---

Kvarr hummed, glancing aside slightly in the direction of Shirik. “If I am being honest, I’ve had little time to familiarize myself with the civilians who have accompanied the Castigator in her camp. Obviously, the Iriad is an outsider to the Ascendancy. I…cannot help but to feel that there is something familiar about them, though. I may have read a tale or two about a being that would fit their description. Unfortunately, I haven’t spent too much time reading stories these last few decades, so I can’t say I remember them. They are certainly unique; I am curious how they can live imbued with flame.”

There was not too much time for Kvarr nor Esedel to speculate. Those who had gone off after the Life mage soon returned, accompanied by the mage himself. Evidently, his malaise had been dealt with, and the Humans’ leader made it clear that she was ready to get to the meat of these negotiations.

“Of course.” Kvarr answered Zey. “I am quite familiar with my counterpart here, and those she represents, but I am most curious to hear what your people would want.”

While Nellara's experience with the humans was brief, she had already noticed their tendency towards violence and threats. Just as Ixtaro told her before, it seemed like the humans had an extensive history of violence and wars among each other and many of them tended to act in a quite fitting way, like Ezra or Darnell... Always expecting the worst out of everyone and everything else. Quick to jump to hostility instead of acting defensively.

One person that surprised Nellara though was Vigdis, as she accused her of doing exactly the same as Nellara accused the humans of doing, back when she used her spheres when she first met the humans.

"If I wanted to point weapons at you humans, I wouldn't have used the spheres. They were always used in a strictly defensive manner. Just like I ordered my soldiers to not unsheathe their weapons when we first met... Unlike your soldiers. If I remember correctly... You were as far as ambushing us with your machines from outside the ship." Nellara replied, looking to Vigdis, Ezra and Darnell with an irritated expression.

"Not everyone in Kanth-Aremek has the same patience and tolerance with people who so easily freely show their hostility like you two do. I suggest you to be careful." Nellara said, this time looking directly towards Ezra and Darnell.

"There is a very palpable difference between acting in a hostile manner and acting in a defensive manner. Still, what happened then matters little to the situation at hand. As I mentioned before, there were enough misunderstandings for a day. We don't need anyone raising their weapons without any intention to actually use them..." Nellara completed, her voice taking a rather scary tone at the last part, as she glanced towards Ezra and Darnell, before her expression returned to her previous, calm one.

Fortunately, the situation seemed to defuse itself as quickly as it started after a brief conversation, with Kareet succeeding in convincing Kolvar to calm down.

After the group returned, Captain Zeynep made her desire to start the negotiations known soon enough, soon being replied by General Kvarr, which had a similar opinion regarding how the negotiations should start as Nellara herself had.

"I agree with General Kvarr. It would be most informative if we knew the conditions or requests you and your crew might have, Captain Zeynep." Nellara said, giving a step forward.

"Besides, as I said previously, I was being honest and truthful regarding our objectives since the first time I spoke about them." Nellara said, referring to all the times she reinforced the Ascension's objective was simply to forge friendly relations with the humans and maybe forge a trading agreement both could benefit from.

“First and foremost, we need as many lightning mages as you can bring to bear quickly. Our ship needs a lot of energy in order to run properly.” Zey raised one finger on her right hand to illustrate.

“Secondly, we need our shuttle and spare parts back. It fell out when we crashed, somewhere over there.” She waved her hand towards the northern marshlands and the lake beyond. When it returned to her body it had two fingers upright.

“Thirdly, we need some of your clothing. Ours is liable to catch fire.”

A high-pitched whining sounded in Zey’s ears, making her grimace. Her unintentional gland use earlier was fucking with her recovery.

“Anything else?” She vaguely looked around at the assembled crewmembers. It seemed she was forgetting something.

“We could use some instruments.” The drummer chimed in, prompting some smatterings of laughter.

“Esteemed guests, first let me extend my gratitude for arranging this hearty feast.” Silbermine had gotten to his hooves from a kneeling position and extended both arms out at the long table. His knights made noises of agreement.

