The woman stands with her back to you by the window overlooking the river docks of Blackport. It is well after business hours, and the large but cluttered office is lit more by the moon than the two low-wicked lamps within.
She remains gazing silently at the view until the murmur and shuffling sounds of those arriving cease.
"I was a young woman when my father began this company... started with just three teams of wagons and drivers... pitifully equipped guards. As his enterprise grew, I made clear my intention to earn my birthright... rather than just inherit. And I worked hard for many years as a dutiful grunt, but on my first journey through the Badlands to Brisson's Bay, my caravan was ambushed by bandits. As I was about to be brutally slain by our attackers - as those in my father's employ had been, fate brought a young man and his entourage to intercede. That young man happened to be Yvek Hassashar... nephew of the Dust King."
She turns to face you, and looks you over as she pours herself a glass of white wine. "We have had an ongoing business relationship since then, and have in fact Balash Lectordine helped fund a manufacturing facility in the Rhanate with enough work to employ a sizable settlement. In return Yvek Hassashar - upon being named Rhan, was to secure a viable trade route from Burcham's Pass to Brisson's Bay."
"The greater parties were budgeted to profit enough to accept the endeavor, but not enough to commit any aid. Provisional fees and taxes so everyone would get paid.. except for the bandits. Which brings us to the issue at hand. The bandits have taken over the facility, and full control of the settlement. Rhan Hassashar is poised to strike, but knows he has a mole among his ranks... and this must be a decisive victory if he is to hold any power."
"We need a small team - with no ties to nation or organization - to make a tactical strike, and retreat undetected to an airship we will have waiting out of the enemy's view. Rhan Hassashar is confident this would aid in both outing his mole, and his subsequent strike upon the bandit insurrection."
"I have faith in the scouting Bovis and Moegan have done in selecting you. I am asking for three days of service. You will each receive a signing bonus of 300 gold, 100 gold for each day of the operation, and 1000 gold upon successful completion."
There is a knock on the door. Moegan the lingering Jurak moves to answer as the door starts to open.
Moegan slams the door shut "Private meeting.", then opens and sticks his head through to receive the messenger's message.
After a moment.. "Madame Balash... sounds important."
She excuses herself.
Once she is out the door, Moegan says, "This point, you're in or we give you a nice room in the Slinky Dink on the docks for a few days. Those who don't know me, I'm Moegan. Friends call me Pinochle. Good friends call me Nuk. You call me Moegan. Once we are in it out there, you call me Nuk."
Yatin seemed uncomfortable in his own skin as he fidgeted and listened to the Madame. Rhans? Trading routes? Life was much simpler back home. One Queen whom everyone respected and loved. No trade with outsiders. One large self-sustaining community. Nothing like Urbana, which was eating itself from the inside.
As the Madame was excused, her scout took over the meeting, at least momentarily. The jurak was sure of himself and acted like a bully. Yatin smiled; he was going to get along just fine with him.
He lifted his hand to pet a large spider that had just crawled from under his shiny black armor and was now in the crook of his neck and shoulder.
Yatin looked about, "OK, so where is this manufacturing facility and what exactly do we need to do? Do we sabotage the place? Do we scare off the bandits?"
Before the jurak answered, he interrupted, "I'm in by the way. I just want some additional details, that's all."
"Course you do. Place is called Aqiribast... little over 200 miles from here... not far from Burcham's Pass." He continually glances to the doors in the back, as if either concerned about whatever issue Madame Balash is tending to... or not comfortable acting as head briefer for the mission. "They were settin up to make airships... facility is built on an old canyon mine. We're just lookin at knockin out two locations on the perimeter. The Rhan'll take it from there."
"Bovis here'll handle our egress." He gestures to the other lingering man in the room - the other "recruiter" who'd brought some of you here tonight. Bovis is a male human whose head (due to his bushy beard and hair) looks disproportionate on his lean frame. He steps forward and nods upon being indicated.
Ommka listens to the Balash woman attentively, her natural inclination to let others reveal themselves by her own communicative absence adding to her inscrutability. She glances at her companions, assured that they are making enough of the wider picture for her to be enveloped in - she cares little for these domestic power plays and petty grievances between warring factions that have little to do with the Source.
