Capture and hold the village of Tamara until a baron can be assigned to the territory. Estimated patrol length, 10 days. Contract period, 15 days. Payment: 10 Rimes on acceptance, 30 Rimes on completion, the usual penalties apply.
A commission in the Duport Order of Knights branch
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Open Commission, kill or capture those who have accepted Chancellor Duport's commission to capture villages or towns in the Minmay region. Bounty: 10 Rimes per head delivered, only with proof of acceptance intact.
A commission in the Minmay Order of Knights branch
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"It's not very impressive," said the battlemage in shiny armour.
Cato smiled and nodded like a good boy. He heard that a lot about the new winch powered crossbows but for once he was glad that was the impression of the observers.
"Well, it is very accurate for how little training they have," said another man, a less armoured spellstorm, "good for controlling the peasants. "
The local Order of Knights in Minmay had sent three representatives to investigate rumours that Minmay was breaking the Rule of Armies. Cato had put on a demonstration by the group of recruits in the middle of their basic training. The ragged uncoordinated firing and general disorganization made them seem less threatening.
"The bowguns they have aren't very strong either," noted the woman, who was also the guild leader. Her attire wasn't made to impress but it was clear who the other two listened to. "And carrying around a source of magic like a staff will cost far too much. I still have to ask however, what exactly is Minmay planning to train them for?"
"I'm sure you're aware of the unrest sweeping through the lands," Cato explained. They nodded back, not knowing that the culprit was right in front of them. "With the presence of rogue mages causing trouble to the sudden expansion of Minmay city, we face increasing demands for security.
We're not intending to face knights with peasants of course, but surely the knights can't be everywhere. For things like thief catching, patrolling the streets and other small annoying jobs, that's what we're intending to fill with these men and women," Cato continued, "we'll continue to leave the bigger problems in your capable hands. Like the new trouble to the south. "
That got some knowing looks. Duport was not well liked, even in his own lands, much less in Minmay. There was a traditional rivalry between their Knight Order branches, and not a few incidents of bad blood in the past. Disagreements over splitting commissions and debts, the usual problems of adventurers.
"That's the mission of the Minmay Guards," Cato said. Which was true, officially anyway. "It's just an expansion of the non-Knight mercenaries for hire. Only that the Guards answer to Minmay because they're on permanent retainer. "
"Hmm?" the guild leader raised an eyebrow, "and would you be putting commissions for the Knights to join your Guards, if temporarily?"
"Well, there may be circumstances which require the intervention of the Knights," Cato said, "in those cases, the Guards will post a commission directly. "
The three knights looked at each other. "Isn't this still violating the Rule of Armies?" said the battlemage, "true, the low mercenaries shouldn't count towards the party limit if we hire them for additional blades and these barely trained peasants don't even own their own weapons. But still, mixing the Knights and low mercenaries just isn't done. You're treading the line. "
Cato smiled and shook his head, "come on, look at that and tell me that this is going to work out like Emperor Muppy's death squads. "
He gestured towards the line of peasants struggling to dress a line formation. They chuckled and shook their heads.
"And even if it does, you'll be around to stop that," Cato added, "right?"
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The merchant wandered into the workshop, head swivelling around the walls and pieces on display. Like so many other first timers, he had that look of incredulity that crept ever higher as he saw the prices. The fine quality of his coat and the jewelry on his fingers marked him as a sizeable customer however.
"This wagon axle. Cast iron axles?" the merchant pointed at the mockup of one of the newer products, "is that price right?"
The woman behind the counter smiled and nodded at him, "yes it is. Half a rime. Throw in another half Rime and we can add the new steel spring suspension modification too. Are you looking to upgrade a wagon?"
The merchant shook his head, "no, that just caught my eye. I'm here to buy some steel actually, just plain bars. How many have you got?"
