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The monotonous sound of the wheels has been a constant companion to those in the luxury passenger car, drowning out the constant drumming of the evening rain. Now two days out of Albern, they'd arrive in Zephyria the next morning. The car itself is comfort beyond what most in it had ever experienced. The upholstery a fine brown suede, the wood high quality oak from Aledar, and the metal a lustrous bronze. The couches in the lounge and the beds in the six cabins are quite soft and the windows made of fine glass.
For two of the passengers in the car it had been a particularly long journey across multiple rail lines. The centaur known as Droskar Thunderhoof, and his red dwarf friend Aurica Firehand, along with her pet roc Austru had boarded at the end of the line in a little mining village, Lyvia, east of Breck nestled in the foothils of the Bronzeveins in the northern part of Breck's Woods, known colloquially as the Breckwood. From there, the BFO Rail Line traveled through Breck into the Bronze Pass and north into the westernmost of the Great Valleys. The line ended at Oltash and from there the two rode the GMT to Albern. In Albern they switched lines once again, this time to the the Malkerns Inter-Valley, or MIV, and met with the rest of those inhabiting the passenger car.
One is a black dwarf man named Maleghk Stonebreaker. The remaining three are KAESCo employees, the first of which is a ranga man named Octavius Blackblade of whom the three newcomers know very little. The second is a nearly legendary human woman from a continent far to the south, Maileeka, an accomplished warrior and magician, and KAESCo's head of security Phaerine de Celeste. The third and final person is Lailani a pearl elf woman whose people hail from distant Amihan in the Sea of Silk.
As the train drags your car further down the tracks toward Zephyria, you are gathered in the lounge compartment to have the evening meal. Even Droskar has plenty of room in this car, unlike the last few, as it has been made, like most things that are Zephyrian made, to accommodate the presence of gemmil. As the first course ends, Phaerine speaks, her tone businesslike. "The three of you have been gathered to act as a party of forward scouts for the Kelbrine Aeronautics, Engineering, and Shipping Company. You will be accompanied by my associate Lailani here, a member of the security division of KAESCo. With the recent invention of intercontinental class airships at both KAESCo and GZAC, the opportunity to find resources and business partners in far off continents is too good to pass up."
Phaerine pauses as the second course arrives, and after the waiters have left both she and Octavius rise, carefully listening at both doors to the car, then opening the doors, and satisfied to find no one, returning to their chairs. After taking a few bites of the roast and potatoes she resumes speaking. "Your group, along with four others, will be taking one of our first non-prototype intercontinental classes, the Worldstrider, to a basically unknown continent far to the west-southwest called Vashalle. Each group will set off in a different direction, mapping the region, finding settlements to trade with, deposits of ore to mine, timber to cut etc. Ultimately you will find a suitable location to build an outpost for KAESCo to serve as an airdock. You will be rewarded based on performance at the completion of your duties, as noted in your contracts. Individual items you find are yours to keep, of course. Any questions?"
Aurica has found the train trip to be nerve-wracking, simply put. She is unused to moving at this speed, and seeing the world zipping past outside glass windows is a very disconcerting way to travel. Also, Austru is not-at-all-pleased to be in a cargo-and-livestock car near the end of the train, and Aurica's none too thrilled with it either... though she supposes she gets it, why they don't want his claws and beak near the fine suede upholstery.
She keeps trying to sit on as small an area as possible, worried she'll get the seats dirty. Everything's so... fancy and big and impressive.
At the woman's question, she clears her throat and nervously raises a hand. "Uh-- yes, ma'am....
"What do we know about this... Vashalle? You're talkin' 'bout settlements.... We're pretty sure folk live there, or... or what?"
Look, Aurica's been out in Breck's Woods most of her life. If there have been reports published about Vashalle-- its discovery or anything else-- she's not heard of them. Ah, ignorance is bliss.
