Let's Play The Spirit Engine 2

[prof]

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Chapter 4: Pilgrim's Rest

Part 3: Job Offer

Before we hit up the government, one last area!


Brother! It's too good to see a Sekeidan face after so long on the road. What brings you to this beautiful city, so far from our homeland?


I am here on a knowledge exchange for the Academy. I have had a long but fruitful trek across Lereftain and now it is almos time for me to board the ship home.
I shall miss Porto Vale. Though the people of this country are kind at heart, they are filled with fear and suspicion of the unknown, and this is one of the few places where a foreigner can feel welcome.
You must have seen this. You are on your Journey, are you not?


I am and I have, but I have not let it discourage me. It is merely a challenge to be overcome. My greatest difficulty has been in filling my Book of Wisdom with any but the shallowest of observations.


At this rate, I will return home with a great deal of knowledge, but little wisdom. You must have completed your own Journey. Do you have any advice for me?


None, save that you should not despair and that every task has its purpose. You will find the solution soon enough, if not upon your return.


That is much the same as Grandfather told me. I'm beginning to think this is some sort of joke played at my expense, but I shall endure with high spirits.


In the meantime, my friends and I would like to see your wares, brother. We have travelled far, fought hard and are in need of fresh supplies.



Yes, this is the shopping district!

Gotta get as much done as I can now.



Good thing I did those challenges in the other district, or I wouldn't be able to afford any of this crap.



And now, to the Admiralty!




Most people do. I don't suppose you actually have an appointment?


No, but we do have this military briefcase. We've been asked to deliver it to him as a matter of great importance.


I see. The Governor is between meetings at the moment. I'll take it through to him. Please wait here.




Sakeidan art is always bold and purposeful, but it is difficult to see any single meaning in this odd work.


That's because it has none. The viewer has to do all the work themselves. It's lazy. Personally, all I see is a canvas that looks like it's been attacked by a distressed animal with a paintbrush.


Hmmm. I should have thought to rent out a pack mule earlier in my journey. I have seen so many fascinating trinkets like this which I have longed to bring back to the academy. GandoKay would love this.


That painting is hardly a trinket, PyanPau, and it's unlikely to be up for sale, either. It looks like an early Volgath. It must be worth several thousand credits.


And so we don't have enough money to secure this curiosity?


Not when you subtract the third of our little treasury that's mine, no. I don't know what kind of attitude to money people have where you come from, but ours is not for spending on impractical junk like that.






Halterbrooke, Governor. Denever Halterbrooke, at your service.


Yes, the old GUard regalia is quite distinctive. What about the other two?


PyanPau Sai, sir. I am visiting your country on my knowledge quest, and it is an honor to meet such an important dignitary as...


Alright, Sakeidan, no need to lick quite so much boot. No what about you, the miserable-looking woman in the cape?


Why do you want my name? What does it mean to you?


It means, young lady, that my paperwork lines up nicely. And when my paperwork doesn't line up nicely, I get upset, and people get detained for questioning until it does.
Now I'm going to pretend that my ears missed the last thirty seconds of our conversation. Name, please?


Fine. Aurora Luna Borealis.


That's not your name, Ionae.


Neither is Ionae. It matters little what string of letters I give him. He'll find no other scraps of paper to match them with.


Now that we're past the first formalities, I have some serious questions which need answering. Do you three understand the importance of the Seal of the Dragon?


We do, Governor.


Then you understand that breaking it and reading the documents it protects is a treasonable offense. I don't suppose you're going to try and tell me the case was opened before you took possession of it?


I'm not, sir, no. We opened it shortly after it came into our hands. We were in a difficult situationa, and we needed to determine the case's contents before we could make an informed decision on our next cours of action.


Your situation doesn't concern me. You kenw the importance of the seal and yet you still broke it. You could be in a lot of trouble right now.


Fortunately for you, the contents do appear to be genuine. If this was a serious forgery, I somehow doubt that you'd have made such a godawfully obvious mess of delivering it.
So tell me. How did this case end up in your hands?


We were on an inflatable flight from Longreach with the case's handler when it was downed by the malicious actions of a man whom we believe to be a Yaegaran agent. The rest of the crew and passengers were killed in the crash.
The soldier entrusted us with the case before his death. We have done our utmost in difficult circumstances to get it here to you, as the people of Underport will testify.


That's a tall story indeed. Unfortunately, you're not the first source to bring us such news from across the border in the past few weeks. None so far have been quite so definitive, though.
I am quite willing to believe that if those Yaegaran swine could do such a thing to this fair city, they would. We will be taking this matter seriously, I assure you.
Amy, fetch me a runner and get ready to make a copy of this message. I want one on its way to Fort Wilmington within the hour and another following it on the way to Kelstarin.
Jack, I want you to see that this city gets locked down tighter than my wife's underwear. Nobody gets in or out, not even the Inspectorate. If these bastards are here, I don't want them getting away.