"What grade would you like?" she asked, then gestured at the cabinet beside the counter when he looked perplexed, "if you're looking for raw metal, the Ironworkers sells a number of types of steel and iron, even bronze despite our name. What do you plan to use the steel for?"
The cabinet held five prominent pieces of metal, with their names listed below. Wrought iron, a solid black, was far to the left and bent in half to show its flexibility. Far to the right was the cast iron, the new craze sweeping through the land, the rod polished to a clear silver. In between was three rods of steel.
"For steel, we have three grades, from first to third rate," the woman explained, "first rate steel has been made and refined by our smiths to a high quality. It takes the skills of another Ironworker to work it without lowering the grade but if you want the best, the first rate is what you want. We use this for weapons, armour and fine work. Of course, if you're looking for the very best weapon or armour, then you might want to commission a custom piece made of multiple types of steel. Even first rate isn't the best for everything. "
The merchant raised an eyebrow and nodded.
"Third rate steel is brittle and weaker than first rate, it suffers a number of flaws that are hard to remove. Nevertheless, it is harder than wrought iron but won't shatter like cast iron. It's a good raw material, and if you're only looking for a wagon axle, it is more than sufficient. " She pointed at the middle bar, "the second rate steel is almost as good as first rate but is a little weaker. Second rate steel also has varying quality from batch to batch but if you're considering value for money, second rate is the choice you want. Masons and most industrial merchants are looking for second rate steel. "
"Things have changed greatly since I last came six months ago," the merchant nodded again, "how much steel can you sell?"
"How much do you want?" the woman asked back at him.
The merchant drew up to his full height, emphasizing the bronze buttons on his expensive embroidered shirt. "All of it, for all types," he said, confidently.
"I'm sorry, sir, but are you sure?" the woman smiled knowingly, "except for the first rate steel, I'm sure we can meet whatever needs you require. And frankly, do you have enough money? Or enough transport?"
"Pah! I have more than enough to clear out the stock of this store. I'm not some small Minmay merchant, I come from Inath itself! I'll be clearing out more than just one store too!" the man puffed. Then he frowned as the woman just smiled back, "er, how much are we talking about?"
"The Ironworkers are running this store directly, sir, we changed our business some time ago and there are very few independent Ironworker blacksmiths remaining. If you're proposing to buy all of the stock of the Ironworkers..." she pulled over a clipboard, the simple spring clip at the top holding down the paper drew his eyes immediately, and began to calculate, "our current stock of third rate steel is six hundred kilograms, second rate is three hundred and thirty odd, first rate is about twenty. Depending on how long sir is willing to wait, we can produce almost three thousand kilograms a day of third rate. If sir is willing to wait for two weeks, I can arrange a meeting with our branch leader for a dedicated furnace to produce the steel you want. But sir, I have to ask, can you outspend Minmay?"
The man's eyes twitched, "how much is a kilogram and how much does it cost?"
The woman unwrapped the weight block used for transactions on the table. "That's a kilogram, it's even made of steel so you can see how much it is," the woman said, "a Rime will buy you one and one tenth of a kilogram of first rate steel, seventeen and four tenths of a kilogram of second rate and twenty five and seven tenths a kilogram of third rate. Our current stock alone is worth more than fifty Rimes. And if you want to buy all our production, you'll be paying more than a hundred Rimes every week just for the third rate steel. "
And given that much money, the Ironworkers would surely increase their production rapidly.
She smiled sweetly, "so, dear sir, do you have enough money? And enough wagons? Perhaps I might suggest you buy some axles with them too?"
Of course, she had neglected to mention that the price of steel was falling rapidly and there were rumours among the Ironworker insiders that there would soon be a furnace that could pour second rate steel. And perhaps after that, a first rate steel furnace might not be too far away and then the floor really would drop out of the market.
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"We don't have enough steel," Cato shook his head.
"What?!" the guild leader of the Ironworkers blinked incredulously at him. Hino was a short woman and did not look like she could be the head of any organization, but she could and did mercilessly exploit anyone who underestimated her just because of her looks. "By next week, the new furnace will pour a ton of steel a day! We can't increase production anymore! There isn't enough charcoal!"