Drinker found the various train rides they had been on very disconcerting. The only travel he was comfortable with was by his own four legs. The unnatural movement of the train me his legs shake and his stomach tense.
When the Woman mentions an airship, Droskar gets an anxious look on his face and sighs.
"If this is what Aurica wishes to do, so be it. But why must we suffer this horrendous method of transportation?"
Maleghk grunts,"I share your reservations on the manner of travel Droskar but the speed makes it worth the risk. I, er we need to cover as much ground as fast as possible in our quest.
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At this point the previously silent Octavius speaks up, his voice a rasping, gravelly rumble. "From our contacts within the sapphires we know that some elves live on Vashalle. We are unsure if any other sapient creatures also reside there." He pulls at the collar of his tight leather jerkin, adjusting it in what seems to be a deeply ingrained habit. "Thing is, Vashalle's almost twice the size of Tarsus from our initial estimations. There has to be people there somewhere."
Setting down her tea cup Phaerine interjects, "There doesn't have to be anyone else, but it is very likely. Anyhow, we know little about this continent, other than that it is much warmer than Tarsus outside the valleys. Whether we find untapped wilderness or established nations, we want to be the first to make claims or negotiations. The political and business climate of the Valleys has become particularly tense of late. There are virtually no unclaimed resources left, and any growth achieved is at the expense of another company."
She takes another sip of her tea, settling back into the posh chair, one hand fiddling with her belt, about where you think a sword would usually hang. With a sigh she continues, "Most of our opponents have been deeply entrenched with the governments of the region for a long time, which puts us at a disadvantage. Corporate espionage is rife, hence Lailani's accompaniment. We need stable foreign markets for our company's growth and survival, so we need operations like this to succeed. Be on the lookout for other corporations' agents while you're there. We know GZAC, Arcadia Gunworks, and ARAL will certainly be sending out their own groups, perhaps others will too. Things have turned... bloody lately."
After a short pause Phaerine turns to her elven companion and says, "Lailani, have you introduced yourself to your companions yet?"
Octavius Blackblade is another near legendary figure within the company. It is whispered that he presides over the corporate espionage activities within the company, primarily defensive, and works closely with Phaerine on matters of security. Every time you've met him, he's been practicing a different fake habit, and today is no exception. You take the presence of the company's sneakiest member as him feeling out the three newcomers, looking for potential spies from rival companies.
Lailani is a tall and graceful elven woman, with long flowing hair. Her hair is such a dark shade of blue that it appears black in most light. Her features are beautiful, but harsh. Her face is all angles and sharp lines. Her perfectly clean outfits are both at the pinnacle of professionalism and fashion. Today she wears a suit-dress in wide spectrum of blue hues. Any who have come close to her during the journey note that the temperature of the air near her is several degrees lower than everywhere else.
A backwoods dwarf and a centaur!? Really? All my life in service to the corporation and this is the best they can come up with for me? I suppose it'll have to do. Show them you can do this, and advancement is virtually guaranteed...Looks like the two of them have never seen a bath between them. At least the paladin doesn't appear to be scared of modern civilization. Maybe he'll be of some use...
Lailani's thoughts are interrupted by Phaerine's question. There is a momentary pause as the thought registers in Lailani's brain and she blinks twice, her focus returning to the room. A smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes flashes across Lailani's face. "Forgive me, I don't know where my manners have gone. I am Lailani, scion of KAESCo, and security officer. It my greatest pleasure to make your acquaintance." The tall elven woman executes a perfect, yet rigid curtsy towards her new companions. Her movements are exact and controlled, as if they are dictated by wrote logic more than any feeling. "I look forward to a profitable and rewarding work relationship between all of us."
Maleghk bows and says, "May our journey be quick, our goals met and our return be unhindered my Lady Lailani."
