The newcomer would find the High Guardian seated at the far end of the great rounded oak table, folders of documents spread out before him as he worked while waiting.  Standing to his feet upon the deor's arrival, Porfirio began gathering up his documents, tapping them against the table to organize the growing pile.<span style="font-weight: bold">"Morning, Firo,"</span>Kvigr greeted.<span style="font-weight: bold">"I hope your night was restful?"</span>Porfirio considered the beastman Guardian before him.  A formidable warrior, true, although the man seemed to have found his calling not in battle, but in training the new recruits.  A valuable role, that, considering the absolute paucity of Guardians their order had recently been reduced to.  Firo could remember a time when Guardians' names were traded by the commoners with reverent tones as though discussing gods on earth; such a Guardian's exploits would grow with each retelling to become the stuff of legends.  Now it seemed like as not that hearing the word 'Guardian' would summon only spittle from the lips of Adelost's citizens.<br/><br/><br/>"Somewhat so, thank you," Porfirio replied, although they both knew that these were not times for restful nights. "And yours?"  Where exactly the deor was able to find the time and energy for these early morning training sessions he put the recruits through, Firo would never know.  The beastman must sleep like the dead each night, surely.<br/><br/>The two were interrupted by a sudden, rather timid knock on the wooden frame of the open door.  Standing in the hallway was an elfen woman of small stature and youthful appearance, wearing a kit of soft travel leathers dyed in varying muted shades of blue and green.  "Oh, am I early?" she asked hesitantly as she stepped into the Ironguard Room, seeing how empty it was.<br/><br/>"No, just in time," Porfirio replied as he gestured for her to come forward.  "Kvigr, this is Gwenonwyn Latharnach, a diplomat from Armandy - I've recently raised her to Guardian.  Gwenonwyn, this is Kvigr, whose grueling training you've had the good fortune to forego."<br/><br/>"Please, call me Gwen," the elfe greeted with a nervous smile, no doubt unsure of the deor's reaction to a Guardian whom he had not trained and promoted himself.<br/><br/>"To business, then," Porfirio began once pleasantries were exchanged.  With what few Guardians he had currently stationed in the city working on various missions, it wasn't altogether unsurprising that Kvigr and Gwen were the only Guardians in attendance of this morning meeting.  Still, with three Guardians seated at a table meant to comfortably hold two dozen... it was a potent visual for their order's dire straits.<br/><br/>"I'm going to need you to pass your training duties on to one of your underlings, R&R," he said while passing the beastman two mission folders.  "I need you on active duty until some of our brothers come back from the field."  While it was true that a Guardian's mission may take him or her from the city for unknown extended periods of time, the fact of the matter was that communications were breaking down with outlying Guardians stationed throughout Allevent, and Porfirio had no idea if or when certain Guardians would be returning.  It was a very real possibility then that Kvigr would be pulled from his training duties indefinitely.<br/><br/>"Two missions there," he announced, pointing to the two folders before the deor.  As always, when presented with multiple missions it fell to the Guardian himself to decide which one would be undertaken.  It was not a decision to be made lightly, of course.  A brave Guardian may choose the most difficult mission in order to protect his or her fellows, or test his or her own limits, while a wise Guardian would be sure to choose the one best suited to his or her own talents to ensure the success of the mission.  Others chose whatever piqued their interest most, and some Porfirio was sure chose entirely at random.<br/><br/>Porfirio leaned forward in his chair so he could point to the folders.  "Either way you're a man short, R&R.  I need you to take one of your new recruits along.  Is there anyone who stands out in your mind as being worthy of the task?"  Porfirio hated the idea of grabbing a recruit before he or she was ready, but desperate times called for desperate measures.  He glanced over at the elfe girl, yet another example of how low the Order of Guardians had fallen. If this kept up, soon he'd be forced to visit every household in Adelost and place a dagger in the hand of each babe while giving them the oath.<br/><br/><div style="text-align: center;">*****          *****</div><br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Mission #001: Wrighter's Block ★</span>☆☆☆☆<br/><br/>A bogle wright [a fashioner of<span style="font-style: italic">caith</span>-powered artifices] by the name of Maasdam Schepper<br/>has announced a 'wondrous' new artifice that he would like to demonstrate before King Christof.<br/>Greet Mr. Schepper and ascertain the nature of this artifice to ensure His Majesty's safety.<br/><br/>Entail:<br/>Kvigr Rolling Rock [Alumen elixer]<br/>Porfirio Grey [Ferrum elixer]<br/>Guest<br/><br/><span style="font-weight: bold">Mission #002: Hold the Fort ★★★</span>☆☆<br/><br/>The Westwegh [Adelost's west-lying frontier fort] has sent a troubling report to the capital<br/>detailing the disappearance of several watchmen over the last few nights.  Investigate these<br/>occurrences and secure our western defenses.<br/><br/>Entail:<br/>Kvigr Rolling Rock [Alumen elixer]<br/>Gwenonwyn Latharnach [Aurum elixer]<br/>Guest