun you promised to make for me?"

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Gyselle, you quickly learn to move about the town in old clothes provided to you by the Veiled Valour instead of your Church habits or army uniforms. Most of the people here seem to be living a life devoid of any religion, instead clinging to their professions and the guilds that give them meaning. Some of the old temples have similar stories to the one you found in the Eastern Fields: Having come to disrepair as Brelanders turned their back on the imperial religion and all who worked in its service, they were abandonened and then repopulated by the outcasts, the underprivileged and the homeless. Towards the end of the war, many former churches and temples served as temporary shelter and ad-hoc communities for the many returning veterans. With most of these buildings not being looked after though, several temples are close to collapse, having led to them being completely abandoned for safer hiding places.

Some old sites of worship have already been reclaimed completely- from the parks that used to house druidic groves to some of the smaller congregations in the Forge that had to make way for newfactories and steel mills or workers tenements and inns. Within the more central districts, the old buildings still stand, but now oftentimes house ministries and other bureaucratic offices of the city or the state. With the ongoing peace talks, there has been an increase in worship as delegations from the Khalashtari Trade Republics and the Dwarvenholds of Thrane  have made their way to the city. Similarly, there are some Cyrean communities in the Outer Ward that have started to recalim some of their cultural heritage and organise congregations and regular services. Brother Kobe is one of the regular speakers at these ceremonies, though his sermons focus more on the path ahead, instead leaving the spiritual guidance for others more qualified.

The little shit held up his end of the bargain. Good. "They are. If you just give 'em to me, I can get started on making something for you. So I recall you mentioning self-defense when you asked me to make you a pistol, did you want concealability to be a factor too? Or were you planning on openly carrying like I do?"

Colette gives an unsure smile: "I think it might be better if I was able to hide it? Somewhere on my person, so that I can use it when I need to, but I don't draw more attention to me than I already get? But I think you know what's best, and in the end I would like something that can stop someone in their tracks."

"In most cases, pulling a gun out tends to stop people in their tracks. For those that don't, shooting them usually does the trick and odds are that someone that's trying to jump you is going to be close enough where the size doesn't particularly matter." Brandt snorts. I'm sure that she's usually the one giving out assurances about size not mattering.

Colette does raise an eyebrow: "I've heard that before, hun. And whatever we usually say: it DOES matter." She smirks, clearly playful. "But if you think I'll be fine with something smaller, then I trust your expertise. After all, I'll be safer than before for sure."

Gyselle would look for an opportunity to speak with Brother Kobe. 

Brandt chuckles when Colette jokes about size mattering. "I was thinking a pistol. It's small enough to where you can conceal it easily, but it'll still put someone in the ground at close range. You don't need to carry around something the size of my musket."

Colette does give a smile towards her gallant sharpshooter: " Well, I'm glad, I don't think I could integrate one of those into my outfits. But a pistol sounds good. Is there any way I can help you in making this gun?"

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Gyselle, you easyily find one of the congregations in the eastern fields. When you arrive at the large courtyard which ramshackle huts and canvas tents have neatly bordered in, you're surprised to hear the clamouring of several agitated voices, giving far more of an impression of a town hall meeting than a religious gathering. As you step inside the largest of the tents, you're immediately overwhelmed by the wall of noise coming from various refugees on the one side and what looks like wealthy farmers on the other side  of the aisle, shouting at and over each other. At the far back of the tent, on a low chair, you see the large figure of a wizened man with a greying but striking mane of dreadlocks and milky white eyes, with a striking orange robe, quetly trying to call the two sides to order. As you enter, it takes the people engaged in their heated argument a few moments before they realise that they are in the presence of someone new. Brother Kobe lifts his blind eyes in your direction and says with a soft voice into the now quiet room: "Welcome stranger. Sit. What brings you to this gathering?"

Having ended up where she did, Thia accepted the situation she lead herself to. She’d fall complacent and silent, busying herself with tasks to keep herself distracted. It felt as though the universe were forcing her path back to where she came from so it’d take a while for her to expel the steam she had built up. Beyond stubborn. Eventually as her mind started to clear, the artificer would inhale a deep breath and really take a good look at her surroundings. The roof had been patched and the interior was now more in line with an actual hospital, rather than just a makeshift one. Even the sign on the door was now a finely carved wooden sign, rather than the chalk marks. The Veiled Valour Hospital.

If she couldn’t find her friend… Thia sighs, rubbing her face. The air she’d expel would blow some stray bangs up. After blinking a few times, she looks around again. Sure the place looked aesthetically better, but what about the volunteers. How were they? Who were they? She had specifically requested there be a Warforged apprenticeship program. Were there any in resident? Were any of them different? She couldn’t help but wonder.

Gyselle timidly responds, feeling rather small with all eyes in the room on her. “I’ve heard this is one of the few places of worship in the city. I wanted to observe possibly participate if that’s all right.” She waits for confirmation before taking a seat.