Aurica listens sitting straight on her seat, rather awkwardly. The elf is kinda... scary. Well, that's not kind of her to think, but-- she talks so fancy with big words and all. Probably she's been to some fancy school. Something in the way she looks around makes Aurica worry she's got dirt smeared over her face or a conspicuous stain on her clothes, or something.
" 'M Aurica," she says with a throat clearing. "Uh, Aurica of the Firehand line, but that's-- I mean it's not a big family name or anything it's just--"
Ahem. Shutting up now. Aurica gives an awkward smile around at her fellow dwarf, and at Droskar. She trusts him, anyway-- the bond of the road, and of the circumstance of their meeting, is between them, and he seems to be about as comfortable with all the city-stuff as she is...
Looking back to the imposing woman, Aurica raises her hand again. "So do we find a place to be this outpost, and then go back to the, the Worldstride thingummy, to report? And what sort of things are you lookin' for in an outpost site, ma'am, begging your pardon? I mean, I know what I look for if I'm aimin' to set camp-- wood, water, defensible-- but, well, the company might have needs I don't reckon."
Droskar listens to the conversation quietly, and once Aurica speaks up, adds his own introduction.
"My name is Droskar, of the Thunderhoof clan," he nods to Lailani before asking Phaerine, [b]"is this one to be the Master of the group?"
Without even realizing it, he reflexively rubs his wrists, where two broad patches of skin are far less tanned than the rest of his arms.
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"Wood or stone, water, and defense have always been the hallmarks of early settlements, Aurica. This should be no different," Phaerine says, running a hand through her short brown hair. "The only other major consideration is to make sure there is ample space above it to maneuver airships. Tight ravines and canyons will not likely work unless one can walk to the top of them easily. Securing a pre-existing building in a city on the new continent that meets our specifications would also be acceptable."
She turns her attention to the centaur at this point and says, "Lailani's primary reason for accompanying you is to be an official spokesperson of the company, as such there will be no master per se. Lailani will only need to assume authority if the group is damaging the company's ability to perform business overseas. We understand that some will be hostile to you and the company no matter the circumstances, but we hope that you can find either unclaimed land or a friendly foreign power."
"Have no fear Master Thunderhoof, I do not desire to be anyone's master. As Mrs. de Celeste said, I am simply here as a representative of KAESCo's interests on Vashalle," the imperious elf reassures Droskar. If I were your master, you wouldn't smell like a stables.
The elf purses her lips for a brief moment, and then continues. "I'm going to nip something in the bud. Some employees of KAESCo have the unfortunate habit of referring to me as the Ice Queen behind my back. I discourage such disrespect as much as I can, but I'm sure you'll hear the name eventually. As much as I dislike the appellation, it is somewhat accurate."
Lailani stands from the table and steps back from everyone. She drops into a martial artist's stance, and with a flick of her hands there is a sudden change in the temperature of the room. The air around cools instantly, and dramatically, causing a shroud of mist to form over her body. Within less than a second it condenses and solidifies into a suit of icy armor around her. Her clothing disappears inside the suit. The skin tight formation of smooth, blue-grey, ice plates covers her from head to toe. All of Lailani that is visible is her eyes, through a transparent, frozen visor. The armor steams and crackles as she moves, seeming to melt and reform as necessary to not impede her movements. Lailani shifts stance again, looking like some frozen insectoid being. She lowers herself into a deep horse stance, with her hands held parallel to each other in front of her chest. Water flows from her palms to form a spike of ice the size of a man's forearm that floats, spinning, between her hands. With a gesture she sends the spike zipping around her body in a tight loop, before holding out her hand to "catch" it. The spike melts instantly back into water and is absorbed into her armor. She stands up straight and relaxes. Her icy armor dissipates into a cloud of mist, leaving her standing just as she was before, not even damp. The whole "performance" took no more than twelve seconds. "I am a aquaneticist. The element of water serves my will. I have a particular talent for its frozen state."
Aurica nods earnestly to the specification of needing airspace. See, now, that wouldn't have occurred to her.
