Barbara
Vozjet looks through the shelves of books on the history of refugee crises. The incoming refugees don't have any experience with terrace farming, but perhaps there's a way to teach them? There's precious little flatland to go around in the east, but the refugees must have some skills that the Grand Duchy can use. Especially given the upcoming southern invasion. Food is always a concern and it'll be important logistically.

He takes one interesting looking tome and finds a quiet place to start reading. How can a refugee crisis be solved is the main question. There may not be farmland to go around, but what about construction work? Fortifying the valleys and building new homes could help alleviate the lack of work for the refugees. Or is magic the solution?
Ione
*Research, research, research. That was all Diao was doing these days. Improving her arm. Improving her weapons. Improving her golems. Recently, in addition to Bismarck, she had added Takao and Belfast to her force. While she disliked having to rely on external force, it was admittedly very useful to having three stone Kuilei helping her.*

*Unfortunately, their size meant that they wouldn't fit in the library. The silent nature also meant that she couldn't work on her mechanics in the building. Instead, she indulged herself with historical technology, challenging herself to create weapon designs based on them.*

*On a table was an open book for farming implements, and in front of her, a scroll containing a complex mechanism.*
Barbara
Vozjet looks over to the armless wonder. Or, at least, the Silnari with a mechanical arm. But perhaps of more interest to him was the book on farming implements. A book like that could be useful, but why was the Silnari looking at farming tools?

"That's a nice arm." Vozjet says, a little awkwardly. "Did you make it yourself?" He means no offence. He's just not quite sure how to tread around the mechanical arm. No doubt she gets questions about it.
Ione
*The focus is temporarily broken as she receives a question from the man next to her.*

"Oh, hi there! And yes, made by yours truly."

*Diao flexes the arm into a fist, showing off the shifting bronze and steel, the knuckles seemingly plated with extra metal. Several segments of the arm appear to have outcrops, almost like hooks, but less dangerous.*

"It's quite useful if I say so myself. No cuts get on it, and it helps me wash dishes in hot water more easily."

*The elf jokingly smiles, leaning back in her chair.*

"What brings you to me? Is it really the arm, or the book about plows?"
Barbara
"A bit of both." Vozjet answers. "I'm curious as to what a woman with an arm like that is doing looking at ploughs." Vozjet is clearly impressed at the metal arm. "Must cost a decent amount to keep that arm functional given the bronze and steel. Planning to turn it into a hoe because it's cheaper?" Vozjet jokes.
Ione
"It actually costed nothing, besides a few days with poor sleep. This entire thing is held up through magic. The reason I'm looking at plows is that I'm trying to challenge myself. Create mechanical, weaponized versions of everyday objects."

*Diao sifts through a couple of the diagrams on paper. They're incredibly detailed, complete with measurements and notes. She brings out one with a trident, the three points seemingly altered in order to be able to either cut, flare out to pierce and catch, or bunch together.*

*Another diagram has the arm model in it. A scythe blade seems to have been attached to the arm, connected by a secondary arm extending from the first.*

"Here's an example. An arm mounted scythe. Not exactly made for farming, though it could be. I really made it as a weapon; the extending limb tricks enemies thinking that it's a short range weapon, and the flexibility allows it to get past defenses. It's similar to a mantis's claw of sorts, but mounted on a small handle and attached to the arm here. Right now I'm trying to see how I would turn a plow into a weapon. Or perhaps making it better."
Barbara
Vozjet looks through the diagrams, impressed at how meticulous they are. The trident looks familiar to Vozjet. "Rare kind of tool." He notes regarding it. "Best suited to blade catching, but I think its practicality is limited."

"Why not make the plough better? I came here to research the refugee crisis. There's not a lot of flat land to go around and most of the refugees don't have any experience with terrace farming. I'm looking into how previous refugee crises were solved and what can be done to put them to work." Vozjet says.
Ione
"The best weapon is the halberd. Versatile and effective. Of course, context matters. A simple dagger is superior when grappling. But unique weapons have the upper hand in new ways of attack and surprise."

"As for making it better, that's difficult. A horse has only so much power. Making it more efficient by having it work 2 or more rows would end up wasting its energy. The blade design is great; it's not too heavy, but heavy enough to withstand dirt. Not too sharp to be dulled, but sharp enough to cut through. What you really need is power and information. Get a summoner and have them create a stone Kuilei. They're strong enough to pull things, and as constructs, they're tireless. Be sure to thank them after their work though. The other solution is information. Spread knowledge and texts of how to terrace farm, making it more efficient. Rice, for example, works great with sloped fields."

*Diao rubs her chin with her right normal hand, thinking.*

"I suppose a diagram could be made. Many people are illiterate, no? Drawings would be better. You'd have to somehow preserve the paper though, otherwise it might be destroyed."
Barbara
"I don't think a summoner is going to help the refugees with labour. The whole point is to get the refugees to work so that they can make a living instead of being in the slums and refugee camps. Constructing fortifications is supposed to be an alternative." Vozjet replies. "But where are my manners? Vozjet, formerly a *Rakuli*." He offers a hand to the Silnarian. "And drawings would be better, but so too would classes to teach the refugees how to terrace farm. I'm looking for ways to alleviate the refugee crisis."