[Ironfist Manor]

[Adder]

Not too far from the Hidden City, could be found the official home of one of the most important dwarf clans in the Province, Ironfist. The manor house was set in a large landscaped garden whose head high wall of white marble in which swirled viens of gold blocked all view from passers by. Only the gate afforded a glimpse of the house inside, and that, an ornate affair of wrought iron, black with gilded highlights stood open during the brightening for visitors to enter, and there were many who came and went. The patterns on the gates were continued in black and gilded ironwork along the top of the wall, the patterns abstract but reminisent of sunlight playing along the peaks of mountains at dawn.

A paved drive of dark granite led up to the house, the stone of which was the same as the wall. The house itself, though larger than even the Thanes manor and rivalling the Governors palace, was built instead to an entirely dwarfen pattern. The building walls carried ornamentation but no windows, indeed the only break in the imposing front edifice was the door itself, something that didn't need a great deal of imagination to beleive that it belonged on a castle somewhere. The walls rose only to two floors and were capped by fired tiles that added a warmth to the otherwise cold walls.

During the brightening the front door stood open but inside there were a pair of guards and a reception desk. It might seem an oddity in such a building, but since the loss of the Hidden City and the offices there, the manor now served the dual purpose of Clan home and office. The guards ignored all who entered, though any that were not dwarfes would have them fingering their weapons. Elves brought sneers to their faces and those of the dark races would find a pair of dwarfen axes swinging in their direction with all the force and expertise that their owners could muster.

Lightborn visitors were greeted by a dwarf who stood behind the desk, perhaps becuase sitting would mean staring up at the taller races. His face showed polite interest, red beard brushed neatly over his plain but dark clothes. "Serale and welcome to the Clan Ironfist, what can I do for yer?"

[Yarrow]

ooc: No problem, and thank you

Yarrow looked at the dwarf and gave him a kind smile that she saved for no one. His face showed polite interest, but Yarrow did not know if he really did care or not. Well it matters not to me...Yarrow thought.

"Serale and welcome to the Clan Ironfist, what can I do for yer?"

"Serale, sir." Yarrow responded with a nod of her head. "You can help us." Yarrow indicated Rhys who was still behind her. "I am Captain Yarrow Woodruff, the latest addition to the Thane's guard and we need a place very close to him, sir, but not too close." Yarrow gave him a big grin. "We were told that buying something near his place was probably out of the question, but we were given directions to your establishment." Yarrow explained further.

[Rhys]

It wasn't long after the pair had entered the wealthy area of the city that they had found ironfist manor. It had all the expertise that a a dwarven home manor would most likely have. The two entered and Yarrow was the first to respond.

He let her do the talking for the moment.

[Adder]

The dwarf eyed them closely, his expression polite though there was the faintest hint of sceptitism of about him. "I think that we can help you, Captain." There was a slight emphasis on the rank, and for all his politeness he didn't seem impressed that the Thane was surrounding himself with his own people, and not dwarfes at that.

"If you'll just wait there a moment." He stood and walked over to a door at the right of the hallway and disappeared inside for a short while. He reappeared and beckoned them over. "If you'll come this way, the Steward will see you." He stood aside and then closed the door once they were in.

The room that they entered was large and lit by lamps that hung low from the ceiling, the only source of light in the windowless room. The room was faintly dim, and the occupant was engaged in turning up the lamps as they entered, changing it from dark to merely gloomy.

The dwarf turned and waved them to seats in front of the expansive wooden desk, a desk that was completely bare of any paperwork aside from a single sheet of paper on which a pen rested. The rest of the room was severely tidy, with bookshelves running from floor to ceiling with a set of library steps set in the corner. The bookshelves, of a dark polished wood were loaded with large leather bound books and various other items of indeterminate nature. Behind the desk, a wall of polished red marble, veined in gold, in the centre of which was mounted a large coat of arms, under which was a script in lettering unfamiliar to those who were not dwarfen. The display was underscored by a large and clearly well used battle axe, double headed and with blades that glittered in the faint twinkle of lamplight.

"Serale to yer, have a seat, Khun Ironfist at yer service." Before they could sit he stuck his hand out to them to be shaken and then took a seat behind the desk. An older dwarf, his hair was entirely silver, the beard plaited neatly but intricately and falling over the dark maroon shirt that he wore, and covering the gold buckle of the large belt that was buckled around his middle.

"I hear tell that yer was looking for something, a property was it? What and where did yer have in mind?"

[Yarrow]

"Serale to yer, have a seat, Khun Ironfist at yer service." Yarrow took the hand offered to her and then took a seat behind the desk. "I hear tell that yer was looking for something, a property was it? What and where did yer have in mind?"

"That is correct, sir." Yarrow told him with a warm smile. "I have been appointed as the Lord Thane's Captain of his guard." Yarrow explained for what seemed like the hundreth time that day. "We...my partner Captain Rhys and I...have had enough of one roomed places with a bed and bad food. We have been offered barricks, but that is not for us anymore, sir. The problem then arises that I need to be close to the manor in case I am needed at an odd hour." She explained further. "This is why we are here, sir. We have been told that all the houses near the manor are owned by the Ironfist Clan, sir. We were wondering if we could make a deal with you, sir."