She looks over to Lailani when the tall woman stands, and her eyes get gradually wider as she watches the impressive display of power. It's true Ferrenus has given her some small gifts as well.... but nothing like that! Aurica shifts an inch or so backwards in her seat.
"Um. That's-- that's real impressive," she says when Lailani finishes her demonstration. "I, uh, I'll keep that in mind.
"I'm mostly useful as a scout," she adds on, rubbing a sweaty hand against the rough canvas of her trousers. "Me and Austru. Oh-- he's a bird. He's in the animal car. Droskar met him. Uh-- anyway, I, I can hunt and track and make camp and such. I got a little bit of goddess-favor-- nothin' like that, just, you know, stuff to move in the woods and a little bit of healin' and the like."
Aurica nods earnestly to the specification of needing airspace. See, now, that wouldn't have occurred to her.
She looks over to Lailani when the tall woman stands, and her eyes get gradually wider as she watches the impressive display of power. It's true Ferrenus has given her some small gifts as well.... but nothing like that! Aurica shifts an inch or so backwards in her seat.
"Um. That's-- that's real impressive," she says when Lailani finishes her demonstration. "I, uh, I'll keep that in mind.
"I'm mostly useful as a scout," she adds on, rubbing a sweaty hand against the rough canvas of her trousers. "Me and Austru. Oh-- he's a bird. He's in the animal car. Droskar met him. Uh-- anyway, I, I can hunt and track and make camp and such. I got a little bit of goddess-favor-- nothin' like that, just, you know, stuff to move in the woods and a little bit of healin' and the like."
Lailani smiles, barely. A single corner of her lips quirks up a fraction. "I'm sure your own skills are considerable, or you wouldn't be here, Mistress Firehand. What I just showed you looks quite impressive, but in the end it is no more effective than well swung sword, or steel armor."
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After Lailani's speech about her dislike of her nickname, Octavius bursts out laughing, a sound which alternates between rasping intakes of breath and booming, humanlike exhalations. Eventually the reptilian man regains his composure, wiping a few tears from the brownish-green scales beneath his yellow eyes, and says, "Always so prim and proper Lailani. It fits you, but it's damned hilarious at times."
At this point madame de Celeste intejects, "Come now Tave, leave off of her. Anyhow, Lailani has already been briefed on most of the following, so I'll just go over the important parts. The Worldstrider will find a place to land on Vashalle, and each of the scouting parties will leave in a different direction. You are to report back after a fortnight, and we'll proceed from there. This will be an extended operation, likely several months. A contigent of security forces will also travel with the ship, and will remain with the ship unless needed. Once all the parties have reported back, a location will be chosen and a basic airdock will be built. The ship will be carrying the specialized components for the dock, but the raw materials of the frame will need to be secured onsite."
Octavius stands suddenly and walks toward the door at the rear of the car as Phaerine continues. "Money and trade bonds will be sent along with you, as well as a sample of Tarsan goods. If you meet with a foreign power, you are to negotiate only a meeting between the ship's captain and the leadership of the foreign power. More power and responsibility may be delegated to you by the captain at a later time, dependant upon your performance." The human woman turns toward the ranga man cocks her head and says, "What are you on about Tave? Is something amiss?"
Aurica starts-- the sound she hears interrupts her attempts to focus (poorly) on all this talk of delegation and such. She looks back towards the end of the train where she left Austru, although of course she can't see anything from in this enclosed car.
"Did anyone else hear that?" she asks uneasily. "Or-- or feel that? Felt like a crack... an' a little tremor runnin' thru...."
Aurica pauses, then looks at her toes. Probably that sort of thing just happens in trains anyway, and she'll look like a right idiot for being nervous over it. But, well, Austru's back there-- if something's wrong...
Droskar stands shakily to his feet and adds, "It came from the end of this metal serpent. A strange take on what should be considered a peaceful sound..."