Still, there is a point to all this, though she is as yet not cognizant of what exactly it is. The Light uncovers all except that which returns to the Source. Where she would dwell, if only she could.
Looking again at Moegan, Ommka sniffs suddenly, and a wash of inflorescence brightens her foliage and the slightest fragrance of a winter flower emanates from her.
"Well. So. [Here glances again at her companions, then back to Moegan] Moegan - is there time to front up at the facility and try to join the bandits? Perhaps be found by them as defenseless travelers? I'm all for a stealth mission under cover of night…just being…creative. Place a mole amongst the moles as it were..."
The Ossin attempts a smile, but ends up merely looking wolfish. Which for a plant-being is either faintly ridiculous or most unnerving, depending on your point of view...
"Course you do. Place is called Aqiribast... little over 200 miles from here... not far from Burcham's Pass." He continually glances to the doors in the back, as if either concerned about whatever issue Madame Balash is tending to... or not comfortable acting as head briefer for the mission. "They were settin up to make airships... facility is built on an old canyon mine. We're just lookin at knockin out two locations on the perimeter. The Rhan'll take it from there."
"Bovis here'll handle our egress." He gestures to the other lingering man in the room - the other "recruiter" who'd brought some of you here tonight. Bovis is a male human whose head (due to his bushy beard and hair) looks disproportionate on his lean frame. He steps forward and nods upon being indicated.
The notion of airships brought back fond memories for Yatin. If only he could have remained in Kyan, he was sure to be riding a giant hornet by now, right next to the Queen.
But no, his 'mission' was to stay out for a few more years. He had met up with some compatriots riding water striders to learn news from home a few days ago. They had gotten in trouble with some thugs from Urbana while here in Blackport. He had helped to 'deal with the issue', which was when Bovis had found him.
Bovis seemed a capable enough fellow but... in charge of their egress?
He turned to the 'recruiters', "So, it's up to us to get there then? What about this egress, how will it be accomplished?"
Yatin nodded to the 'plant creature', at least he would never too far from nature, especially in some of the desert areas the Rhanate was supposed to have. He was curious as to 'what' she was but held his tongue. Instead he asked, "So how did you end up here?"
Ommka favors Yatin with the same wolfish grin, and thinks on his question.
"I was planted. I grew. Now I am here. With you. And my blade. I am Ommka."
Her voice is as the rush of wind on barley or the soughing of paper thin seedpods on stone. She stares at Yatin, neither kind nor unkind - consideration as deep as the willow's roots in the river and yet also fleeting as the fronds of the crocus. She smiles again.
On the mention of the Rhanate, the small goreaux in the room flexes his manite prosthetic hand. The last time he had been there, it hadn't worked out so well. At least this time, there seemed to be an air of competence around his teammates.
"I'm in." the the grey-green man, pulling a cloth out of the pocket of his white doctor's coat. "Korbinian is the name, those of you who dont already know, that is." he adds, cleaning a smudge from his goggles.
Ommka favors Yatin with the same wolfish grin, and thinks on his question.
"I was planted. I grew. Now I am here. With you. And my blade. I am Ommka."
Her voice is as the rush of wind on barley or the soughing of paper thin seedpods on stone. She stares at Yatin, neither kind nor unkind - consideration as deep as the willow's roots in the river and yet also fleeting as the fronds of the crocus. She smiles again.
The entomancer thought he had seen everything in the 'jungle' but was definitely new. "Well met Ommka. I am Yatin." Not sure what else to say to a... plant, he kept quiet and listened.
Yatin had no idea who the goreaux was but it was interesting to know that some of the others already knew each other.
He gently nudged the spider back under his armor and nodded, "Well met. I am Yatin, from the Crawling Jungle."
Just saying the name of his homeland made him want to hop on an Urbana barge and head down south the Cold River. He could be home in hours.
Instead, he concentrated on what he was supposed to do and listened attentively.
Moegan nods in response to Ommka's suggestion, and grimly says "We had somebody." He clears off a portion of the desk, and motions you over.