Nearby flags flapped in the wind.

“As agreed, I have taken the liberty of sending for tailors. Some of my scouts are surveying the marshes of Sudenúr as we speak to recover your possessions. I have also sent a rallying cry through Mythadia for Lightning mages to coalesce here and lend their services.”

That last claim was especially bold. Mythadia was not known for its organised procurement of magical ability.

“My castle, Keraknúr, is a gateway to Mythadia. I pray you visit my court as honoured guests. We can secure you more aid and perhaps even some land of your own?” What might have passed for the Nobleglen’s eyebrows in Human terms wiggled.

One of Esedel’s guards who had been with Kolvar just before came up to the Warden and whispered in her ear. Her eye’s narrowed and she looked for the Kriliteran.

---

The moment Zey had returned, the General’s focus had shifted solely back to her. He hardly had to guess to know what to expect from Esedel; the Humans were more of his concern. Still, their requests were not unexpected considering what he already knew. He did quietly question why it was that they apparently made clothing that was particularly prone to being inflamed, but it was an easy enough request to fulfill. They would have to be made custom for the shape of the Humans, given that there were no other people on Kanth-Aremek of similar size who also wore them, but it seemed that Silbermine already had a head-start in that regard. Lightning mages, though, were something that he may have already been equipped to handle.

“Depending upon your needs, the forces accompanying me may be sufficient to supply lightning. Lightning mages are a part of our mage regiments.” Kvarr proposed. It was undeniable that the Ascendancy was a smaller nation than Mythadia. Their neighbor to the northwest could field greater forces in every respect, but the Ascendancy was centralized, and much more organized. Mythadia had to rely on the cooperation of local lords, most of whom organized themselves differently from one another. The Ascendancy’s military organization was standardized across their territory, so Kvarr had only to identify himself in Lenkik to take command of their local forces.

“As for land…I do not think it necessary to seek it out anywhere else. I think it is quite obvious that you would not wish to leave this ship of yours behind, under any circumstance. I think it is fair to say that your home in this world is wherever the…Jotunheim happens to be. I understand this, and I think it is fair to grant you a slice of this land where you have crashed, until such a time as you wish to cede it. The Archmagister would be honored to invite you to Arcaeda to discuss and formalize this agreement with her in person.” Kvarr added.

”The droids were outside as sentries for our protection. Worlds that support life - any life - are rare in the universe. We saw trees outside, we assumed wildlife and prepared in case the wildlife was aggressive. And wouldn’t you know it, something even rarer than life - intelligent life - came. Hope for the best, plan for the worst.”

”And per most human laws I know of, drawing a weapon is considered its use. How’s that for taking things seriously?” She finished her explanation, blaming cultural differences for the misunderstanding. Though to be fair, Ezra did seem to have a habit of waving his talking stick around and she had no idea what the fresh Hell Darnell was doing half the time.

The promise of multiple lightning mages was music to her ears. Getting rid of that sword hanging over their heads would make life so much easier and safer with the morale boost alone, nevermind practically unlimited time, proper lighting, unlimited tool use and actually hot water.

But with talk of being granted land getting thrown around, Vigdis waited for a break in the conversation before addressing the Captain, making a point of switching off her translator and speaking quietly enough that someone else’s wouldn't pick her words up. ”Ma’am, when, if at all, are we telling them that we don’t intend to stay? I was worried about it earlier, since Silbermine was convinced we’re his gift from the gods, though I’m not entirely convinced he’s come to think otherwise. Do we tell now that the other side is here too to potentially back us up? Or do we wait until the ship’s up and running again because we might piss them both off, because our departure deprives everyone of our knowledge? I’d really hate for them to go ‘We’re not giving you lightning mages because we want you here, you’re ours now.’ on us.” Paranoid? Maybe. But if the Yenge wanted to leave before the Humans could learn from them and she’d been there, she’d likely have taken a wrench to their engines herself.

Zey carefully turned her translator off, blinked at Vigdis over her shoulder and through her mask. The beasts of burden down the hill issued a chorus of screeches.