He looks anxiously to Aurica hoping she can add more clarity to the situation.
Maleghk looks toward Aurica and asks,"Would you like to take a stroll back and check on your friend? I'd be happy to accompany you."
Aurica throws Maleghk a relieved and grateful look. "Yessir," she says, slipping off the bench and getting to her feet.
"Er-- if I may, ma'am?" she sticks on, glancing to Phaerine.
At Droskar's uneasy look, Aurica only gives the centaur a small, uncertain shrug. She wishes she knew more, but.... she doesn't.
"I'd be happy to accompany you as well. If there is something wrong on the train I should know," Lailani says. The tall elven woman stands and moves to follow the rest of the group to investigate the noise.
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The door swings open to reveal a scene of fire and violence. The car behind the group's car is a passenger car of considerably lower comfort, merely groups of seats around tables mounted to the walls. It has windows on all sides, including the back and front, and within, the group can see a group of masked men with swords, guns, and other weapons robbing the passengers in the car behind. As of yet, it seems that the open door to the group's car has gone unnoticed, as the bandits have their hands full with the dozens of people in their own car.
The train is rounding a curve and further beyond the scene of violence before you, you can see one of the freight cars is on fire, a massive hole in its side. You can also make out a number of humanoid shapes on top of several of the cars between you and the burning freight car.
"Time to start earning our pay! Follow me!"Maleghk says. He charges toward the nearest masked man swinging his longhammer. As he moves a warchant in fluent Celestial begins to pour out of him as his hammer descends.
"What..." Aurica says in bafflement as she catches sight of the people in the car, the flames, and the scene. Dammit... Austru's somewhere on the other side of these people, and he's probably scared and confused--!
Seeing the other dwarf charge forward, Aurica nods grimly and strides forward from one rattling train-car to the other, fingers reaching for bow and for arrow.
Seeing his dwarven friends, both new and old, strike out at the masked men, Droskar draws his own blade and rushes forward to one of the men.
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Lailani steps into view of the bandits, and with a motion summons a fan of water. The elf woman whirls, and the water follows her motion, arcing out and spraying into the passenger car without losing its shape. It splatters down amongst the bandits, sliding under their feet and instantly freezing into a sheet of slippery ice.
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"Time to start earning our pay! Follow me!" Maleghk says. He charges toward the nearest masked man swinging his longhammer. As he moves a warchant in fluent Celestial begins to pour out of him as his hammer descends. The hammer finds no purchase however, catching on a railing instead.
"What..." Aurica says in bafflement as she catches sight of the people in the car, the flames, and the scene. Dammit... Austru's somewhere on the other side of these people, and he's probably scared and confused--!
Seeing the other dwarf charge forward, Aurica nods grimly and strides forward from one rattling train-car to the other, fingers reaching for bow and for arrow. Aurica's arrow drives solidly into the bandit's shoulder, causing him to cringe.
Droskar moves up behind Maleghk, but is unable to reach any of the enemies with his sword.
Lailani steps into view of the bandits, and with a motion summons a fan of water. The elf woman whirls, and the water follows her motion, arcing out and spraying into the passenger car without losing its shape. It splatters down amongst the bandits, sliding under their feet and instantly freezing into a sheet of slippery ice.
The bandits all manage to keep their footing, if only barely in one case. One bandit turns on Maleghk, swinging his sword at the armored dwarf, but lands only a glancing blow that deflects off Maleghk's armor harmlessly. The second bandit turns to move toward the dwarf and loses his footing, crashing to the ground.
The woman with the gun shouts "Kill the elementalist!" and takes aim at Lailani, but slips, only managing to put a bullet into the KAESCo car's outside paneling. The dwarven gunman heeds his fellow bandit's words and tries to shoot Lailani as well. He finally sees a chance through the scrum in front of him, but can only lodge his bullet in the car's wall as well.
