<!-- apprentice to the master of artillery in his unit. legions no longer exist. nepotism in the engineering trade. young and arrogant. -->

<string id="prebackstory.spc_wanderer_empire_0" text="{=jPGOlC7O}I don't mind talking about it." />
<string id="backstory_a.spc_wanderer_empire_0" text="{=3yK4uXyt}I'm an engineer. Most of us learned our trade and got our contacts through the army. It was a good system: it was the emperor's money, so the emperor's servants kept a close eye on us. But as everyone knows, the emperor ran out of money. The lords are in charge of fortifications now, and all they have to go on is the say-so of other engineers." />
<string id="backstory_b.spc_wanderer_empire_0" text="{=OYOwasMe}You can imagine - it's a bit of a racket. People build arches that fall down, and his colleagues go on recommending him because he's someone's brother or old apprentice. The greatest sin in our brotherhood is criticizing the work of other engineers. " />
<string id="backstory_c.spc_wanderer_empire_0" text="{=JfTTbPag}Well, I don't play that game. If something's going to fall down and kill someone, I'll point that out. So, naturally, all my 'brothers' cut me out of contracts." />
<string id="response_1.spc_wanderer_empire_0" text="{=R36Bl55h}Most noble of you, sir." />
<string id="response_2.spc_wanderer_empire_0" text="{=oXnqNsvz}A man of integrity, or simply one who backbites his peers? I have no idea, and wouldn't want to take the risk of hiring you." />
<string id="backstory_d.spc_wanderer_empire_0" text="{=b1sCl4SI}So, anyway, I am forced to spend my time in taverns, taking whatever work can be found. I can oversee the building of most structures, or, if the need is there, I am also adept at knocking them down with catapults, rams, and mines." />
<string id="generic_backstory.spc_wanderer_empire_0" text="{=RZizPvaI}I'm an engineer, with imperial army training. I'm sure by now you've met a few of us around, and know a bit about what we can do." />

<!-- companion #2, Senon. Attached to army but still civilian
Perk: Speeds up siege-building, allows use of counterweight trebuchet
-->

<string
id="str_npc_intro.3"
text="{=Wnt5Ngzr}Greeting, {?PLAYER.GENDER}madame{?}sir{\?}. Are you by any chance in the market for an engineer?" />
<string
id="str_npc_intro_response_1.3"
text="{=6EeM0jbm}I might be. What do you have to offer?" />
<string
id="str_npc_intro_response_2.3"
text="{=APKQ8HuA}No, I'm not, I'm afraid. Good day to you." />
<string
id="str_npc_backstory_a.3"
text="{=a2rWCsZS}I hope you don't mind a little immodesty. If you're building, I'm one of the best you can hire. I can build any arch, any tower, any dome you might want. Every city around here has examples of my craft." />
<string
id="str_npc_backstory_b.3"
text="{=plzerw4U}If you're knocking down, I'm not just one of the best - I am the best. I do rams, mines, and of course catapults. Torsion and counterweight. You can ask any castellan in any town in Calradia... Well, maybe best not ask in this town, but any other town in Calradia." />
<string
id="str_npc_interrupt_1.3"
text="{=OGqp7v0p}I see. What happened here?" />
<string
id="str_npc_interrupt_2.3"
text="{=CKgC2JXg}You do not inspire me with confidence." />
<string
id="str_npc_backstory_d.3"
text="{=h4rt3qUq}They asked me to erect a counterweight trebuchet on one of the towers. And it's elementary, right? 'Counterweight' - that means for the throwing arm to go up, something else has to come down, right? So if you're standing around the trebuchet watching, you should pay attention to where you're standing when I pull the lanyard, right?" />
<string
id="str_npc_backstory_d.3"
text="{=2MJElaJi}Well, the master of artillery here took the counterweight right on the skull. It was a 5-pound ball, so the counterweight weighed about as much as a small horse. You can imagine what that looked like. So they're not going to pay me - even though the ball, I'm proud to say, threw straight over 500 paces. Even with a bit of muck on it." />
<string
id="str_npc_backstory_response_1.3"
text="{=VC5CkkUD}That's very impressive! From a technical standpoint, that is." />
<string
id="str_npc_backstory_response_2.3"
text="{=j2auwAej}Above all, an engineer must be cautious. Good-day, sir." />
<string
id="str_npc_signup.3"
text="{=pgoFlK3o}At any rate, I got out of there when they were still bumbling about with a bucket and mop. But if there's an inquiry and people start looking for someone to blame, well, they'll probably decide to point the finger at the external contractor. So I wouldn't mind getting out of town." />
<string
id="str_npc_signup_2.3"
text="{=QAuX5fN4}Take me on now, and you can have my services for a fraction of what they're worth. Believe me, in your line of work, there's no bigger expense than a lengthy siege. Unless you like drinking dirty water and squatting in muddy ditches, hiring me is an opportunity you can't afford to miss." />
<string
id="str_npc_signup_response_1.3"
text="{=iwxJWG81}I can't pass up a bargain like that. I'd like to hire you." />
<string
id="str_npc_signup_response_2.3"
text="{=KUKuUJaL}You try too hard to sell yourself. I guess I'm going to have to say 'no.'." />
<string
id="str_npc_payment.3"
text="{=YBtDZuCL}Excellent. I'd like an advance payment, not least because I'm going to need to get my equipment cleanred. Shall we say {NPCPAYMENT}?" />
<string
id="str_npc_payment_response.3"
text="{=IcBPLx2R}Very well, here's {NPCPAYMENT}{GOLD_ICON}." />