Luca Petronius's page

"Your Highness," Master Petronius said, venturing a question, "when shall my surveying team expect to depart for Reaver's Shiv?"

"Per her Highness' direction, reconstruction of the prison continues apace. As for the Harbor Keep, our assessment is that only a single tower requires repair. Unlike the prison it was struck a glancing blow. It should not take long to rebuild."

"However," he pointed to a red flag just to the north east of the Colosseum, "if we are to transport materials and goods with any efficiency, I would strongly recommend that we finance Guildmaster Rochmir's request to rebuild the Porters & Cartwright's Guildhall."

"While the beachhead and the north shore of the river mouth are indeed vulnerable, those settlements are sparsely populated. In the event of an attack evacuation would prove more practical than entrenchment. Even so, perhaps a decade ago, the previous Barons Mondracus and Bonati entreated the Governor to strength defenses south of the city walls. The Fraternity was approached, and we considered chiefly three sites."

Stepping up to the railing a respectful distance from the Princess, Master Petronius used his ceramic walking stick to point out locations on the map. "These sites were east and west of the ridge south of Mondracus Estate, and just outside Colossineum on the south side of the wall."

"By our assessment, the soil close to the beachhead was too loose and susceptible to tidal flooding to prove suitable for larger fortifications. The land closer to the Bonati plantation would have proved suitable, yet of negligible strategic value, particularly given the much smaller population in The Plantation even just 10 years ago."

He tapped the empty land south of the Plaza District. "If it is to be a keep and one nigh the center of population, I would recommend here. It would provide a fallback point for those living in the Outer Quarter and a point at which force could be mustered against a landing south of The Pinnacle."

Even as the treasurer pressed his lips into an ever-wider smile, the Master Architect held up his hand. "Your Highness, if I may?"

Eyes invisible behind his dark spectacles, the broad shouldered man stroked his two-tone beard with one hand as he took in the dwarf's requirements.

"Her Highness speaks of a citadel, and you, Sir, speak of an instructional campus," he said in a deep voice. "I myself must confess ignorance of your order and their needs. Do you envision this site being hardened against attack like a keep, walled in the fashion of a private estate, or open like the university?"

"Furthermore, would this site serve as a base of operations or strictly as a training ground? If the former, where do you envision the primary areas of responsibility for your agents? Port Eldarion, River March, the whole of Dafar? Such considerations will inform the potential sites we might assay as well as ancillary structures — bridges, docks, and the like."

From the back of the room, the master architect cleared his throat. "The continued presence of a student who cannot accept the criticism of their teacher, will only be tolerated for so long."

At the statement Lucio grinned, eyeing his fingernails, yet Master Petronius was not done speaking. "In this instance, it seems we still have much to learn."

Although the old man's words were curt, and his opinion perhaps unpopular, more than a few heads nodded in agreement, even as Lucio grew red in the face.

An uncomfortable silence settled over the chamber at the Harbormaster's revelation until the master architect cleared his throat. "Your Highness, the city's defenses are in shambles. A common threat to us all could prove to be the foundation upon which to build support for the future. What the Zucks lack for in skilled labor, they make up for in manpower. If they need work, then it would be a start."

Turning at Jaro's commentary, Darvesch stole a glance at the easternmost exedra, curious to note their reactions. The elven woman, Sindariel was clapping her hands politely, face impassive as she observed the reactions of others. Beside her, Melianna looked towards her husband, seemingly seeking his attention, but Iole merely gave an irritated flick of his hand as if shooing a fly. Upon noticing the dwarf, Iole forced a smile and raised his nigh empty wine-glass.

Lastly, the wizened head of the builders merely nodded his head slowly, hands resting atop his ceramic walking stick. "Arch or lintel," he murmured just loud enough for those near him to hear, "I wonder..."

"Yes," he said simply, giving a quiet sigh as he looked first toward the woman seated at the Princess' left hand and then towards the exedra opposite them, "that would appear logical, wouldn't it?"