The large thug behind the others carefully picks a path through the ice and swings his axe at Maleghk, but fares no better against the dwarf's heavy armor.
Bandit 1 has taken 5 damage. Bandit 2 (green square around him) has fallen prone.
PCs are up!
"Kill the one givin' orders," is Aurica's sardonic reply, and suits action to word by sending an arrow at the woman.
It's not the forest she's used to hunting in, but her arrow flies true all the same. Aurica's face is grim with concentration and worry over her feathered friend, somewhere on the other side of these nitwits.
Lailani executes a quick kata, calling her icy armor up around her. Then she shifts form and creates another of the ice projectiles she was showing off during the meeting. With a cracking noise from her armor as it breaks, melts, and reforms, she steps forward and snaps her hands out. The ice missile zooms into the next car, flying right at the bandit next to Maleghk. She misses him, and the ice simple shatters in the rear of the car.
Droskar steps up to the group of bandits and roars out, "Deal with me, you vermin!" as he lashes out at them. He removes one of the bandit's heads from their neck with his blade, and then crushes another's skull with his hooves.
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Maleghk 5 foot steps forward to the left and swings at the prone figure.
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Maleghk steps to the left between a pair of seats as Droskar crashes forward, decapitating the bandit shot by Aurica, while crushing the thug beneath his hooves. An arrow whizzes past the centaur, launched by Aurica into the shoulder of the gunwielding woman shouting orders at the train robbers. At the same time a sharp shard of ice flies past his other side, missing its mark because said mark is in a crumpled heap at Droskar's hooves. Finally Maleghk brings his longhammer down on the bandit that slipped on the ice moments before, slamming him back down to the floor of the passenger car as he begins to rise.
"S@#@! Run boys!" the woman shouts, turning to do so but promptly falling on her face as she slips on the ice. The man beside her fares better, managing to stand and make it a few feet away. The dwarf with the gun, unimpeded by any ice, hustles away, turning the corner around the larger benches designed for he rail's gemmil customers and getting all the way to the door at the back of the car.
Aurica scowls as she nocks another arrow and looks down the length of it at the fleeing dwarf. Kin he may be (in the most general, species-kinda sense of the word), but she doesn't hold with robbers, and she definitely doesn't hold with robbers whose crimes might get Austru hurt. That fire in the freight car had better not be anywhere near her bird...!
She smiles a tight smile as she sees her arrow fly through the train and hit, dropping the runner. Not much different than a forest, after all... Aurica starts moving down the length of the car, her primary concern still the safety of her feathered friend.
Maleghk will trail Droskar as he won't be able to match his pace. Double move if needed to catch up.
Lailani steps down to get a better line of sight on the fleeing bandits. Then she fires another ice projectile at the one she can see most clearly.
Droskar surges forward, the train car creaking under the force of his hooves as he chases down the bandits. His footing on the moving train is unsteady, however, and causes his overzealous attack to miss its mark.
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Maleghk moves to the end of the car next to Droskar. Speaking in a language nobody understands he lays a hand on Droskar's arm. He establishes a lifelink with Droskar.
"We must check the remainder of the train for bandits. Come, let us head to the next car," Lailani says. She walks down the car, and once the others are ready, opens the door to the next car.
"There were some on the roofs of the cars," Aurica shouts to the others. She looks back over her shoulder, to the previous car, to see what Captain Phaerine (it's the rank title Aurica has given Phaerine in her head, as Aurica knows little of military ranks and only knows that some people are captains) is doing.
Unless Phaerine is actively gesturing them back, Aurica nods her readiness to move forward. She kicks the sole surviving bandit's dropped weapon away from him and looks towards some of the huddled passengers. "Sit on this fella!" she shouts. "I don't mind if you bruise him up some..."
She looks quizzically back at Maleghk, but there are many other things on her mind than what non-dwarfy language he happens to be speaking in.
Aurica turns and heads after the others. "I'm comin', Austru," she mutters.