"This is where we were going to come in... secure the cliff, and bomb the runway." He points to the red X. "Hafta assume they got a hold of that plan, and are watching that rough pass."
"New plan is to come in through the secondary main of the old mines, and set up a staging area here." He points to the "1" on the map.
"Backdoor shaft is long abandoned, and assumed unknown."
"Where we come out, there is a freight elevator. We need to take out hostiles quickly... hopefully quietly, and secure it." He points to "2" on the map.
"From there, we head to the east side of the refinery." He points to "3" on the map. "Water Towers from above are piped in here. Get me safely there, and I will reverse the flow - sending scalding water and steam pressure to the water towers on the cliff above, and causing the refinery works to overheat. Chain reaction should be just short of catastrophic... at least ground the gliders, and sow some chaos for the Rhan's invasion."
"We then head to the tunnel to the Rhan's secluded airfield. If Bovis has done his job, it'll be open, and he'll be waitin for a ride." He points to the "Sealed Tunnel" and "B" on the map as he speaks.
The goreaux smiles at the others, a wild smile with teeth, and waves his hand in greeting once the eyes were upon him. When boss-man speaks, he pulls a chair over to the desk and stands on it so he can lean over the map.
"what about this building... barracks? And this tunnel to the villa? Am i correct in stating that, should all go well, we wont need to descend anywhere?"
Ommka likewise peruses the map, but frowns as if she does not understand something. She chews her lip for a moment, unsure, then speaks up, holding Moegan's eyes with her own simply.
"Forgive me, my mind does not…capture…nor…process such images so well. On the ground, well, I can manage more than well enough.
[points to the map generally]
White is high ground? Yellow is ravine/floor? So we must head across open ground from 2 to 3. Have the bandits any eyes watching from the scaffold or elsewhere on high ground?
Is there a door in the west side of the Foundry we can access to approach the lock/flow point at 3 within the building itself?"
Ommka's fine woody nail points to the villa on the map.
"The Barracks Korbinian mentions appear to be connected via a tunnel? to the Rhan's villa - is the Rhan's villa currently under the bandit's control?"
"That line there is a mountainside trail. That's a secondary mission... nothin to worry about. And no... no descending. There'll be some rough road in the mines, but we're talkin a serious tunnel here. Plenty of room for a couple vehicles."
He points to the west side of the Foundry and Refinery. "There's a door by a couple garage bays ... our approach will be up to you. No telling for sure where they'll be patrolling, but its a big area... as long as we're in and out in ten minutes...."
Ommka nods quietly.
"So - let me see if I understood - and redefine or correct me if I am wrong or unclear.
1: We approach freight elevator from secondary mine shaft. How do we get in there initially? Is this where vehicles are needed?
2: Secure freight elevator at Point 2. Neutralise hostiles.
3: Head to Point 3, however we can. Unleash hell.
4: Return to freight elevator, assuming it is not powered by anything we blew up and and ride to ridgetop to head down mountainside trail to Rhan's villa at Point 4. We fly out.
FINIS.
Right?"
"You got it. And if Bovis manages to foul up getting the tunnel to the airfield open, we go back out the way we came in through the mines. Lets hope it doesn't come to that... We'd be shooting our way out for miles, cause by then we're lookin at havin a dozen cycles after us."
He is clearly using "hope Bovis doesn't screw up" machismo to hide concern for Bovis and/or his part of the mission is not as "secondary" as you've been led to believe.
"Once we get the go ahead from Madame Balash, and our Tank pilot Schultz... we can head out, and work out whatever yer still unclear 'bout when we make camp." He rolls up the map to take with him, and also swipes an expensive-looking inkpen to further "mark" the map.
"alright, sounds doable. What is this secondary part? Your tone doesnt lend confidence that we wont end up doing that part too..."
Yatin nodded as the plan and map was explained in a bit more detail. He still had questions but they could wait. For now, the hesitation he noted in Moegan was more important.
"Yes, Mr. Moegan. What exactly is your part in this mission? And what chance is there for Bovis to 'foul up'?"