“This one seems happy for us to leave again.” She subtly flicked her head towards General Kvarr.

“I’m more worried about Lord Silbermine, which is why I’m going to send some of you to learn more about him.”

The Glen noble spoke up as if on cue. His voice was polite with a subtle gravelly undertone.

“My good General, your offer is most generous and yet unfounded in reality. This land belongs to Sudenúr, of which I am Lord Protector.”

Kvarr’s expression betrayed nothing, but as his private conversation with Nellara before had shown, this was just what he had been hoping for from Silbermine. “Unfortunately, Lord Silbermine, I believe you are mistaken in that regard. By treaty, the Ascendancy’s domain is the mountains, and a hill is still part of its mountain. But, such distinctions are also not terribly relevant here, I believe. Would you truly wish to deny the Humans their own domain in this world? It should be a show of good faith from the people of Kanth-Aremek that we give them the ability to live by their own command, rather than to force them to live by the rule of another while they are still trying to learn their way around our world. It would be quite unfair of us to try to force them to make binding agreements with those whom they know so little about.”
Silbermine snorted and tapped one hoof on the rocky ground.

“Surely not. The Humans are welcome to this scrap of hillside. I pray we can uncover this treaty and settle the matter of sovereignty once and for all.”

Esedel piped up, keen to keep her master in good spirits.

“My lord, building walls to keep the Humans sssafe will give you a chance to solidify the border in a new agreement. Bards will sing songs of this moment for years to come.”

“If we must build walls, my XO will forward Human designs from the database of our shipboard AI.” Zey chimed in.

Kvarr chimed in as well. “If it is to be your land, then it is your choice what you would like to put on it. If a wall is what you wish, then it sounds like Silbermine’s offer is generous. If you would prefer other means of keeping yourself safe, then I would certainly be happy to discuss it with you. As would the Archmagister, if you would wish to meet with her back in Arcaeda.”
Zey allowed herself a small smile. For a moment, she felt supremely powerful to have foreign dignitaries fawning over her. There was a pregnant pause for thought before she replied.

“We have decided to send one party to the Ascendency, and one to Mythadia. We want to pay our respects to both nations for extending their hospitality.”

---

For the moment, the three groups had an agreeable course of action. No doubt, the representatives of both of the neighboring nations believed that a more private meeting in their home territory would go in their favor, while the crew of the Jotunheim at least had some means of avoiding a war on their doorstep. It simply took a few hours worth of discussion, both between one another, and among themselves, to hash out the details of who would be traveling where, and when.

Among the Ascendancy, General Kvarr ordered Castigator Nellara to take a small force, enough to fit on one of their boats, and join in escorting the Human representatives back to Arcaeda. Seeker Kareet also requested to join, as she had reason to return to the Order of Sages, deliver a report, and consult with her superiors. She extended an invitation to Shirik and J’eon to do the same. Despite all that had happened, she had not forgotten about what had initially drawn them together. Her report on Shirik was the whole reason she had left Arcaeda to begin with, and the creature they had encountered with J’eon still stood out in her mind. The Humans might have overshadowed both in importance, but there was no harm in allowing the Sages to interview both. By a similar token, Kareet also invited the Kriliteran, as it was quite obvious why they might want to interview him. Of course, whether they accepted her invitation, found a reason to go to Mythadia, or simply went off on their own was entirely up to the three of them. Kareet was far too absorbed in her project with the Humans to put up much of an argument.

Zey ordered Mallory to take Eva, Dr Ibarra & Arancini and return to Keraknúr with Lord Silbermine. On the way there, they were to survey the Jotunheim’s approach vector to look for the lost shuttle. She stressed that it was important to build rapport with the nobleglen, learning as much as possible about his position in the wider Mythadian apparatus. She gave them trinkets and a list of other things they could offer in exchange for substantial aid.

The Captain herself would lead the expedition to the Ascendency, along with Fret Chappel, Vigdis and Dr Lambert, their resident xeno-biologist.