Iron ore was plentiful from the Selabia mines and further mines to the east, but trees were getting scarce around Minmay of late. The Ironworker's blast furnaces for refining iron ore were consuming fuel like a ravenous monster. The price of charcoal was already hitting new highs and armies of woodcutters were making their living providing the fuel that drove the new iron and steel works. The peasants sometimes even complained that cooking was getting expensive.
"If I can solve your charcoal problem, you can continue to increase production?" Cato asked.
She tapped a finger on the table, "if we have fuel, sure we can, how much do you want?"
"I want to build a steel bridge across the Tine, four cart lanes wide," Cato said, "one hundred tons of steel reinforced brick and nearly a ton of steel wire. It's not just because the Tine is cutting off everything to the east but to develop methods for drawing steel wire, for using steel as a structural material. For the volume production of steel. Building this bridge can teach us all of that. "
They looked at him as if he was crazy. "Um, there's no possible way Minmay has enough budget for that," Hino said.
"We just have to reduce the cost first, that means making more steel," Cato shrugged, "frankly, I hope you can replace all the use of iron with steel. Cast iron is cheap and has its place but we shouldn't use it for everything. Steel is the way forwards. "
"I'll be glad for your business but there is simply no one who can pour that much steel," Hino pointed out, "we still haven't heard your plan to get us more charcoal. "
"Simple, we'll use coal," Cato held up the inevitable protests, "I know, coal can't be used in a blast furnace. But more precisely, we'll be treating coal to make coke, a fuel you can use in the furnace. I have already refined the technique to working condition and am setting up a coking company that will sell coke, and the fuel gas byproduct for simpler purposes like cooking. We already have one coke furnace and once I give Muller the design, its just plain brick by the way, and get financing from the Minmay Bank, we'll produce as much coke as you want. Enough for a hundred tons of steel a day. You just need to work out how to get coke to work in your process. "
All of them also heard the unsaid. The design of the coking oven would be released to the public as well. Which meant that the price of coke, while initially high, would crater rapidly as every person with two Rimes to rub together built an oven. And if the use of coke was successful in making iron and steel, which none of them doubted, the only remaining price barrier to steel would fall away and the volume of steel would jump yet again.
Cato could already see Muller getting wild delusions of new projects and the other merchants listening in were considering what else they could replace with steel. And what other uses coke could have and how they could sell it too. Seeing that, Cato wondered if it was time to create a commodity futures market.
But only Hino was looking at Cato, her eyes hard. "Are you trying to make enemies of the Ironworkers?" she asked him.
If Cato released public knowledge of how to make coke, then the last barrier that allowed the Ironworkers to dominate their market would disappear. Crucible steel was already appearing, made by independent and village blacksmiths, the more talented could even make what the Ironworkers called first rate steel. If the blast furnace could be easily run by anyone...
"Your position is similar to Minmay's. You are the largest player in the industrial metal market and likely will stay that way if you don't mess up. True, you won't earn monopoly prices but no one will for very long. Why not turn the Ironworkers' guild into a company?" Cato matched her sharp gaze, "besides, I don't think you will want to break off cooperation with the University, will you?"
They also did not miss the fact that he mentioned Minmay's name, but none of them could guess what political changes might be in the offing.
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The man walked among the towering metal monstrosities, sweating and panting from the heat thrown off by the bulbous iron bodies. The man and woman accompanying him were sweating too but none of them paid any mind.
They watched as the workers opened a port and glowing hot slag poured out, followed by the yellow glare of molten iron. Heat baked their bodies into dryness and the noise precluded all talking, but the sight was more than worth the discomfort.
Later, back in a well aired office next to the site and served with sweetened drinks, they began the actual discussion.
