Dear Mr Gembeard,
I have tried to deliver you this message in person, but I did not know your residence. And either way, I learned that you were out of town. I hope that, when postman Bridgewood delivers you this message and you are reading this, you have arrived safely and without too much trouble here in Bree.
But enough of this rambling! I am writing you for delicate matters which concern the guild. As you know, we agreed a while ago about the apprentice’s guild. Now, I do not know who is responsible for this, but word got out and gossips have spread over town. If you do not yet know me well, I know quite a number of folks and there is no gossip that escapes my notice. And this gossip in particular is not too well: There is much resistance against this idea of getting criminals in town. Especially from the rich folks there are many doubts around this venture. I heard that Mara Thyme, one of the best apothecaries in town, is writing a complaint and is gathering signatures as it goes. And Ernest Thornway, by far one of the most influential entrepreneurs of our age and the manager of three quarters of the vaults, is gathering private resources to undermine the project. How he precisely intends to do this, I am not sure of. What I do know though, is that at this pace there will be protests before long if we do not take immediate action.
I really do not want to cancel the project, so I hope we can take further decisions which could appease the neighbors. As you very well realize, not much is really established for the apprentice’s guild. Without further ado, a few pieces of advice: A final executive or guild leader must be chosen promptly. We got to investigate worthy candidates who have respect in the village, and the toughness and experience to manage the day to day management of the guild. He or she also needs to report to us. I was thinking that you as the chairman could write out a fitting job description form and spread it around town so that we have a list of candidates and discuss who we can hire. Let it be someone with good connections who can bring rest among the civilians.
Furthermore we must think of at least a couple of professions that we can insert into the apprenticeship program. We must see which shops and entrepreneurs can be fitting partners and we manage the immediate follow-up of the future apprentices.
Another hazy subject is the funding of the project, and so much more. But I think that, though this is important, it is not as urgent. Undoubtedly there needs to be a discussion of the precise activities and how much funding all of this will need, but I’d say this can wait. Let’s do thorough crisis management first.
I trust that you, as chairman of the merchants guild, can compile a fitting agenda for the apprentice’s guild and throw them up on the monthly gathering to progress this wonderful initiative for the good of Bree. Now that I have written this message in full, I’ll also remind you to ask the mayor’s advice about the dogs if this, per chance, slipped your mind.
I hope this message finds you well, for the days are turning dark. There is unrest in town, even without the merchant’s initiatives. The number of refugees is swelling every day and whispers of war are coming from the south. Can you imagine? This is unthinkable! But we are confronted with the bitter reality, even in Barnweed Bakery. Yesterday, we had to raise the price of the scones again! Our trading partner miller Nordseed says there’s no other way, so we have to follow. The Barnweed family has already firsthand experienced the trouble of recent inflation, and if the talks of war are real it’ll probably worsen. Would there be any way that the merchant guild could keep the prices stable, just for a moment?
Sincerely,
Emma Barnweed