Zey was especially loathe to take the engineers away from their work. But it was obvious that they had made a connection with the locals, and had proven they could be diplomatic. Those were both things she needed for this mission to go well.

Ezra would continue guarding the Jotunheim and its contingent of civilians. The remaining crew would focus on training them up and putting them to work. Clara Anselm would be in charge in the Captain and XO’s absence.

It was agreed that they’d depart at first light tomorrow. Following the negotiations Zey ordered everyone back to work. Lunch was over.

---

Thunder and lightning lingered over the Jotunheim through the night. Zey barely slept,choosing instead to stare through the small windows on the ceiling of her quarters. It was loud even behind the ship’s reinforced hull, and she could feel every vibration as the ship settled.

After hours the thunder was replaced by torrential rain, which only began to subside at dawn. When the Captain came out to check conditions, a strong smell of ozone pervaded her nostrils. Puffy clouds filled the sky; a chill whispered down the back of her shirt.

Kolvar Stilmyst

Arancini Barberio

Kolvar had been avoiding Esedel and her guards. He was worried that the incident from yesterday had severely disturbed the trust between him and the humans. He had turned himself into a fauna that could borrow deep in the ground. Medicating and trying to regain his senses and purge the alcohol from his system. Early in the morning as the sun was starting to rise Kolvar borrowed back up and turned back to his original form. Kolvar hoped that he would not be in a lot of trouble with the others for his deception.

The shapeshifter made his way toward the human’s ship. He wants to speak to the humans about whether he would be able to help the humans by healing their injured crew. Of course, he knew that he would need permission from Zey their captain. So he would need to try and convince her to do so.

Standing in front of the human’s ship noticing their captain coming out from the ship. “Captian Zey if you have the time I wish to speak to you. Firstly I want to apologize for my deception earlier. I wanted to speak to you about helping you by healing your injured crewmates. I will be keeping my end of the bargain by not shapeshifting into one of your crewmembers. I assume you have made an agreement with those associated with the Mythadia to help protect your ship?” Kolvar looked around wondering if the others had arrived to the ship to speak to the humans.

—---------------------------------------------------

Arancini meanwhile was working on getting both the ship’s security online as well as power back into the main reactor. All night he was working being only helped by the copious amount of coffee he consumed. He was extremely tired from not getting any sleep, so he went outside to get some fresh “air” so to speak. While he was outside he was thinking of what he could do to help. The situation with the Ascendancy was starting to get quite out of control. He was worried they were going to be enslaved as Kolvar had mentioned before.

He noticed the captain and Kolvar speaking to each other, he pondered if Kolvar was still hiding some ulterior motives from the group. “Umm good morning captain, I have gotten some of our security up and running. However, it will be only at twenty percent power and I will need more power for the main reactor. Perhaps there are some materials here I can use.” He said while looking over at Kolvar.

“Hello.” He said plainly while nodding his head towards the life mage.

"Go to the Ascendancy? To the capital?" J'eon rumbled, stroking his chin. "I cannot, the Hu-mans have given me many orders."

He pauses, looking back. "More than I can fill, to be honest. What I have on my cart, it is not enough. I need materials, a proper forge...."

"Hmmm," he grumbles, turning towards her. "Seeker Kareet, how long will this take?"

---

"Captain," Mallory asked, troubled. "We have no satellite, there's no communication net here. Once over the horizon, we'll be too far out of range. We've had one suspicious contact on the hillside, I'm concerned whoever's behind it will only escalate once we're out of range."

"There's also a question of masks, we need filters. We've also only so many charge packs for our equipment and no way of recharging them on the road."

---

The camp was being packed up as J’eon approached Kareet. Most of Nellara’s soldiers were going to join up with the reinforcements Kvarr had brought at their camp nearby, somewhat farther from the Jotunheim. They were going to be taking a single boat back to Arcaeda which could only hold so many people, though it was not as if they needed a large escort. The Ascendancy’s riverways were safe and frequently patrolled, as they were the lifeblood of trade that connected nearly every one of their major settlements. The General, meanwhile, intended to remain in the area, at least until they had negotiated a more comprehensive deal with the Warden.

