[Location] Taralon Weapons Manufactory

[Malkaer Andares]

On the east bank of the Black River just west of the humongous Darkblade fortress stands another complex of buildings. While this monstrosity is perhaps not as large or forbidding as its bigger brother it tries to make up for that through other means. Brightening and darkening this place roars and vibrates like a great serpent. The sound of metal banging on metal emanates through the thick redbrick walls when one walks past the complex. A few massive chimneys piercing the sky belch out thick black smoke. On a clear brightening the columns of smoke can be seen by ships miles of the coast. Every brightening hundreds craftsmen pass under the gilded letters that hang above the gatehouse bearing the name of the complex: Taralon Weapons Manufactory.

Entrance is under strict surveillance by security personnel in fear of saboteurs. Visitors are required to declare themselves at one the reception rooms in the gatehouse, which also functions as office space. If one passes the gates one enters a cobblestone courtyard which forms the centre of the entire complex. It is here that employees can get a breath of fresh air on their breaks and enjoy their lunches (provided by their wives, not the company).

To the left is the great woodworker’s hall. Here the great red barked trees of the Deepwood Forest are sawn to smaller, workable pieces by a great water powered saw. From these the woodworkers make the shafts of the pikes, maces and arrows and other wooden components of the weaponry. For the creation of longbows a softer, more flexible wood is used.

Straight ahead from the entrance is the leatherworkers and assembly hall. Here the unfinished products from the woodworkers and the forge hall come together to be fused into one. Then the finished products are transferred to the storage rooms aside the gatehouse/offices until they are delivered to the customer.

Hidden from sight from the courtyard is the manufactory’s own wharf, which is situated behind the assembly hall and makes up almost the entire width of the complex that borders the water. The men who work here barely receive any pause from the ships that continuously deliver the raw materials required by the behemoth business: coal, iron, timber and hides.

By far the largest hall of the complex, taking up around a third of the area, is the smithing or forge hall, to the right of the courtyard. Within this high but dimly lit hall one truly receives a foretaste of Aeternia. The great forges produce such heated flames that the iron melts and is directed through clever pathways into moulds of pike tips, halberd blades, cuirasses, helmets, shields and other arms and armour. Humans with a bare and black breast continuously feed the fire with coals and operate the giant bellows, while taking orders from gnomish engineers. Once the moulds have been cooled off they are transferred to one of the many anvils manned by proper weapon- and armoursmiths, usually dwarfs but also some humans. Under a cacophony of hammering sounds they finish the items off so that they can be sent to the assembly hall. The most talented dwarven smiths also operate a number of smaller forges with a few apprentices to forge the higher quality items such as maces or maybe even swords one brightening.

Every worker in the manufactory does his duty with grim determination. While no workplace is free from work related complaints motivation is high. After all many employees had a son, brother or friend who served in the Sherian Serpents and depended on their craftsmanship for survival.

Secrets : NPC’s: Name: Bram Eberwarts Function: Receptionist Race: human male Age: 24 Appearance: Somewhat frail and pale with glasses. Kind of nerdy. Mannerism: A white collar worker who is suspicious of everyone, but most importantly blue collars. Polite towards his superiors and somewhat arrogant to those lower. Secretly in love with Vanessa Ilivre, the secretary of the Sherian Scales conscription center. Name: John Fromin Castledough Function: Taralon Weapons Manufactory Company Vice Director Race: human male Age: 48 ordinations Appearance: Used to be a pudgy a few ordinations ago but since leading this company has grown a bit thin. A grey strand here and there colours his brown hair. Mannerism: An enthusiastic and ambitious manager who somewhat resents the hold of the city government over business but is loyal to the cause of Taralon. Dreams of a peaceful future in Sherian so that business and trade can flourish. Name: Imaer Raekarth Function: Taralon Weapons Manufactory Company Secretary Race: esh’lahier elf Age: 365 ordinations Appearance: typical pale esh’lahier elf Mannerism: Somewhat cold, but intimately aware of everything surrounding the manufactory. A henchman long in the service of Malkaer Andares, the Thane of Taralon has installed him as his eyes and ears in the company.