Madame Balash returns as Yatin asks his question... "He is an easy read, is he not? That is why I am very cautious about what I tell him. Terribly sorry for the interruption." She starts toward the desk, but notices the map tucked under Moegan's arm - so she simply explains... "A release to unseal the tunnel to the airfield is located in a Villa guard post. Bovis will take the guard post, and lock down the south ridge path until you are ready to go... eliminating any who make the poor life decision of stepping outside the villa. Unless there was something else?"
She eyes Moegan and Bovis, they shake their heads obediently. She tells them... "As it happens, I've revisited your suggestion, and sent for this fellow. If you are so inclined to trust him... you can have him watch Bovis's back.. if that eases your concern."
Behind Balash steps out a lithe figure, his uniform is evidently Urbanian save for the colors which are a tan desert sand color. His voice is efficient, clipped and possessed of a strong baritone.
"I am Captain Schultz, your resident tank driver. Before we proceed what are your relevant skills and abilities?"
Ommka sizes up the new figure as a cat might an insect, then smiles.
"I am Ommka, blademaiden. Scouting and eliminations. I have a prescient gift, not unlike the hounded Seers. " Here Ommka looks around to see if any present challenge the right of Seers to exist.
"My capabilities [here Ommka shrugs ever so slightly and wicked spikes sprout from her "hide" - some kind of integrated scale armor - before disappearing again] are mostly for melee combat - my energy reserve also allows me to move fast, jump high or smash objects. I can however also provide a simple light source [here bioluminescent nodules sprout all over her before just as quickly disappearing] or detect plants or animals nearby."
Her delivery is matter of fact, without trace of arrogance or superiority.
"I am a field medic. I can cauterize wounds and sew you up, but I don't do the magical variety, at least not without using magical items. I also repair machines. I've got a few spells for that, though. Also, that out-of-place crab statue in the previous room is mine. Tank commander, eh? Sounds nice. One day, I'll get my golem fixed up like a tank."
Yatin smiled, "What can I do?"
He pointed to Bovis and chuckled, "Ask him?"
His arm quickly transformed into a savage mantis claw; his tone was angry, "I can rip people to shreds." He calmed down some and continued, "But I can also take the sting out of your wounds. I also can call upon insects for different things."
He opened his hand and a wasp flew down from the ceiling above, "And he can scout. Understands everything we said and tells me about it. Sometimes he talks too much. Not out loud but in my head."
Not giving much chance for people to ask questions, he added, "And you'll also want to stick with me if we're ever in some situation where just staying alive is an issue. I can easily find food and water."
He asked Madame, "What about nocturnals? Where are they in the area we're going to?"
Ommka's eyes widen very slightly at Yatin's initial mantid display, and she watches with appreciation as his insect flutters about.
"So, an Entomancer!" the Ossin intones hoarsely in open admiration.
At the mention of Nocturnals Ommka's inflorescence dampens and her thornspikes waver, almost pushing out.
Ommka's eyes widen very slightly at Yatin's initial mantid display, and she watches with appreciation as his insect flutters about.
"So, an Entomancer!" the Ossin intones hoarsely in open admiration.
Yatin nodded, "Yes, trained in the Academia Entomologia none the less. However, I'm a 'swarmer' at heart and will one day go back to them. Once they apologize for properly for saving a few of them that day."
Noting the 'green' and smelling 'nature', he cautiously asked, "Where do you call home?"
Regarding Yatin's question about nocturnals, Alour Balash shrugs and shakes her head, then looks to Moegan. He shrugs as well, and says "Dunno... The backdoor to the mines is near the Spike Fens... could run into somethin nasty if we're unlucky." He clucks his tongue at the sight of Ommka's reaction... "Hopefully nothin worse than some crawlin critters and walking plants. You ready? Lets go. Lotta miles ahead of us."
"I'm ready. Any other supplies we need?"
"I'm ready. Any other supplies we need?"
Yatin thumped his breastplate armor and flexed his arms, "Yeah, I'm ready as well. How are we getting there?"
"Grab some rations... enough for a week to be safe."
"How we gettin there? Heh." Moegan smirks as he opens the outside door opposite the docks. "Meet Mariah."
There in the back lot, is the history of steamwagons crudely welded together into one mismatched monstrosity. "Who wants to drive? Sure Cap'n Schultz'd be happy to lend a friendly nudge whene'er she gets all mired."
