Add in an NPC for each crafting profession (blacksmithing, armorcrafter, alchemist, butcher, etc). Each NPC would be trapped in a dungeon and only 1 exists in the world for each crafting type. Once rescued you could escort the NPC back to your SH/Keep. You could use the birds to find the NPC's location similar to bounty hunting. If you siege the facility of someone that has one of these NPC's you could then escort them to your SH/Keep. The NPC would give buffs to the crafting profession they are part of. Blacksmith/armorcrafter would increase durability of every item crafted. Alchemist would increase the output of recipes. Say instead of needing a recipe that produces 1000 units would now produce 1100 units or something like that. Butcher would increase the yield of things butchered.