"This is quite the accomplishment, Mayor Corbin," said the man, "and yours too, Selabia. "
"I'd need much more than that if I'm going to have a shot of becoming independent. " There was no need to elaborate who she wanted to be independent from.
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"Well, that's why I'm here, we can help each other," the man said.
Corbin and Selabia looked at each other. "What exactly, are you proposing?" Selabia asked.
"I'm sure you have heard of the conflict to the south," the man said, "Minmay is being drawn into a battle against Duport, his attention and resources are focused away from here. That presents an opportunity for you. "
Corbin snorted, "I am well aware. Why do you think I can get away with trying to make steel and fighting the Ironworkers here?"
"But it can be more, so much more," the man said, "think of what the steel can do, the weapons it can make. I have it on good faith that Duport is about to launch a big attack. Soon. If Minmay has a threat behind him too, then surely even he will fall. "
Again, it did not require elaboration as to where the information was coming from. Corbin and Selabia knew perfectly well to whom this man belonged to.
"That'll mean I'll violate the Rule of Armies," Corbin noted.
"So too Minmay," the man pointed out, "it may just be a technicality but those peasants he is drafting can be counted if they learn magic. And then who can blame you, pushed into a corner by Minmay, for arming your peasants just like him? Why, if we win, you can just release them as guards for hire and there will be nothing more said of it. "
"It's a tempting offer but we still need some guarantee that you won't just leave us to attack Minmay suicidally then sweep in afterwards," Selabia said.
"Send an informant to Duport, if he observes the Order of Knights there, you will be able to coordinate your movements with them," the man explained.
"When we win, we want to be autonomous. Corbin will not answer to Duport," Corbin said.
"As long as he controls Minmay city, Duport will certainly overlook a town or two. "
"Then I think we have an agreement. "
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The tail winked out sight around the corner of the chimney as the three people left the workshop. It was far too large to be considered a workshop though, with chimneys sprouting across it like mushrooms. Chimneys that were always warm.
The two most powerful people in Corbin nodded and bowed in agreement with the third man, like equals, then they left together with the ten guards surrounding them.
Well, that was an interesting piece of information. Whoever that third man was. Certain other allies of the Fukas would be very interested to hear what had been going on in there.
The tail crept silently back across the overly large roof to the carefully disguised hole in the tiles. There were still more observations about the iron furnaces, reports of Corbin's progress were useful information to the Ironworkers.
And more than just reports. Listening to the workers learning how to make iron was very educational.
After all, there was more benefit to be gained than whatever the Ironworkers were offering.
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The light in the room was dim but the glinting of the twin steel rods was clear even in the twilight.
Landar leaned over the last portion of the circuit. The disjoining security meant to prevent interference with the spell was the most delicate part and had to be made perfect. It would add a rotating magical disruption shield that maintained no fixed surface to exert control the spell through and actively resisted any attempt to form a magical connection to it. The diagram for the magic written down on the walls and floors was already horrendously complicated, the enchantment aiding tool in her hands was looking like a cat had gone through a sewing box. This was the third time she was rebuilding that section due to past mistakes.
She absolutely had to hold in the maniacal laughter trying to fight its way up her throat.
How many innovations had she made in this spell? Landar had lost count. How many entirely new techniques had been invented? Three, if she was remembering correctly. This last one alone would easily earn her the respect of the Academy scholars.
Detachable magical circuits that spanned across multiple spells and an alchemy enchantment that could manipulate non-alchemy magic, avoiding the alchemy inefficiency. These two were slightly easier but still represented original inventions.
Landar checked the rails one last time and fired a small pulse of magic through it, keeping the setting for magical speed at zero. A small spell spurted out between the rails and hung there, slowly evaporating.
Once again, she checked it meticulously. The interference layer was working properly now. Finally. She had to disrupt the spell to get rid of it, instead of just controlling its magic and moving the thing out of the way.
