“That’s wonderful to hear, Arc! Best of luck to you, it was a pleasure,” Corti returns the smile, and then when they are finished talking, she will walk back into the main yard.

“Ah, no, that’s fine. As long as they know I’m doing good and doing well, that’s fine.” Tarian shook her head. “It’s fine enough. Mister Saelvek, Missus Sylvia,” Tarian bowed slightly to the Krulls, and then to their drow guards, “I’ll take my leave.”

Tarian stepped out. I hope that their future has no need for someone like me. They’ve dealt with trouble enough.

As Tarian stepped out of the building and shielded her eyes from the sun, she smelled something nearby: likely one of the tenants preparing a meal. The clatter of a passing cart barely drowned out the sound of Tarian’s rumbling stomach. I suppose I could grab something now. It’s much earlier now than when I first met him yesterday, but perhaps that Mister Spudsder is already at the Golden Gear. I can get a meal, maybe figure out what that work he said he wanted me to do is. Hopefully tonight I’ll be able to get to bed at a reasonable hour. These late nights are killing me.

Tarian walked to the Forge, taking care to keep to the main streets. It took a bit longer than usual, but she felt a little safer keeping out of dark alleys and side streets while people might remember her face.

Brandt smirks a second when he gets poked, wondering if Colette came over to give him a little visit. And then he turns around and sees that the it's the student. "Hey...you." He says, not really remembering the girls' name (OOC: I can't remember if Thia gave it to him) "Friendly tip: Don't sneak up on a person that owns a gun."

Arc nods to Corti and follows her towards the yard in order to make his way to the gate.

Entering the Holden Gear tavern, Tarian was greeted by the barkeep. « Ah, good to see you return, the halfling left a letter for you, and I was afraid you wouldn’t come back here. » 

With that, he handed her Milo’s letter:

Tarian,

I hope you found peace in the resolution last night.  I will not need your protection services until this evening.  But during the day I need you to secure a storehouse for my food deliveries and other businesses.  Something that can house myself as I don’t intend on staying in this Inn. You’re welcome to stay there too.  Within a fortnight I will be having my own men arrive.  At that time, you’re welcome to stay aboard and be their commanding officer, or take your leave.  I thank you for what you’ve done already.  There is a pouch of 200 gold in my room, take it to secure the store house or at least a down payment.  I trust your judgement. 

Milo.

It took Milo a while to get to the Hill, since he decided to walk on foot. It helped clear his head and put his thoughts into order. If Sparks wanted him on the Hill, it could only really mean new problems. He wouldn’t know that the workers had agreed to his terms, and letting him know of the civil projects he had committed the Company to right now would not be wise. But on the other hand, if he could solve this problem for Sparks as well, he’d become increasingly indispensable for the Company. And with influence came power.

On the other hand there was the plan for expanding his own presence in Duskrock independent of the Company. He was curious to see what Sparks wanted from him. Arriving at the large doors in front of the Council, he realised that Sparks hadn’t really given him  any clear indication for where he could be reached. Apart from the two guards in front of the building, no one else seemed to be present.

Milo continues to walk to the doors. Puffing our his chest with pride and purpose his strut to the council room is as cocky as ever. “Good evening Sirs.”  As he motions for them to open the door for him.

Thia would let out a little chuckle with a mischievous smile, “And yet, you still haven’t shot me.”

(You do know Thia’s name, we introduced ourselves earlier at the gate :) )

Thia would rock up and down on the balls of her feet, hopping up a little when she’s on her tip toes, to try and see over/around Brandt. “Fancy meeting you here.” She’d small talk to Brandt while she looked for Corti “Business?”

(Can she spot or see Corti leaving? If so, Thia would like to try and flag her down with a whistle and an excited wave.)

"Well I'm a professional. I don't startle so easily that I shoot people in broad daylight. But not everybody with a gun is as even-keeled as I am. I'm here for business. I need to talk to one of the Canniths so that my boss can get help with his project. Now what brings you here? I can't imagine that a student has much work at a factory during a strike. " 

Thia would just smirk as she listens to him, letting him toot his horn, feeling like she succeeded at ruffling his feathers. She’d exhale exaggerated drawn out, low whistle, “Ouu business with the Cannith’s. Fancy monsieur Brandt.” She’d playfully wink. “Is it about the rail Sparks was presenting the other day?” She suspected since that’s where she saw him their first encounter.

Thia would just shrug in response to his question, purposely being pretty vague, “Just making some rounds.”

