Somewhere in Croatia
The Group of 6 that was in Duborvnic is now on a train headed towards Montenegro, where a teleport rune to Crete is located
Iehn: I'm going back to the US once we get to Montenegro
Sahu: Oh why is that?
Iehn: To investigate Department X a bit with a good friend
Sahu: Larkin?
Iehn: Yeah….
Spade: So when we get to Crete, there's a possibility that Ghice has already taken the battery, if that happens, we need to engage them immediately if we find them
Darsah: I think we know that well enough
Centus: Well it's still worth talking about
Sahu: Department X is also now after that battery
The train begins skirting on the rail, making a big sparking noise
Eoontaq: We gotta stop this derailment
Eoontaq's protactor is sniped out of their hands by two shady figures
Sahu: Ah it's our Department X friends
Centus: Let's cut them down to size
Begin Derailing Train
When you are 35% done
Department X Agent: I hate that we're now enemies
Sahu: I bet you do
Sahu clubs the agent with her shield
Resume Derailing Train
When you are 70% of the way through
Eoontaq: I wonder how we haven't flown right off the tracks yet
Sahu: Ya know you can put the train back down
Eoontaq: Oh..right
Darsah: I hate this feeling of tumbling please remedy this
Eoontaq: Right right ok
Eoontaq puts the train back down
Resume Normal Train
When you complete the encounter
Agent Weaforth: If it isn't The Century Corps
Sahu: You must be Agent Weaforth
Weaforth: I may be
Centus: So are you ready to surrender
Weaforth: No
Eoontaq tries to angle Weaforth onto the ground but Weaforth hits a button on his suit protects him and then escapes as Spade moves to attack
Weaforth: As they say in Greece, Τα λέμε σύντομα
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Weaforth jumps out the train window as Spade tries to once again attack him
Sahu: Well…we know where he’s going
Centus: Think he’ll get there first?
Darsah: I doubt it
Spade: Either way, it’s pretty bad
The six of them went back to sitting on the train, arriving at their destination soon enough
Atteyino, Lemurian Belt
The Xen Grand has officially docked on Atteyino, the crew is mainly getting supplies and preparing for the journey to Erenion. On this island, part of the crew is going to get supplies from a somewhat wealthy Pionin merchant.
Hyuken: I’m personally not the biggest fan of the Pionin Merchant companies
Kiqi: Why’s that?
Hyuken: They’re very “old money” and traditional in that sort of sense, a lot of them have this cavalier attitude that just rubs me the wrong way.
Neve: Rub me the wrong way why don’t you?
Kiqi: Huh?
Neve: “Old Money Traditionalist Pionin Merchant Guilds” as you call them are important to how Pionin Civilization is supposed to be
Hyuken: Nothing is supposed to be any sort of way
Neve: That’s your arrogance talking…
Kiqi: Maybe…Neve has a point
Neve: I do, now would you shut up you sicophant
Hyuken: He barely said a word-
The argument stops as three reach a merchant stand, the merchant slides down his blinds to see the three
Aoenen: Hello, how may I help you, my name is Aoenen and I sell valuable wares
Hyuken: I’d like-
Aoenen begins to cut off Hyuken
Aoenen: I’m sorry but my family doesn’t sell to Pionin like you
Hyuken: The hell?
Kiqi: Isn’t that counter-intuitive if you care about profit?
Aoenen: Listen, it’s just that, you are low bred, disgraced, pieces of filth don’t deserve basic necessities and I refuse to believe you have the financial wellbeing to purchase wares from my family
Kiqi begins shrink away while Hyuken punches the stand window so hard it shatters
Neve: I’ll purchase
Aoenen: Yeah sure
Kiqi: Why sell to just her?
Aoenen: That’s Neve, a true Pionin, of course I’d give our business to her
Hyuken: Just because some of us have Nightlanders in our family, doesn’t make us any less Pionin than assholes like you
Neve: Listen, are you going to just stand back while I get us the business or are you going to continue blabbering?
Hyuken: …..
Aoenen: Fine choice…
Neve purchases the supplies from Aoenen
Aoenen: You know…I think I’d like to tag along with you Century Corps people
Neve: That sounds like a lovely idea
Hyuken: I’m going to pop a blood vessel in my hand if I have to see that guy every day
Kiqi: You might have to get a bandage, Neve seems almost enamored…
Aoenen joins the party as an NPC guest
Begin the walk back to the docks
When you’re 50% of the way there
Neve: Aoenen, I have a question for you?
Aoenen: Go ahead?
Neve: What would you do if you were in my position, being the only Pionin on Earth for most of your life only to discover they’ve been living somewhere else?
Aoenen: I’d probably break under the pressure, the fact you didn’t isn’t a testament to how amazing you are…
Neve: Oh thanks…
Neve and Aoenen begin to move closer together
Kiqi: I’m gonna be sick…
Hyuken: Going to write a comedy titled “My Guildmate is in love with a bigot”
Resume
When you make it back to the docks, The other Century Corps members begin looking at the returning group
Thechr: Who the hell is the extra?
Aoenen: My name is Aoenen, and I’d like to join you guys for a temporary period
Elghene collapses laughing
Neve: What’s so funny?
Elghene: I’ve learned to see past deceptions, and Aoenen has no interest in the greater good, just perpetuating the old and anachronistic Pionin traditions and also hates Hyuken and Kiqi just for being who they are.
Thechr: So terrible candidate this is?
Neve: Now hold on, doesn’t the guild have tons of unsavory people in it’s ranks?
Thechr: Name a few?
Neve: There’s Centus, who’s definitely a war criminal along with others who have violent tendencies an-
Thechr: Let me stop you there, you’re advocating for a frankly bad person to join our ranks because you seem to have a little fling going on
Aeonen: I’m not a “bad person”
Thechr: No means no
Iaray: And also, it’s clear that this a move purely designed to alienate Hyuken and Kiqi from business on the Xen Grand, just because they don’t embody the ideal Pionin to you, doesn’t mean you can just invite any old asshole onto our ship
Hyuken: Thank you Iaray
Kelpie: I’m also in favor of not letting this guy onboard
Demeui: Welp, Mr Aoenen you should pack up your things and just go back to your merchant stand
Kiqi: Alright, let’s get ready to leave
Suddenly, a loud noise is heard, a group of Armed Pionin emerge from a nearby hall
Hyuken: Who the hell are those guys?
Aeonen: They are Pionin’s Truth, they’re a little extra-militant group I help fund and run
Thechr: That’s pretty gross, alright crew let’s leave
Aoenen: What about me?
Kiqi: You’ve got your goons…you’ll be fine
Suddenly, large megaphone screeching is heard
Odio (Over A Megaphone): HELLO CENTURY CORPS, WE MEET AGAIN
Odio appears with members of The Cult of Sheyane
Thechr: Hey, we weren’t prepared to tussle right now
Odio: I don’t care, we’re gonna fight right here and now
Aoenen: Bring it
Odio: Huh?
Aoenen: Pionin’s Truth! Attack!!
The armed Pionin begin to fight The Cult of Sheyane
Demeui: That should be our cue to leave
Thechr: How right you are, crew, back in the ship
Neve: But we shoul-
Neve is shut up by Hyuken putting her hand over her mouth as Kiqi carries Neve with Hyuken into the ship as they undock and sail away
Aoenen: HEY, WHAT ABOUT ME
Odio: Looks like they’re just using you as a diversion, ah well
Odio begins kicking Aoenen mercilessly as The Xen Grand pulls out of port