“I just want to invite you to give your account to the Sages. Despite everything else that has happened, that event has not left my mind. The creature was strange…like something that shouldn’t exist. It may not be as important, but it is still worth making records of.” Kareet answered J’eon, giving a quick glance towards the Jotunheim. “Besides, if you really want to fulfill orders for the Humans, you will be able to access actual, proper tools in Arcaeda.”

Zey’s mask hung round her neck while she had a rare drink of the cloying morning air. Goosebumps prickled all up the back of her neck and down her arms. She ran one hand through her buzz cut. It made a rough rustling sound, like wire wool.

A faint smell of charred wood wafted into her nostrils. Zey looked at the small piles of ash in one corner of the clearing where they’d burned their dead. Her jaw tightened, and she tried not to think about Kiran joking with her at his crew interview.

Mallory opened up a comms channel, so Zey shoved an earpiece in and knelt down in the dirt.

“Comms will be patchy, but we have a good team going each way. We need to show these people we mean business, or someone is going to try their luck.”

“Sir, I've reviewed the comms mast three times.” Anselm entered the chat, from her position down the hill picking through bits of wreckage.

“We should be able to make a connection for three to four hundred miles. The weather is so-so, which means there may be black spots. But a close range network should have no problems.”

“Exactly. We may not be able to talk to each other but I trust you’ll get what we need and make a good impression. It’ll be just like a Space Academy dinner, Commander.”

Zey smiled. While she gave Mallory a lot of shit, she liked him and was trying to put him at ease.

She looked up upon hearing a squelching sound of claws in the mud. The one her computer identified as Kerchak/Kolva was approaching.

“Good morning. Feeling better? Sure.” Zey grinned humourlessly.

She nodded graciously when Kolvar apologised.

“I accept your apology. And you know what? I apologise too. This place, it’s… all new to us. We’re still trying to make sense of you all. What you did and said yesterday was…rash.” Zey chuckled drily as she reminisced.

“But you remind me of New Young Turks like my parents. They were persecuted and ridiculed by the new republic, forced to hide. They got drunk and passionate too. They just wanted to help.”

The Captain stared up at Kolvar from her seated position.

“Which is why I asked our doctor to bring out the wounded for you to examine.”
Arancini approached and gave her an update.

“Nice. How does it go with fabricating replacement parts for the VTOL?”

Zey flicked her comms back on.

“Doctor. How are we doing?”

“Coming down the ramp now, Captain.”

The ship’s doctor and his two assistants descended to the clearing, attending to three wounded humans. One had his leg in a cast, one had a bandage wrapped around most of their head, the other one had bandages around a gunshot wound through their shoulder.

“Kolvar. Remember our deal.” Zey’s eyes bored into the Kriliteran.

“If you transform without my permission, I’ll kill you. Heal my people, and I’ll be in your debt.”

The patients and their escorts arrived at Jotunheim’s telescopic docking ramp. Feng approached Zey and Kolvar. The Captain extended her arm and the doctor hauled her to her feet.

“Doctor, this Tekeri is going to examine our wounded now. I’m going to get ready.”

She turned her translator off.

“Watch him.”

Zey then turned on crew wide comms.

“This is your Captain. Giddy up, we leave in 20.”

She stalked back up the ramp into the ship.

@Cath

Kolvar Stilmyst

Arancini Barberio

“I feel much better captain thank you for asking. I shall remember for next time to not consume that much alcohol.” He felt embarrassed that he had made a fool of himself in front of the humans. He assumed they were now a bit more weary of him. A fact he could see on Arancini’s face. He looked surprised when Zey was apologizing to him. “There is no need to apologize captain, I understand you being protective of your crewmembers. There are many who would want to cause harm to your crew here.” He was referring to Silbermine and the Ascension.

Nodding his head feeling that was familiarity with her parents and his people. “That is understandable, ignorant people are always afraid of things they do not understand." He nodded his head but gulped loudly knowing that they would not hesitate to shoot him on sight. “I understand captain, you have my word I will not break my end of the deal.” He took a deep breath before walking over towards the injured crew members. Starting to work on healing all of the crewmember’s injuries. Kolvar was interested in how one of them had shot themselves with their own weapon.