"Eh, I know enough about steamwagons. At least building and repairing the damned things. As long as you don't expect fancy maneuvers, I can handle the beast."
Ommka makes her disconcerting smile as she gazes at Mariah. She leaps onto the metal top and perches like a misbegotten limpet.
"Nice!" [here rubs the metal lovingly] She's beautiful."
Moegan lets Korbinian drive for a while....
You leave Blackport by way of a lesser-used northeasterly road, and pass through the local market district, and the near farmlands. Near the far edge of the famland's lower terrain you see riders coming from the other direction. A half-dozen lantern-bearing men on horseback yield the road, and eye you as you approach. They look like "simple" farmers, but are well-equipped with firearms.
The steamwagon Mariah stalls out on the slight incline, and Moegan motions for Korbanian to scoot out from behind the wheel. "Meh. Can't be tinkering with the gauges and drive at the same time, little one."
The farmers linger with stony expressions... some slowly riding around as your progressed is briefly stalled. Moegan (apparent not terribly outgoing) does not even give them a glance.
Ommka returns the farmers' stony expressions, concentrating on the mission, and holding on.
Pretty much like I imagined it, except Frankenstein'd together from a baker's dozen different models.
I imagined sidewalls that turned in at the top, like an open armored car with blisters/massive rivets and handholds on the exterior for the more sprightly. Like Ommka.
Regardless, even if just straight sides, Ommka's perched on the outside of the vehicle. Do I need to make Ride checks?
Moegan sighs seeing Korbinian reluctant to move from behind the wheel, and settles with riding as co-pilot. He hangs his map on a (hopefully unimportant) loose screwhead on the dash, and gestures to the road ahead. "Go on. I'll mind the pressure...."
You are soon underway again, and the armed farmers on horseback mosey along with a couple curious looks and exchanged glances... one nods simply saying "careful out there...."
Bumping along the open road, Yatin rubbed his behind once more and rued the fact that he couldn't be on top of war trained hornet. All the metal around him made him feel like in a cage.
The man stood up and stretched his limbs while he surveyed the road ahead. He cautioned Ommka, "Careful there. I don't think you want to fall out of this 'thing'."
He nodded to the farmers and noted their heavy weaponry, "You look a bit too well armed for working the land. What troubles this area?"
One answers "Night watch.", another "Just keeping a look out." The most friendly-faced farmer adds, "Patrolling the fields... scaring off nocturnals."
Ommka again bristles at the mention of nocturnals, and finally graces the farmers with closer consideration. But still makes no comment.
"You can drive if you want, don't let me get in the way of us getting this done faster. Just say the word and I can take over watching gauges."
"Meh.. good to get a feel for it, and if we have any problems... well, you're small enough for me to yank outta the way, and ONTO THE FIELD OF BATTLE! Onward! Full steam!" He maintains his "war face" for a just moment before smirking.... He then moves a switch a couple notches, and gestures again to the road ahead. "Set to quarter gallop."
Moegan then turns his head - addressing everyone "Inn thirty miles out. We'll stop there... on me. After that, it's roadside camping."
Ommka flinches at the mention of an inn almost as she would f Moegan had said "nocturnals".
"I look forward to roadside camping. Very much." she says matter of factly, neglecting to thank Moegan for his generosity.
Omm smiles nervously to herself.
At the very least, the Inn might provide more information as to how folk relate in a social setting...
Moegan searches his own pockets, finds, and reads from a piece of paper... "Wynn Squatly's Tavern and Cabins... that's where were heading. Off the beaten path.. which is right on our way."
Wynn Squatly's clientele are mostly people traveling Burcham's Pass hiring escort guards and guides, or are semi-permanent residents looking for such work.
Bovis curls up in the wagon, and soon dozes off.
A good twenty miles into the trip, the treeline begins to encroach on the clear terrain on either side of the path. The wheels crunch over the rusty-colored needles of the larches - by far the dominant species. The path slopes downward slightly, and you enter a light fog. Moegan hmmpfs, and says to Korbinian,"Losing visibility here. Lets switch."