SmokeOnTheWaterFireInTheSkySB: Orcini: Smoke on the Water, Fire in the SkyMissions for the Church are often a combination of boredom and inaction, followed by intense periods of life-threatening activity This one is no exception. A week out of the Courts, a week spent on the Mistress Who Compels Debasement with Her Smile, out of the Fire Gate, has been a chance for Orcini to rest, recuperate and hone his skills at his leisure. The tracking crystal given to him, keyed to the Ducal bloodline of House Sawall, has led him in this direction, but even that has not given off more than a desultory signal. In order words, it has been extremely quiet for a week. But that has changed. Today. Several things have changed. For one thing, a walk around the upper deck has allowed Orcini to see something in the air, ahead. Or many somethings. A swarm. The swarm seems more intent on heading toward the rail line that parallels the canal at some difference rather than posing a danger to the ship. It is possible that one of the dragon-pulled trains is being targeted by that mass of insects, birds, or whatever they are. It certainly provides a big profile and a target for such a thing. The other change is that his crystal has suddenly come to life. As if suddenly and rapidly approaching, the crystal's whine and pulsing suggest that several Sawalls, be it the missing search party or even the Queen Mother's daughter or granddaughter are definitely and suddenly within this shadow, and approaching. Presumably, on an approaching train... Orcini knows, too, from standard design, that the path of the canal is going to weave underneath the railroad in a few kilometers. Orcini scans the sky for a moment taking in the enormity of the swarm, the speed of the train, and the pulsing of the crystal. "There is a philosophy," Orcini expounds to no one in particular, "that every moment of pleasure must be bought with an equal moment of pain. While I have no illusions that such cosmic balance actually exists, there is something comforting about the notion that all trials bring with them their rewards." Orcini spreads his arms wide and stretches his neck first to one side then the other. This time he directly addresses one of the demon sailors, "Kindly tell the captain that there is one less passenger to account for. Time to earn my bliss." "Sir?" the white skinned creature says uncertainly. "The next port is not for some miles..." he stops his speaking as he realizes that Orcini is ignoring him. Orcini runs down the length of the deck changing as he goes until a large black scaled pterosaur took wing and flew from the vessel towards the fast moving train and the swarm. The aerodynamics of this shadow, a somewhat thicker than average atmosphere, and the relatively low gravity combine to make flight not only possible, but eminently practical. Orcini finds no difficulty in taking wing and rapidly outpacing the Mistress Who Compels Debasement with Her Smile, and approaching the scene of the looming conflict. An optimal flight path brings him to swing around to where the rails bridge over the river gorge, and it is here that Orcini sees an additional problem. Even as the swarm sweeps toward the train and the train rushes toward the crossing, the situation is stark. The bridge is out. A figure stands on the rim of the river at the site of the destroyed bridge. The figure is a creature, one with an ant-like head and hindquarters, including four legs, but has a humanoid torso and arms, not unlike an invertebrate centaur. Orcini's training puts it all together in a moment. This creature is an Aspis, a Lessiman insectile form. The train and the swarm (almost certainly also Lessiman in origin) are still some minutes away, and likely has not seen this newest threat. His current form lacks the ability to sigh so his irritation manifests as a off beat shaking of his wings. The Aspis at the river is ignored for the moment as the bridge could hardly become more destroyed. The situation largely becomes a becomes a question of speed, force and momentum. Specifically, even if Orcini could exert enough force to stop the dragon, would its momentum still propel the train off the bridge? Given the nature of the train, severing the dragon from the train would allow the train to coast to a stop before it plunged across the chasm. That window of opportunity to do it is still there, but it is starting to narrow. An explosion, amid the swarm, causes Orcini to change his flight to avoid the shockwave. Someone on the train is fighting back with sorcery against the swarm. Many of the smaller lead elements near the front of the train are knocked out of the sky or obliterated. The inevitable smaller second wave, of Aspis-riding mounts, is behind them. Orcini banks towards the train and dragon and takes a moment to shift a powerful voice box into place at the base of his throat. "The bridge is out!" Orcini booms at the [front of the train] "Reverse your course!" Orcini then swoops back around to get in front of the train again. If there is no obvious change in speed and heading soon, Orcini would have to fight sabotage with sabotage. The front of this type of train is a harnessed dragon, strong chains both binding the train to the dragon, and allowing the dragon to pull the train at speed. Magical compulsions as well as breeding allow for the system to work effectively. There is usually an official in the front-most car There is never someone actually on the dragon. It is Not Done. This dragon is the exception, however. By the time Orcini reaches the train, he can see two figures have made their way onto the dragon's back. The woman with the crossbow, is registering strongly with his crystal. She appears to be aiming the crossbow at the lead elements of the incoming swarm, although the recent explosion has thinned out the first wave. The man behind her is equally noteworthy, because Orcini recognizes him straightaway. It's Huttner. "Scale and Fang!" Orcini swore. "Of all the times for my brother to be successful!" Orcini turns in a tighter arc and swoops down to alight upon the dragon near where his brother and the presumed member of House Sawall stand. In a practiced move, he is already taking on his bipedal form as he approaches the dragons back so that he is standing on two feet when he lands. The Pterosaur is now a thin but well muscled man. His dark hair and goatee are graying suggesting age but among shifters this could be an affectation only. He is dressed in tough clothing of black leather and has a hand and a half sword in a back scabbard. "We must destroy the coupling attaching the dragon to the train, brother!" Orcini instructs without preamble. "If you can freeze it, Angrvadill can shatter it!" Orcini reaches for the sword on his back. Backlinks |