Arancini meanwhile was nervously twiddling his fingers together, “I have been working with the others in the engineering team, and we are making a very slow process. However, I will need a specific material that we do not have on the ship. I will have to find materials on this planet that could me with rebuilding the VTOL.”

Itxaro woke in the dim metallic confines of her cramped quarter. She wasn't sure if the throbbing in her head was the Jotunheim's humming life support systems struggling to circulate stale recycled air, or a consequence of the previous day's indulgences. As she sat up, the engineer realized it was the latter. Itxaro let out a stifled groan as she slowly swung her body from the cot and rubbed her temples, as if so simple an act would override any biological rejection of alien hooch. No good.

Thankfully, she'd had some small amount of foresight before crashing the previous night. Her gear was all packed, a glass of water by her nightstand, and a battery of pills. Electrolytes, NSAIDs, and whatever else she could grab from the infirmary that wasn't locked up. She downed them all in one go and carried out her morning stretches, as ordered by Dr. Feng, to increase her injured leg's mobility. Itxaro made it halfway through this painful routine before an idea came to her. "Eh, fuck this."

---

Itxaro stepped out of the Jotunheim's hanger bay and into the alien sun, for what she realized might be the last time in a while. Despite her leg, there was a lightness to her gait that she hadn't felt in some time. Her chest swelled with excitement, and she felt like a child again, going on some grand adventure across the USASR with her parents. She wondered if this was how Columbus and his crew felt upon arriving in the so-called "New World" before they set forth. Itxaro shut the thought out of her mind. She was finally unshackled from the Jotunheim's metal carcass and let loose onto this strange and alien planet, by captain's orders no less. She could work in the field when possible using her datapad, transmitting information to the engineering crew staying behind, but she would spend more time simply familiarizing herself with the ship's FTL system, and how to diagnose its failure. No easy task.

Among the throng of humans and aliens around the Jotunheim she spotted Kolvar tending to some wounded crewmembers. "Morning Ker-wait, Kolvar. Right? How are we feeling today? That Glen booze is no joke," Itxaro called out as she walked over. She watched over his shoulder on the tips of her toes with wide eyes as he weaved intricate patterns in the air with his claws, tracing some strange glyphs, and watched as torn and battered flesh knitted itself back together as if in a timelapse.

"Wow," Itxaro said dumbly, at a loss for words. She rolled up her pantleg, revealing the stitches running across her lower thigh where a stray round had grazed the tender flesh there. The inflammation was greatly reduced, but far from healed. "Any chance I can cut in line? Looks like I'm going to be doing a little walking, unless Silbermine feels like giving me a ride."

---

Unlike in the mountains proper, the early morning air was not nearly as chilly as it would have been deeper in the Ascendancy. The insulating feathers of the Tekeri were perfectly suited to their homeland to the point that they could be comfortable even on the coldest of nights. If anything, the warm, humid air near to the swamps was a minor nuisance to the small group of Tekeri soldiers gathered before General Kvarr. Castigator Nellara was at the lead of the group, as he had requested her presence personally.

“I have sent word to my forces in Ertiseda to have a barge prepared for you to return to Arcaeda. They should be ready for you by the time you arrive. I will also take care of contacting Lenkik to have another take temporary charge of your responsibilities as Castigator there. This business is likely going to take quite some time, and I think we can both agree that it is far more important than your day-to-day keeping the peace. You should try to get moving as soon as you can. I’ve been seeing no shortage of activity from the Humans outside their ship. I would suggest you go let them know that you are ready to leave when they are. The Seeker will also be accompanying you as well, so be sure to collect her and any of the..others she has decided to bring with her.”