Well, that just leaves us, eh? We've been through a lot of trouble for that case, and I expect some sort of reward is in order.


Reward? You should be thankful that I'm not going to have you arrested for tampering with the seal, and that I believed a word of your hogwash story.


Now, I don't want you three kept around here. You're already getting in the way. You've been good enough to carry the case this far in secret, so I suppose youc an be trusted to keep quiet a little longer.
I'm letting you back out onto the streets under the watch of the City Guard. You're not to utter a word about this. Do I make myself clear? We don't want a panic in the city. That'll most certainly cost lives.


If anything like that happens and I hear you're responsible, I'll have the Inspectorate and the army down on your asses so hard that you'll need six months in the hospital before we can hang you. Am I understood?


Perfectly, Governor. You can trust us.


Alright. You've done a good job, all things considered. Now clear out of my office while I try to get to the bottom of this mess. Go on, now, shoo! I can't work with the three of you standing there staring at me.


Come on, Ionae, let's go.




We've helped to foil an attack on the city and saved countless lives, Ionae. That might not pay for our bed and board tonight, but it should be reward enough.


I hope our elisive Yaegaran spy was right and this is all a big hoax, because we're stuck in Porto Vale until the matter can e resolved.




Get lost, you grubby little urchin. We're not interested in whatever it is you're selling. Go bother someone else.


It's not a promotion, miss, I promise! The man said i was to give it only to you.


And what message would this be, little fellow?


The Mister said that he'd been watching you and that he had a proposal. He said it was a chance to do some good and earn a handsome wage at the same time.
He said it was urgent, and that you should meet him in the old west Seabunker as soon as possible.


How unusual and frankly flattering. Our antics must have attracted more of an audience than we'd realized.


We'll consider it, thank you, young man. You can run along now.


If we've got nothing else to do whilst we're trapped in the city, we might as well check this out. I'm curious to know why this man would pick me, and us, of all people to contact.



More quest EXP!



To the seabunker!




I wish they'd given us a better meeting place. The old docks have been neglected by the authorities and run by criminal syndicates for years now. Please don't give the locals any strange looks. I'm talking to you especially, Ionae.



A 'make sure you're ready' warning, followed by a save point? I'm sure this is safe!




You must be joking. This is a public street. We're not paying you a single penny to walk down it, and you're making a terrible mistake if you think otherwise.


There's no mistake, miss. You'll put down your rifle and empty your pockets for us now, if you'd be so kind.


What's going on here? Are we being mugged?


It appears so, PyanPau. Please, gentlemen, there's no need for this. We don't want a fight. Let us be on our way and we'll say no more.


I don't know, Silas. I've got a bad feeling about this. We don't need the money that badly, and I don't want the Inspectorate after us again. I think we ought to let them go.


And what will the Knives do when they hear about this, Garreth? We'll look weak. No, nobody defies the Riggers on their own turf and gets away with it. Take 'em, boys.



We're outnumbered! Let's deal with that a bit, why don't we?



I really don't trust Silas there, lurking in the back row with his pile of Chi. So, I'm gonna magic him straight down, first thing!

Denever can hit him wiht Swordfaith, and Ionae can hit them all with Lucky Shot. Both will ignore Chi.



Okay! 26 seconds with their caster down. Let's make 'em count!



Since these guys do piercing damage only, PyanPau can tank with his chi! Meanwhile, Ionae uses flashbangs and black bullet to wear down the guy in front, while Denever lays down a more equal opportunity smackdown.



Melee clusterfuck!



And when Silas comes back up, his Chi is extremely low!

That tangleweed is the effect of PyanPau's new amulet, although I'm not QUITE sure what it actually does.



Assholes.




We're quite alright, Constable, thank you. You should be more worried about the guild members who attacked us.




The Inspectorate will take matters from here. Those four will be model citizens when they're finally released back onto the streets. These arrests ought to quiet things down in the old docks for a while.



CAN WE GET OUR JOB OFFER YET






My friends, I regret to say that I have made a grave error in judgment. I have underestimated the intent of the forces at work here, and a great many people are about to suffer for my naivety.
I could have done more, but could I ever have done enough? I will have much time to consider this in the next few days of confinement. I am just one man alone and I realized that I need help. Your help.


Ironically, you are the only ones here who could ever trust me. You will assist me in the aftermath, and God willing we will be triumphant.


Like hell we will! Stop talking and let us out! Sooner or later someone else will find us down here, and when they do, your torment will be legendary!


No, my friends. There will be no one else left to find you. Make no movement, emit no sonud and you will not be harmed. They will pass over. I will do likewise and return when it is safe. Goodbye for now.


Wait! What's going on? Please tell us!


Aww, he's done it again. This door is solid Royal Teressian iron. We'll never break it down. We're trapped!


I won't believe it. There has to be some other way out of here, we just have to look hard enough. Start checking the walls.


What was that noise...?



To be continued!


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