The Fielding Detective Agency

The Fielding Detective Agency: Seekers of Truth in Shadowed Locus

 

A Discourse Upon a Singular Institution Dedicated to Clandestine Inquiry

 

I. Of Foundation and Founder: Emeric Fellding, Automaton Inquirer

  Within the bustling and often bewildering urban sprawl of Locus, where secrets fester beneath a veneer of civility, one may, if one knows where to look, find succor in The Fielding Detective Agency. Know that this is no mere constabulary, bound by the dictates of Empire, but a private concern, dedicated to the pursuit of truth obscured, and dilemmas shrouded in shadow.   Founded by the estimable Emeric Fellding, a mechanical being of Mk2 designation, the Agency’s very existence is a testament to the unpredictable currents of fate and the boundless capacity for adaptation, even within a being of gears and steam. For Emeric, ere he turned his considerable intellect to matters of clandestine inquiry, was a tailor of some… automatic renown. His transition from hemming seams and mending garments to unraveling mysteries and exposing hidden truths is, in itself, a tale most curious.   Emeric Fellding, with his mechanical precision and analytical acumen, forms the very cornerstone of the Agency’s operations. His is the mind that orchestrates its multifaceted investigations, his directives the governor that regulates its intricate workings – a veritable cogwheel at the heart of a most unusual machine.  

II. Of Structure and Operatives: A Diverse Assembly of Specialized Talents

  The organizational architecture of the Fielding Detective Agency eschews the rigid hierarchies and cumbersome chains of command common to more… conventional institutions. Instead, it pivots upon the singular figure of Emeric, his mechanical intellect serving as the central hub from which all operations emanate.   Beneath this central figure, a diverse assembly of operatives toils, each carefully chosen for their specialized aptitudes and unique skills. One finds amongst their ranks erstwhile scribes, their quills now traded for notebooks and their talents for deciphering arcane texts now bent towards the unraveling of human narratives. Former engineers, too, lend their expertise, their discerning eyes once trained upon the intricacies of clockwork mechanisms now adept at detecting mechanical malfeasance and the tell-tale signs of tampering.   This eclectic assembly, a veritable mosaic of skills and backgrounds, functions as a cohesive engine, with Emeric’s directives serving as the governor, orchestrating their combined talents with a precision befitting his mechanical nature. Scribe and engineer, Automaton and fleshling – all united in a shared pledge to the pursuit of truth, and the diligent resolution of their clients’ varied dilemmas.  

III. Of Culture and Ethos: Meticulous Inquiry and Clockwork Discretion

  The internal ethos of the Fielding Detective Agency is characterized by a near-reverential dedication to meticulous investigation, pursued with an unwavering commitment to discretion, a virtue most prized in the often treacherous urban landscape of Locus. Operatives, regardless of their diverse origins or personal inclinations, are bound by a shared pledge to the diligent resolution of their clients’ varied dilemmas, be they trifling domestic disputes or matters of considerable societal import.   Within the Agency’s shadowed depths, one finds an atmosphere of mutual respect for specialized expertise, a recognition that the combined strengths of scribe and engineer, automaton and fleshling, yield a synergetic engine of problem-solving most formidable. Here, amidst the quiet hum of industry and the rustle of parchment, cases are dissected with methodical grace, each thread of evidence carefully examined, each clue meticulously pursued.  

IV. Of Public Agenda and Clientele Diverse:

  The Fielding Detective Agency publicly avows an agenda both straightforward and pragmatic: to provide discreet and effective investigative services, catering to a clientele as broad and varied as the bustling city itself. From the mercantile class, seeking redress for breached contracts and shadowy dealings, to the nobility of Locus, entangled in delicate personal affairs and matters of familial intrigue, the Agency offers its services with a clockwork impartiality.   Confidentiality is paramount, a cornerstone of their practice. The Agency assures the utmost discretion, ensuring that the interests of its patrons remain inviolable, their secrets guarded with a vigilance befitting a dragon hoarding its treasure. While some, perhaps with undue cynicism born of a jaded worldview, perceive the Agency as a mere mercenary outfit, given the often sensitive and occasionally unsavory nature of its assignments, its foundational purpose remains firmly rooted in the realm of private inquiry and the equitable resolution of dilemmas, for a fee, of course – for even the most altruistic of endeavors must, in this world, be sustained by coin.  

V. Of Assets and Historical Tapestry:

  The Agency’s assets are as carefully curated as its operative ranks, a collection of resources meticulously assembled and integral to its clandestine endeavors. Its headquarters, discreetly situated amidst the labyrinthine city, serves a dual purpose, presenting a respectable tailoring establishment to the casual observer, a façade of mundane industry that cleverly conceals the Agency’s more surreptitious activities within its shadowed depths.   Indeed, within this seemingly ordinary establishment, amidst bolts of fine cloth and the rhythmic clatter of tailoring apparatuses, one finds also the tools of the investigative trade, cunningly concealed from prying eyes: magnifying lenses of exceptional clarity, fingerprinting kits of ingenious design, and meticulously compiled charts detailing the tangled web of Locian society, its prominent families, and its hidden undercurrents. The considerable wealth, a veritable boon bestowed upon Emeric by a grateful nobleman for services rendered in a time of wartime crisis, has been judiciously reinvested, funding the Agency’s ongoing operations, procuring specialized investigative equipment both mundane and arcane, and ensuring the equitable remuneration of its diverse and dedicated operatives.   The Agency’s history, though relatively brief in the grand tapestry of Locus, is inextricably intertwined with the curious trajectory of its founder. Emeric Fellding’s unexpected transition from humble tailor Automaton to field medic of considerable repute within the Imperial army, a tale of wartime valor and technological ingenuity, serves as a most unusual, yet fitting, prelude to the Agency’s subsequent establishment. His distinguished service, marked by the life-saving treatment of a nobleman’s gravely wounded son, provided not only the financial impetus for his new venture, but also the societal connections necessary to navigate the often treacherous currents of Locian society.   Since its inception, the Fielding Detective Agency has cultivated a notable reputation for handling sensitive and remarkably complex cases, adroitly leveraging the unique capabilities of Emeric and his carefully chosen operatives to unravel mysteries, expose hidden truths, and navigate the labyrinthine intricacies of Locus’s society and its often treacherous political landscape – all in the pursuit of clarity amidst obfuscation, and resolution amidst the shadows.