With a rap of his cane on the marble floor, the head of the Fraternal Association of Builders turned his back on Lord Gallo and Lady Lureene. He gave a short nod to Isaac Hlokenar in passing.

MAP: Villa Sempronius, (Dining Round 03)

"Utter nonsense," the city's master architect grumbled as Lord Gallo was invited to sit with the mages. Noting that Lady Lammontari was standing nearby, he remarked, "The city's defenses are in shambles, but instead of building bridges... what foolishness."

Master Petronius' lower lip had jutted severely at Jaro's condemnation of a woman they had yet to meet, but his expression softened somewhat as the fiery young man recanted somewhat. "Before you judge our new ruler too harshly, remember how others gainsaid a certain young man's young age not two years ago when he was elected Harbormaster. Sound judgment is not strictly the purview of old men any more than courage is exclusive to the largest warrior in a battle. None of us rejoice in the massacre from this past Alsday, but it might not have ended had not King Aramandil's half-elven daughter conducted the counter-assault that ended it."

The aging architect looked to Isaac and commented, "Among us, only Isaac was there to witness more than just her singing. I for one choose to reserve judgment until one's actions have spoken for them..."

"That includes," his head turned ever so slightly towards Isaac, "having faith in the testimony of those who have already proven their character."

"Now then," he pounded the tip of his walking stick on the ground, "this old man is heading inside before we get up the hopes of the buzzards."

For a moment, Isaac wondered if Luca was implying they'd stayed out in the sun so long as to draw vultures, or if he was implying that the power players who had already arrived might prefer your trio's absence. The longer he thought on it though, the more he was certain the old man's ambiguity was not only intentional but as much a jibe at Jaro's temperament as it was a self-deprecation.

"Thank you, she is dearly missed by all three of us... Lilyana is... she's a tough cookie, she's just fine."

Whether the older man was ignoring the perturbed Harbormaster or simply didn't hear him, Master Petronius paid Jaro no mind. "That is good to hear, she certainly is a brave girl. Although I suppose now she is growing up into a brave young woman... Time moves more quickly the older you get, Isaac, never forget that."

"I haven't heard word of my father yet, but what's going on with Gaeros? Something I should know about?"

After stroking his beard for a moment, he continued, "Preventing a civil war is no small task, but it is one that is best fought in the hearts and minds of its potential combatants. Your father takes the long view of things as elves are wont to. If he had need of more men, then I am sure you would be the first to know. As for Commodore Gaeros... young Jaro is not the only man in Port Eldarion who is critical over the calamity you and our Princess helped bring to an end."

"Royal prerogative, no doubt, but just as well," the older man commented as he sprinkled some herbs into the water he was offered. "Matching my pace, you and I might well have arrived after her Highness otherwise."

Looking towards the hale, young soldier before him, Master Petronius put a hand to his breast and bowed his head in respect, "My young Lord Isaac, you and your family have my sympathies. Your mother, Lady Isabel, was a beautiful soul. Our city is a darker place without her loving grace."

Recovering, his gaze unreadable behind his dark glasses, he asked, "Tell me, how fares Lilyana after your recent ordeal with the Freebooters? Has word arrived yet from your father in Batasuno?"

"There are always trade-offs," said the other man, in a sonorous voice. He looked to be at least twice the age of the younger man, and was dressed in the gold-trimmed robes and miter of a master architect. Although he carried a perfectly cylindrical walking stick, he did not lean upon it for support, and his shoulders were still wide and his back straight. Unlike the closely-cropped beard of the Harbormaster, the older man's long beard was slate-grey with a lighter streak running down the center. It was trimmed with such precision that from a distance, one might have thought it chiseled from granite.

With eyes veiled behind a pair of black spectacles, the master of the Fraternal Association of Builders seemed calm and cool in spite of what seemed to be a heated debate — at least on the part of the younger man.

"What you see as the strong-arm of a distant king, the corsairs to our north see as a pillar of flame barring their path. Given a choice between the certainty of a Freebooter's sword or the potential for friendly fire, what do you think most business men would choose?"