[Malkaer Andares]

John Fromin Castledough, Vice Director of the Taralon Weapons Manufactory Company, had access to a wide range of documents. These were the most up to date:

Company Ledger

Company created by the city of Taralon with a starting capital of 100,000 Aelyrian golden crowns at Cryxatum 1, Era XIV PF. Further investment by Malkaer Andares (50,000 crowns), the Black River Tobacco Company (75,000 crowns) and Milo L'Evienne (75,000 crowns).

Starting capital: 300000
Construction costs: -231240
Advertisement costs: -10000

Operative since Aperitus 1, Era XIV PF.

Balance at Aperitus 1: 58760 crowns
profit over Aperitus: 41904 crowns
dividend paid to shareholders at Aperitus 50: -40000 crowns

Balance at Optia 1: 60664 crowns
profit over Optia: 41904 crowns
dividend paid to shareholders at Optia 50: -40000 crowns

Balance at Ioannes 1: 62568 crowns
profit over Ioannes: 41904 crowns
dividend paid to shareholders at Ioannes 50: -40000 crowns

Balance at Imperos 1: 64472 crowns
profit over Imperos: 41904 crowns
dividend paid to shareholders at Imperos 50: -40000 crowns

Balance at Junctior 1: 66376 crowns
profit over Junctior: 41904 crowns
dividend paid to shareholders at Junctior 50: -40000 crowns

Era XV PF.

Balance at Kalendryas 1: 68280 crowns
profit over Kalendryas: 20 * 838,1 - 30 * 300 = 7762 crowns
dividend paid to shareholders at Kalendryas 50: -40000 crowns
*** Production halted at Kalendryas 20***

Balance at Immanis 1: 36042 crowns
profit over Immanis: -15000 crowns
dividend paid to shareholders at Immanis 50: 0 crowns

Balance at Ponutis 1: 21042 crowns
profit over Ponutis: -15000 crowns
dividend paid to shareholders at Ponutis 50: 0 crowns

Balance at Melora 1: 6042 crowns
profit over Melora: -15000
dividend paid to shareholders at Melora 50: 0 crowns

Balance at Cryxatum 1: -8958 crowns
profit over Cryxatum:
dividend paid to shareholders at Cryxatum 50:

TWM Company ownership

City of Taralon: 40%
Milo L'Evienne: 20%
Black River Tobacco Company: 20%
Malkaer Andares: 10%
Anvael Andares 10% (vote rights to Malkaer Andares)

Monthly dividend payments (when dividend is distributed)

City of Taralon: 16000 crowns
Milo L'Evienne: 8000 crowns
Black River Tobacco Company: 8000 crowns
Malkaer Andares: 4000 crowns
Anvael Andares: 4000 crowns

[Malkaer Andares]

The current production cost sheet was an important document for the highest manager of the firm.

Operational cost

General operational cost information:

Production line details:

Total costs per brightening:

Production lines:

Cuirass (100) production line subtotal = 12567,50 crowns
Sallet (100) production line subtotal = 1374,50 crowns
Vambrace (100 pairs) production line subtotal = 1784,50 crowns
Greaves (100 pairs) production line subtotal = 1784,50 crowns
Pike (100) production line subtotal = 3352,50 crowns
Halberd (10) production line subtotal = 379 crowns
Mace (10) production line subtotal = 285,5 crowns
Longbow (10) production line subtotal = 260 crowns
Buckler (20) production line subtotal = 224 crowns
Pavise (10) production subtotal = 699 crowns
Arrow (300) production line subtotal = 267,8 crowns

Forge subtotal = 3065,50 crowns
Woodworkers hall subtotal = 42,50 crowns
Wharf subtotal = 45,50 crowns
Administration subtotal = 258,50 crowns

Others subtotal = 828 crowns

Grand total costs per brightening = 27218,80 crowns

Income

Income

Price per product:

Cuirass = 150 crowns
Sallet = 25 crowns
Vambraces (sold in pairs) = 25 crowns
Greaves (sold in pairs) = 25 crowns
Pike = 40 crowns
Halberd = 50 crowns
Mace = 40 crowns
Longbow = 30 crowns
Buckler = 20 crowns
Pavise = 75 crowns
Arrows (sold in tens) = 10 crowns

Income per brightening:

Cuirass 100 * 145 = 14500 crowns
Sallet 100 * 25 = 2500 crowns
Vambrace 100 pairs * 25 = 2500 crowns
Greaves 100 pairs * 25 = 2500 crowns
Pike 100 * 35 = 3500 crowns
Halberd 10 * 50 = 500 crowns
Mace 10 * 40 = 400 crowns
Longbow 10 * 30 = 300 crowns
Buckler 20 * 20 = 400 crowns
Pavise 10 * 75 = 750 crowns
Arrow 30 tens * 10 = 300 crowns

Total income per brightening = 28150 crowns

The resulting profit sheet:

Profit

Total income per brightening: 28150 crowns
Total costs per brightening: 27218,80 crowns

Profit per brightening before tax: 931,2 crowns
Profit tax (10%): 93,12 crowns

Profit per brightening after tax: 838 crowns and 1 silver
Per cycle: 8381 crowns
Per month: 41904 crowns
Per era: 419040 crowns

Older documents included the building cost figure of the manufactory.

Construction Cost figure

Details:

Total Costs

Courtyard subtotal: 1000
Leatherworks/Assembly hall: 20600
Offices and canteen subtotal: 6400
Smithing hall subtotal: 46400
Storage room subtotal: 10300
Wharf subtotal: 14800
Woodworkers hall subtotal: 28500

Building subtotal: 128000 crowns
After building contractor profit (8%): 138240 crowns

Land subtotal: 63000
Others subtotal: 30000

Grand total: 231240 crowns

[Malkaer Andares]

Reserved post slot for further information.

[Zim Rage]

TS: Brightening 8, of cycle 4, of the first month of Autumn, Era Xiv. PF.

As of Thane Malkaer's Orders, Zim's men delivered 250 swords every four, or less, brightenings to the weapons manufactory for pick up. Bringing the swords were Urlund, Glanel, and Ofik, triplets of dwarven decent that looked fairly well alike, save for the color of thier hear on thier heads and face and how it was dressed. That, and Ofiks abnormaly large head.

To be safe, for each delivery Zim had Urlond make sure that the men at the manufactory who recieved them each time signed and dated in his book, as a type of reciept that he did infact deliver them. And just incase they tried to pass them off as thier own swords Zim had a small ZR-T fallowed by a number between 501 and 2000 ingraved on the pomel. Aside from this, Zim had made these out of Hymm steel which was a highly kept secrete allowing only a hand full of people know how to use it.

[Malkaer Andares]

After a few months of silence the weapons manufactory once more buzzed with activity. There had been fears the company would go bankrupt, but two brightenings ago the news had come that there was a new customer to make use of Taralon’s greatest piece of industry. Rumour had it this one was even bigger than the Provincial Government of Sherian, though details were sketchy. Fact was however that yesterbright, the management had been given the order to rehire personnel and prepare the manufactory for production.

This morning the workers and managers were (perhaps unpleasantly) surprised by the big man himself. Dressed superbly in a white costume the pale elf strolled through the halls, nodding dignified at the explanations offered by Vice Director John Fromin Castledough as they passed the machinery. Now and again Malkaer offered a few words of encouragement or praise for the craftsmen at work. After the tour through the manufactory the esh’lahier and his retinue returned to the office of the Vice Director.

“Soon I will retire from my position as Thane of Taralon, mister Castledough. While I have other pressing obligations elsewhere, I will have more time for the manufactory.” When he was still a shareholder instead of the owner of the whole company, Malkaer merely watched the ledger now and then. In fact, this had been his first visit to the manufactory since its inauguration. Not that his contribution to the whole company was negligible though; in fact, his was an extremely important one. Thanks to his political connections the manufactory had customers after all. “Therefore I would like some office space in this building. Rest assured you shall remain in full charge concerning the brightening to brightening management though.” The elf offered with a smile. Castledough nodded. “We are all just happy we have found a new customer, Lord Andares. I shall have my secretary look into providing Your Grace the required room.”

After discussing some more details of the process of preparing the manufactory for production again, the esh’lahier excused himself to the office that had been arranged for him in the meantime. Malkaer had asked not to give him too large an office, as he would not work here every brightening. The more important function of the room was to provide him with a secure space to cast his Waygate spell. The apprentice sorcerer requested not to be disturbed for a few minutes to reach Clara and practice his arcana. The spell was of his own creation and often used thus the elf had not trouble casting it. That done Malkaer returned to the Vice Director to arrange meetings and prices with the suppliers of the manufactory, after which he departed to the Thanal Mansion.