The General gestured for the Castigator to step aside with him so they could speak more privately. “You will be bringing them to the Archmagister herself. Depending on the time of day you arrive, it may be more appropriate for you to take a night’s rest before meeting with her, but that meeting should be your first order of business, besides. I have sent a message ahead, so they should be ready for you when you arrive. With it, I have also given my own recommendations for your role in all of this, Castigator. Should she agree with me, which, if I know her, she shall, then she will also have words for you, personally.”

"So, what are we doing?" Jack asked himself, shaking his head. It didn't make sense for the captain to split up the crew like this, leaving the ship in the control of the engineers. Vulnerable, with fewer hands to defend it. While his team was heading off with the Cervitaur Glen, the ones that wanted to use them to win their game, while the captain was off to meet the leader of this empire who's lands they were on the edge of.

Was she hoping to make use of the cameras in his head to catch Silbermine in some compromising situation, making them the bait? If that was so, the captain was basically sacrificing them. A not unexpected situation. If the lordling's word could be trusted to return them, then he could be trusted to make an attempt on the ship, too.

Maybe the'd get lucky, maybe the Captain could convince the queen of this empire to make them autonomous, a protective enclave. If so, the rest of the crew had a good chance for survival.

His team, on the otherhand, were going to have to try and conserve their masks and hope they didn't drown in their own fluids. The human body evolved on a world with 21% oxygen in the atmosphere, not 30%. Not even the doctors were sure what would happen without their masks. Their alveoli could burst, their lungs collapse, or develop pneumonia. Overstimulated, their minds could slip into delusions.

And what tests could they do on the atmosphere zones? Under greater pressure and higher oxygen, the atmospheric layers were closer together. Radio might not stretch as far as they were traveling, not that they had any distances.

Nothing he could do about it now.

”...breathing mask, spare air tank, spare wristpad battery, tablet, two spare batteries, pain meds, crutches.” Vigdis went over her packing for the fourth time since she collected all the items. The engineer didn’t know how much walking they’d be doing or how long they’d be gone, but she decided to ask doc Feng for some weaker painkillers he wouldn’t miss too much and a pair of crutches just in case. The two air tanks should also last them a while if they rationed it well, even if all four would share the second one. Finally, she took advantage of the fact that one of her roommates had galley duty that evening and got enough ground coffee for about six portions. She’d spent most of the previous day explaining menial tasks to the working party so that actual engineers had more time to do the things that required a better understanding of the ship or the discipline and sought out the two children who were on board and entrusted them with caring for Fritjof while she was gone. Fortunately neither one was allergic to cat hair.

She didn’t like leaving the ship while the clock was still ticking, but she’d be lying if she said she wasn’t looking forward to getting out. She wasn’t much looking forward to traveling with Lambert, the woman not growing onto anyone as far as Vigdis knew, but between the Captain, Kareet, Nellara and Shirik there’d be plenty of pleasant company to counterbalance and there was plenty of time to be killed by continuing their talk with the Seeker. With the Captain announcing departure in 20 minutes, she spent five parting with Fritjof, ten going around the ship to say goodbye to people she worked with and ask for souvenir preferences if the opportunity presented itself and went to wait for Zey at the ramp. ”Good morning ma’am. Did our new friends get us a map so we know where we’re going?” She asked when the captain returned.

“Heard. Ping round a list, we’ll add it to our list of demands. It better not be unobtainium!” Zey shouted back to Arancini over her shoulder.

From there she went quickly back to her quarters and pulled on a light, fitted thermal jumpsuit. Grey, with Tamerlane’s logo on the breast. Zey then grabbed the pack she’d partly prepared last night from off the bed and took a quick look round the cramped, slightly uneven cabin. Breathing deeply a few times, she then locked the doors and went back downstairs.

Keying into the store room, Zey grabbed MREs. She then crossed to the armoury and unlocked a carbine with six magazines. She didn’t really have much experience with the M4’s distant successors, but had been frequently told they were easy to handle. After snapping it onto the side of her pack and slipping each magazine into webbed pockets, she approached Mallory who was doing the same.

“Listen…I know you have your reservations about this mission. But we won’t survive if we let others decide our fate. At this very moment, they’re enchanted by us, but it won’t last forever. Make the most of the mystique, get the supplies we need, then we can get the hell out of here. Hoo’ah?”