[Adder]

Khun took his seat and leaned forward on the desk, elbows propped on the polished wood surface.

"You've been informed rightly enough. The Western city is largely owned by the various families and the Thanal Manor was built and donated to the city by the Ironfist clan when the Government moved out of the city centre and into the Concordia.

We have properties that can be rented out to you, and I think one or two are in the general area of the Thanal Manor. Were you thinking of an apartment or a house? Or should I ask how much you are looking to spend a month and I can tell you what's available in that price range?"

[Yarrow]

"We were thinking about a house actually and we didn't really discuss prices." Yarrow frowned and glanced at Rhys and then back at the dwarf. "To be honest we did not know what to expect, sir. What is the closest house to the Thane's manor and how much would that cost? Perhapes we can start there." Yarrow said with a laugh. Yarrow really didn't know what to expect, but knew that they would be able to afford most anything.

[Adder]

The dwarf smiled in response, relaxing as it appeared that they were serious.

"Houses we can do, and it so happens that there is a townhouse in one of the streets that crosses. It's a nice place, two floors above ground, three below. Above ground are the reception rooms, lounges, lobby with reception, that sort of thing, but you can use the rooms as you wish. Below ground as usual," he elaborated, [b]"guessing that neither would be familiar with what he considered normal here, or at least not normal in what was effectively the dwarfen corner of the city. "Bedrooms are on the lower floors, dining room on the first underground floor. Now cost." He leant forward, interlocking his fingers. "Rent is reasonable, indeed lower than some hotel suites, you might consider it cheap, but on the other hand rent is by the era. Rent for an era is five thousand crowns. How does that fit into your budget?"

[Yarrow]

Yarrow looked at Rhys and then back at the dwarf. Yarrow glanced over at Rhys now. It was hard to rent something becuase once you were finished paying for it you still had nothing to show for all the money they had spent and 5 thousand was a nice sum of money...even though it was a good price. "And how much would it be for a near by apartment?" She asked turning her attention back to the dwarf. "Just out of curiosity..." She told the dwarf while Rhys thought things over.

[Rhys]

Rhys was thinking, alot. It was a big house but alot of stuff was underground. Considering it was a dwarf house, they'd be at home but unles a person was sued to living in a hole, humans most liekly wouldnt care for it. Yarrow asked about an apartment, maybe a nice big apartment would due.

[Chocolate]

Khun nodded as Yarrow asked about the rents of the apartments, happy enough to divulge those prices. "If you're wanting an apartment, those vary between three and four thousand crowns an era. I could go through the various ones available, but unless you give me a notion of your needs and budget I will only be guessing at what you are hoping for. They are all within reasonable distance of the Thanal Manor, relatively speaking, compared to living elsewhere in the city. Will it be for you two only, or is there other family? Do you require stable space, for instance? Do you have a carriage?"

The dwarf looked from Yarrow to Rhys, trying to imagine this military couple living amongst the wealthy classes of Primus Gaudeo. It mattered not to him if they would 'fit in', though, as long as the rent was paid and the apartments were cared for.

[Yarrow]

ooc: Thanks Chocolate!

ic: "The space will only be for us, but it would be nice to have a spare room just in case someone decided to stop by." Yarrow told the dwarf. "And I think three thousand cowns would be more our price range, to tell you the truth." Yarrow smiled at the thought of owning a carriage. "We have a horse, but no carriage, sir."

[Chocolate]

"Camberdown Mansions will be best then," Khun replied, and with a small frown opened the second drawer down of the large desk to take out a sheath of parchment wrapped in bloodred velvet. "A ten minute ride by horse to the Thane's Manor, I think there's an apartment available on the first floor up. Ah, yes. Master bedroom and one guest room, living space and kitchen and a bathroom. Balcony looking over the quadrangle but not to streetside. There's a small communal garden running around the perimeter of the Mansions and I'm sure that a stable can be found at ground level."

He glanced up at Yarrow, realising that she was the one who wore the pants in this couple's relationship. "Three thousand crowns for the apartment to cover one era, and a deposit of five hundred crowns that will be returned to you once the property is vacated again. For the stable, an additional two hundred crowns, and if you wish the services of the grooms and for covering feed and bedding for your horse, a further three hundred crowns."

[Yarrow]

Yarrow nodded her head. That sounded better then renting a house and the place sounded lovely! A garden will be nice to spend some spare time in. She had grown up around flowers because Daisy had always enjoyed pushing her fingers into the dirt and making things grow. She should've been the druid. Yarrow thought sadly. Yarrow liked healing and making things grow as well, but there was another side of her that had always been interested in keeping people safe and protected.

"It sounds lovely." Yarrow turned her attention to Rhys and gave him her best smile. "What do you think dear?"

[Rhys]

Rhys listened to the dwarf explain about the apartment that they had available. PLenty of living space for the two of them and for a good price, he had plenty of money saved up for sometihng like this. A stable for Yarrows horse will be good. He nodded and looked to Yarrow.

"I think it sounds more than lovely, sounds perfect for us." he said.

"If you're wanting to, I say we take it Yarrow."