(Still hoping to flag Corti down if she can be seen from where we are.)

Corti notices Thia’s wave and returns it excitedly, hurrying over. “Thia! I didn’t expect to see you here, it’s good to see you!” Corti notices the man standing next to Thia and puts her hand out, “Oh, hello! I’m Corti.” 

Tarian shut her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. If you needed me here early, you could’ve said as much. “Tomorrow” is rather vague. At this point, Tarian looked out the window into the street, it’s probably too late to make anything but a token effort at finding any place that fits his description. If I eat now, there probably won’t even be time for that much. Whatever. Not that I have any expertise in realty, anyway. Tarian folded the letter back up and tucked it into her pack.

She sighed and ordered a meal and her first ale of the evening. Two ales, nursed over a long time and a hot meal, was usually what she set as her limit. Part was a matter of available funds, and part was because she had no idea what her limits actually were. Two ales were nothing but hops-water to her; she felt no warmth in her belly or flush in her cheeks after two. But she couldn’t risk the loss of awareness and motor control that she saw in others who spent the entire evening drinking, especially when her awareness and motor control earned her living and kept her alive.

Still, she mused, cutting into her marbled chunk of corned beef, you have to keep up appearances. The people who aren’t drinking in a bar are the ones to watch out for. She swabbed the toasted slice of hard-crusted sour bread in the juices on her plate, and slid the beef from her fork on top of the aged, sharp cheese shredded and melted onto the toast.

For now, I’ll wait for Mister Spudsder here until I finish my second ale. I’ll have to re-evaluate things then. It’s too bad there’s no music again today. Ah, well. People have their own lives, I suppose.

Arc, walking alongside Corti, trails just behind her as she speeds up greets two new people at the gate. Curious at how emotionally Corti seems to greet the female of the pair, Arc politely and silently stands a few feet behind them. 

If either Thia or Brandt look over to spot, Arcius Soranik Raddeus Cannith the 2nd (lord I regret making that name XD), they'd see a relatively average sized human male with red hair and blue eyes, who's dressed in fine clothing, and carries the Cannith sigil on various parts of his body, as well as a very distinctive Dragonmark over his right eye. They might also notice the set of tinkering tools and/or the pistol he carries around his waist.

"Yep. Mister Sparks wants to get the Canniths behind his project. Or at least out of its' way." Brandt appears to be a man in his early 30s and although the war was a while ago, he has not let himself go. He's wearing a dark jacket and trousers. He has a clean shaven beard and short chestnut colored hair. At his waist is a rapier and a rifle is strapped to his back.

"It's good to see you too." Thia would smile a big genuine smile at Corti. "I finished my meeting and figured I'd swing by on the way back to my study. I wanted to check in to see if any one needed my assistance today."

As Corti introduced herself to Brandt, Thia would lean over to look behind the warforged to see who was trailing behind her. Making eye contact with the redheaded human, Thia's hand would go up in an awkward wave of hello. Realizing he was sporting all the signs of a Cannith, she would reach over and tug at Brandt's jacket with her other hand, "Hey, I think that might be your guy."

« Excuse me, but the Council is in session. We can’t let you in unless you are invited. Who does sir wish to speak? » The two guards were clearly used to the distinguished ministers and diplomats making their way in and out of the building every day, but Milo couldn’t help but think that their tone was just ever so slightly too sarcastic, and that he rnjoyed having some power over the busy-looking halfling in front of hin.

“I have been a requested to speak on behalf of Mr. Sparks.  It will do you well to walk me in and announce me.”  He says sternly towards the guards.

« Mr Sparks is already inside. I doubt he wants you to speak on his behalf. Now, get going, you charlatan! » At that, the guard’s hand went to the foot-long cudgel at his side.

“Yes I’m well aware of the matters taking place in front of the council discussing the terms of the railway.  I doubt you two understand what’s taking place so I will spare you the details.  You’ve might’ve heard talk about the bear riot from the workers the other day?  Im the one that made the speech on stage to keep the peace and allow these talks here to continue.  I’m guessing you’re smart enough fellas.  Here’s two gold each to do the right thing.  Mr. Sparks needs my assistance, please.”  Milo will look earnest as he pleads his case.  

Persuasion: 18 with dis/advantage: 22

The guard, now angry, says to Milo in a cold and quiet tone: « Get going now, before we have to hurt you. This job is far too good to risk it over a measely bribe! »