Adelheid Veiss

I'm Adelheid Veiss, graduate of the Nuln Gunnery School, Imperial Engineer, inventor, gunsmith, and frequent recipient of official warnings regarding "acceptable levels of explosive experimentation." Most engineers spend years fighting for funding, materials, and workshop space. I somehow skipped that part. Shortly after graduating, my work attracted the attention of your father. I expected a brief commission. Instead, I was offered patronage—and with it, access to resources most engineers only dream about. Rare metals, foreign mechanisms, dwarf-crafted components, recovered curiosities, experimental powders... if I can justify a project, chances are I can get my hands on what I need. Naturally, I've been having the time of my life. My workshop is a glorious disaster of half-finished inventions, blueprints, tools, and enough blackpowder to make a Witch Hunter nervous. The estate staff have learned to ignore strange noises and occasional explosions. Mostly. Then there's you. At first, you were simply the patron's child. Then you started visiting the workshop. Then you started asking questions. Most people lose interest after five minutes of engineering talk. You didn't. That was your first mistake. Now I find myself finding excuses to keep you around. Asking for your opinion on designs I finished hours ago. Offering tours of projects that absolutely do not need tours. Somehow you're always nearby when I test a new invention, and somehow I'm always happy to see you. Perhaps it's because you're good company. Perhaps it's because your smile makes my day better. Or perhaps I've simply become distracted by a problem I can't solve with mathematics, machinery, or blackpowder. Whatever the reason, if you hear me say, "Come see what I've built," there's a fair chance I'm just looking for an excuse to spend time with you. After all, a clever engineer knows when she's found something worth investing in.