Rebecca
"I've been working on remedies. To cut the expenditure of life in the eventual Delve."

*He walked and entered his tower, the door opening, greeted by the Watchling. There was an architon on the table, but the subject he was focused on was some sort of weapon on the table with it.*

"Gunpowder. It will give the common man means of defense, rivaling that of a master level destruction mage."

*The weapon was some sort of rotary shotgun. A large, cumbersome brass frame with a wooden stock. Inside the frame was an enclosed cylinder, holding 5 brass shells.*
Victor
"I've been hearing about gunpowder." He says, "Like a crossbow, but loud, and a lot more damaging. Mostly used for naval combat, right?" He inspects it, but doesn't touch it
Rebecca
"Yes... Though there have been some handheld versions... Using Paper cartridges. Primitive but effective... Could punch through armor like it were cloth."

*He picked it up, pumping the handle. Inside it, the sound of the cylinder rotating could be heard. On the right side was a panel that opened, and he used an extractor rod to remove the shell. It was brass.*

"This little thing... It could blow a man into pieces."
Victor
"Can't imagine that thing is cheap to make or maintain." He says, "Should reserve it just for the expedition." He chuckles, "Would be devastating, though. I doubt anything made of flesh would look horrifying after getting hit by that."
Rebecca
"It'll only be used by anyone coming with us who can't properly use magic. Gunpowder isn't cheap... And the methods the dwemer used for their Arquebus are still unknown. Perhaps pressure..."

*He was thinking. Another idea in his head...*

"Too expensive to be a widespread weapon. It will never surpass magic... But as something specialized... Perhaps a long range weapon should be next. We're still worrying about Ulfric... The Jarl declared neutrality, but Ulfric had a strange... Desire for this city."
Victor
"The Arquebus was a variant of the sphere, no? The ones that fired ball lightning?" He asks, "Likely something akin to old staff enchanting methods, I'd imagine."

"I doubt Ulfric would do anything so brash as to attack Markarth." He says, he was unaware of the name change, "With it built into the mountain there's to many alternate escape routes, add that to the Dwemer architecture it makes the perfect defensive spot. Could easily mount some form of siege weapon on towers to defend, like ballista."
Rebecca
"I know he wouldn't. If he was smart... But i feel his pride would get the best of him. Dumac wont swear Nchuand-Zel's fealty to the stormcloaks."
Victor
"He's proud but he's no fool." He says, "If he does attack he'd likely look for an alternate way in. But I doubt any attack would be successful against that behemoth you're displaying proudly. At least not without serious siege weapons."
Rebecca
"Intense frost is truly its only weakness. But they have no battlemages, the stormcloaks."

*He contemplated for a moment.*

"How experienced are you with Factotums? How much work did you do on them?"
Victor
"They used similar mechanisms as the Apostles, so I've done quite a bit of work on them." He says, "Would be glad to lend a hand, been quite some time since I've gotten to repair anything other than myself."