Landar gulped and removed her blocks and checks that isolated the portions of the device from each other. It was time to test fire again. She summoned up her magic and fed it into the complex alchemy enchantment.
Her magic, raw and unformed, was seized by the spell and shaped, imposing order and purpose onto the clouds of magical power. A spell sprang up in between the rails and in an instant, the spell was already flying out the door, a large and complex disruption bolt that no mage could hope to create so quickly. It was even shielded from takeover and deflection attempts!
Landar slid out the plate stuck at the loading section and put in a different plate. Her magic flowed once again and now a firebolt burst out between the rails, again disappearing down the firing range to char another piece of suspiciously glassy ground. The third and most complex plate though, didn't launch a bolt. Landar placed a rounded iron ball the size of her fist onto the support between the rails just in front of the control plate and her spell was converted into a launching spell that sent the ball zooming into the field outside. It was even covered by a disruption shield to break through defending shields as well as a resist enchantment to pierce physical barriers.
The plume of soil and dust thrown up by the impact was as tall as her workshop.
Finally. It all worked. It worked! Variable ammunition? Variable power? Protection from external control? Defence breaking techniques? It had everything! All it needed was to have the twin steel rails loaded with sufficient power. And what better source than the hundreds of thousands of magical power units available in a certain storeroom?
"Hehe", Landar sniggered as she swayed wearily beside her new toy. "Haha, yes! That'll show Cato! Ahahaha!" The crazy laugh would have sent the hardest of Duport's Knights running home but she was beyond caring.
If Cato managed to obsolete this thing in less than a day, she swore that she would just strangle him on the spot.
Oh, but what if the alchemy could absorb the power from crystals directly? Then she could reload it just by dropping in a bag full of crystals. Hmm, it would need to isolate a magical dead zone with barriers around the crystals, if she wanted to use Mari's new magical 'evapouration' method.
If one could just shovel in the magical power by the spadeful, forget easy reloading of the weapon, the speed one could dump power into it would let one supercharge it beyond all reasonable measures. Beyond even a Ritual Summon! Sure, it would need a re-sealable crystal 'evapouration' chamber, which would be something Landar would have to invent, but what was one more challenge out of... how many was it now? Five? The problem didn't even look impossible!
She swallowed the laughter and got down to work.
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"... and Minmay continues to urge calm among the peasants, issuing a new commission to the Order of Knights to protect the villages today. His wife issued this statement at the footsteps of the Order: 'Minmay does not and will not call the peasants to arms, this is a fight between noble powers and their knights, with nothing to do with the people of the land. I am glad that so many of my people are willing to lay down their lives and magic but I cannot stomach the price in blood that they pay. You cannot resist these invaders by dying. '
Meanwhile, recruitment by the Order of Knights has stepped up again, with many parties looking to replace losses with new blood, but applicants still exceed the number of possible recommendations. Peasants confident in their magical ability are encouraged to take the test to be an independent Knight but are warned that the requirements are strict and the knowledge in the recently released books are not enough to gain acceptance. "
"Shut that trash!" the yell from the door cut off the man reading from the Minmay daily broadsheet, or more precisely, a local copy of the broadsheet. The circle of listeners in the tavern looked up to find three large foreign men bearing down on them. They scattered out of the way hurriedly.
"Minmay is not a noble!" the knight roared, ripping the sheet of paper out of the reader's hands, "you ought to be punished for spreading that lies around. "
"Hey, you're those guys from last week! Are you back here after you got beat by his peasants?!" shouted an unknown voice from the crowd.
"Yeah, don't think you can just barge in here and tell us what to do!" yelled another.
"Who said that," the knight growled. His two subordinates loomed behind him menacingly. He put a hand on his sword. "I asked, who said that!"
The crowd looked at each other uncertainly but no one owned up.
"Enough of that! If you're going to fight in here, you're not getting any drink," the bartender said, slamming down her glass, "this establishment is protected by Duport's Order of Knights. Even if you're a Knight yourself, you follow the rules. "
The foreign knight raised an eyebrow, "ho. You're just a random serving girl. What you going to do?"