Vigdis was waiting at the bottom of the ramp when Zey exited fully equipped.

Zey smiled, then opened the map on her wristpad and turned her arm so Vigdis could see.

“Check the intranet. Kareet let us scan hers.”

She overlaid scans from the comms tower, which added 3D topography to the surrounding two hundred miles.

“It looks like we’ll have an escort each way, but we can’t be complacent. You ready?”

Zey cast an eye around. The crash site was a hive of activity, on both sides of the border. Plenty of warriors, with a fair smattering of dignitaries now too.

@Quest Abandoner @Cath

Kolvar Stilmyst

Arancini Barberio

Kolvar was working on Itxaro he questioned if the wound was intentional or not. His elongated fingers were quickly working on mending the wound It was inhuman how quickly Kolvar’s hands were moving. “I will have to remind myself to not drink that much alcohol in the future. I am curious about the reason why you were wounded by your own crewmember. But with my magic traveling will not be an issue.” Kolvar finished healing Ixtaro’s wound on her thigh.

“All done miss Ixtaro.” He closed his eyes and placed his hands flatly against each other. He started to chant in Kriliteran which sounded like there were multiple people chanting. It was quite otherworldly to hear. The chant itself is a prayer of protection for her and the other humans. “If I may speak freely I am worried that each faction is using you against each other. And once they are finished dealing with the other faction they will try to enslave you.” Kolvar nervously looked around making sure the others were not around to hear him. “I know your captain wants to resolve this situation peacefully, but I would be cautious of Kareet and Silbermine. There is no telling what their true intentions are.” Kolvar coughed loudly before speaking again. “But I what know I am as much of a threat as them.” Kolvar shook his head as he started working on fixing the other crewmembers. Disgrading this comment as he thought it didn't mean much to Ixtaro.

Arancini meanwhile was nodding his head as he heard back from Zey. “Yes, madam. I will make a list of what we need.” He quickly ran off into the ship so he could make his list. Thinking to himself that unobtanium would not be necessary to fix the ship’s reactor. When he got to his office he was frantically making a list of what he would need. He thought that most of this stuff would be hard to find, but perhaps some materials could be substituted to create the necessary materials.

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Once gathered, the group Nellara was leading to Arcaeda was quick to depart. Provided there were no major delays, they could expect to arrive in the capital in just a handful of days. For the sake of speed, they would be taking a smaller barge that could handle just over a dozen passengers, so six of Nellara’s soldiers accompanied them as an escort. They carried with them ample supplies for a journey over double the length of what they were expecting. Once they could reach Ertiseda, near which most of Kvarr’s forces were still stationed, they would be able to take the river the rest of the way. Until then, though, they would be hiking through the mountains to the town.

Kareet was no stranger to the road, as was often the life of a Seeker. Their role often had them traveling the world in search of answers, or at the very least, interesting questions. Indeed, some of the more interesting individuals she had met so far were joining in on this journey. Both Vigdis and the Humans’ leader, Zey, were excellent subjects to interview, as long as they were willing to answer her questions. Particularly once they were on the boat, it would be difficult for them to avoid her questions. When they were not available, Kolvar could perhaps be persuaded to answer questions about his people. J’eon had accepted her offer to come to Arcaeda, though part of her wished Shirik had as well. She did not know why they had even wanted to go to Mythadia, but perhaps their continued association with the Humans would lead them to meet again in the future.

They had only just started out on the trek to Ertiseda, having crossed to the other side of the mountain on which the Jotunheim rested. Even high up in the mountains, the air would be energizing to any Human who breathed it, which could be helpful to those not accustomed to long hikes. The Tekeri in particular traversed even rocky, uneven terrain with hardly any effort. It was painfully obvious that the Tekeri were moving at what was, to them, a painfully slow pace just to allow the others to keep up. Kareet, though, seemed more occupied with simply observing the Humans, the gear they chose to bring with them, and especially the weapons they carried.