Yasha and Arcea's understandable rough-necked anxieties aside, more experienced hands at politics would tell them a new viscountess, duke or earl being given a parcel of land had only a moderate amount to fear from the responsibilities of their new title. Being that this will not be a democracy, not even the most wildly optimistic among the villagers or immigrants expects that the new noble ladies will be humble, self-sacrificing public servants who spend their days and nights engaged in the minutiae of construction, supply organization, or trade ledgers. Under Imperial law, any noble landlady's holdings and position are very long on privilege and short on responsibilities. The only thing they are truly obligated to do by the crown is ensure their new town stays as a part of the Empire, and furnish soldiers (including potentially themselves) if the Empress demands it. In practice, many young and adventuresome nobles treat their ancestral (or not-so-ancestral) estates as a home base for their travels rather than as a nest-egg to be vigilantly watched over.The locals are usually quite happy with this arrangement, as it means that less of them will end up as a filling meal to help their overladies pass the time in the slow months.<br/><br/>Inside the inn is, to Arcea and Yasha's pleasant surprise, much more thoroughly furnished than the outside, with a fresh coat of paint and some nice lacquered furniture, complete with tablecloths and doilies, that would make Celrie feel almost like a home away from home. Behind the bar is a scruffy male stoat wearing ragged trousers but no shirt, exposing a number of long-healed scars, and a jewler's loup upon his head that somehow gave him a shady look. Because of the militia who had scampered out, it was mostly deserted at the moment... but oblivious to this, there was still a young cal'drua woman wearing fashionable, imported dress (<a class="postlink" href="http://simg4.gelbooru.com//images/de/92/de92a200196f5a1e8ce72c5c49b40112.png?3242278">http://simg4.gelbooru.com//images/de/92/de92a200196f5a1e8ce72c5c49b40112.png?3242278</a>) softly crooning an upbeat musical ditty, a sort of fusion of a traditional catfolk nursery song with a different musical meter to make it sound more romantic. A pair of mechanical instruments - a clanking player piano and a harp with mechanical wooden hands plucking its own strings - accompanied her. She gave the newcomers a welcoming wink but didn't pause her efforts. The only other noteworthy piece of decor was a rather fancy looking decoration hanging from the ceiling - three perfectly-formed crystal spheres, one deep purple, one azure, and one deep red, were hanging from lengths of wire.<br/><br/>The bartender was more animated on their approach. "Oh my. I was wondering how long it might be. What a most wond'rous an' welcome arrival. I know that a fine-swaggering squirrel with such a soldierly air about wouldn't be any commoner coming through here looking for a small beer. I'd guess that you're the new lil' royalty around here, my good miss!" the way he spoke was seemingly ingratiating, but there was an overly-hasty, acquisitive tone to his words that made it a bit grating to listen to. "Let me guess, merchant captain who made enough to retire early and wanted to get respectable with a name that's apt to last? Hah... Oh, and I've learned quite a bit from my new demifeline friends, drunkards, and wenches... enough to guess that that tall bit of fine flesh at your side - no offense meant, heh - is Arcealandria? Myself, a mister Cross, humbly makes your acquaintance... and my best entertainer up there, Fionah, would like to as well once she finishes her latest number - she hates to interrupt anything she enjoys doing, as I'm sure you can sympathize with. And... Well, I'll just get right to it; having you finally arrive here, my ladies, is a privilege, because it finally gives enterprising sorts, heheh, the likes of which I often do business with, the possibility of getting legal sanction to go plund- er, I mean, exploring some of the old ruins and non-Cal'drua tribal camps around here. I already have a few lined up who'd like to make your acquiantance and talk about the possibilities of a few nearby sites... with a cut for miladies and first crack at them yourselves, of course. Can I have the servin' girl bring you something while we discuss it?"