"This is my shop," she said, "leave. Now. I'm not going to sell even a single drop of water to you. "
That brought a whistle of support from the crowd.
"Grr," the man bared his teeth and sauntered over to the counter. A flick of a hand and a dagger flipped out of his belt to stab into the wooden countertop. "I'm not afraid of a little arbitration. My word against yours, you lose. I'll have one of your strongest. "
The woman flinched visibly but still held her ground. "Out. Now. "
The crowd behind them surged forwards angrily but the knight spun around, snatching up the dagger. Magic flared around its edge, coalescing into a point of heat at the tip.
"Don't push your luck," growled one of his companions, drawing his own sword.
"No weapons in my shop!" yelled the bartender.
"I'll defend myself however I feel like, miss," the knight smiled nastily, "maybe I should have you too, for that insult. "
The crowd of customers growled angrily again. The woman scowled and spat in his face, "over my dead body. "
There was a vein throbbing in his temple now but the knight managed to not explode. A mailed fist shot out and grabbed the woman's wrist, twisting it forcefully. "I guess we have a deal then," he said flatly, leveling the dagger in his left hand.
That was the last straw. The crowd of customers had had enough, their favourite innkeeper was somewhat famous for her looks in this area and the three foreign knights hadn't earned any favours since the last time they set foot into the building. They surged forwards, snatching up knives, chairs and mugs. Magic flared out into a shield around the knights, swords ready to draw blood.
"What's going on here?!" the shout was almost loud enough to knock out the men closest to the door.
"Falling Leaves!" "It's Falling Leaves! The commander himself!"
Murmurs swept through the crowd as they hurriedly made way for the six knights who had just come in.
"Using magic in a bar fight, Raelin?" the leader of the six shook his head disapprovingly, "my friend gave you a warning two weeks ago and what do I find now?"
The six spellstorms held staffs and the shorter rods and they knocked tables and fallen chairs out of the way as they swept into the tavern.
"I was just defending myself," the foreign knight growled. His companions nodded in agreement.
"You're a knight and a guest of Duport. Not someone who should draw magic in his town," the lead spellstorm of the Falling Leaves party stated flatly, "one more disturbance from you and I'll launch an arbitration you won't win. "
"And who makes you able to tell me what to do? Huh?" Raelin shook a fist defiantly.
The spellstorm sneered, "I'm Ture. The vice branch leader of the Order is my older brother, I can have your commission terminated and you kicked out of the region if I wish. Not that it'll be any loss, seeing your performance. "
The man growled but Ture's short rod swung up to his chin. His party members leveled their own weapons, magic flaring into readiness. Ture shook his head, continuing, "don't even think about it. Remember we have six staffs over here? We'll blow you to bits before you can take a step. Do you want to appear as a commission target yourself?"
The two men stared at each other for a tense moment. Then Raelin flinched and looked away. "Tch, we're going elsewhere," he said lamely and stomped out of the tavern. The spellstorms watched him go with raised staffs.
"You're welcome," Ture glanced at the bartender, "your commission price is going up by half a Rime a month, miss. "
"What?! But-"
"Don't bother arguing, I've four more watering holes to stop from burning down by the end of tonight. If you don't like my price, you can try finding someone else. " Ture nodded at his companions once it was clear the three foreign knights were actually leaving.
The six local knights stalked out of the tavern in complete silence.
"Atrocious," said one sailor, breaking the silence, "these two ports sure changed since the last time our ship came in. "
"Tell me about it," the bartender sighed, tottering over on her shaky legs to a short stool, "twice the security price has risen in as many weeks! And Duport won't even listen to any complaints! I'm sorry everyone but I'll have to raise prices again or shut my doors. "
It only added to the gloom in the tavern.
"If only we were in Minmay," muttered one of the customers. No one dared to look who it was.