The team leaves the capital building and heads to the mail center - a building with a large walled area adjacent to it. The gate is open, and walking in, you see the familiar war machines sitting idle, waiting to send you on a one-way trip into the ground.

An array of of the improved human-delivery containers are sitting to the side while workers tend to the ballistae, making sure they're sighted and all the right knobs and levers are turned the right way.

One of them, a lean man with short hair, a bit of stubble, and the grin of a madman, comes to greet you.

Kark: "Alright, I hope none of you ate!"


________________________________________


You do more running. You think you improved your Agility!

Kuori seems to be barely clinging on, she wasn't the strongest doll built and she has a fairly weak regenerating mana stone.

And by "barely clinging on", she just fell and tumbled in the tall grass for a bit. Halting your running, you can't really see her, but there's a void of grass slowly moving around, somewhat towards you.


________________________________________


After making sure Kazooie is still on your back, you sprint towards the mages and run with them towards the eastern edge of the city, with Kazooie launching another fireball behind.

Thankfully, you didn't make it very far into the city in the first place, and quickly reach the eastern edge and start heading into the fields.

Ethan: "Great, let's head back to Vran before that thing tries to catch up."

Amelia: "Did you see that? It looked like Infidi!"

Kazooie: "Small Ensi, very danger. More run."

Ethan: "Why do you have a- whatever, let's get out of here."


________________________________________


???: "Of course. Please, do as you wish."

The creature performs another curtsy before walking away out of sight, an explosion sounding out a few seconds later in the direction it went.

After looking at the other people who had snacks, you quickly metabolize your bananas and other foods to clear your digestive tract.

Kark: "Don't worry, it's a lot safer now! More gradual launch acceleration, and for landing, kinetic deceleration and crush zones for safe landing.

Anything you need to do before launch? No turning back once you're in the air."


________________________________________


Ethan: "Right."

Your team legs it back to the riverbank, though Kazooie hops out of your backpack and scampers away.

Amelia: "Probably not best to have it come into Vranhal anyways."

A minute later and the ferry arrives, ready to take you to the other side.


________________________________________


You stand still, waiting for the turtle to clumsily navigate the tall grass until she reaches you. Putting your arm out, she grabs on and you lift her back on to your shoulder.

Hmm. Wonder if there's a way to make her combat capable.

Maybe she could get one of those crank crossbows. A windlass? Something like that.

You head back to Vran for now.


It's still night, and not a lot of activity, other than the larger-than-normal number of guards on the wall and several divisions here and there, ready in an instant if something were to happen.

Hmm, you haven't slept in a while. Maybe you could do that.


________________________________________


The three of you take the ferry, quickly crossing the river, and then walking through the port and into Vranhal.

Ethan: "Uh. If you mean the thing that 'got you' as in the rotting witch core, those don't exactly move to be able to take anyone out. Unless if you, like, walk right up to it."

Amelia: "We're fine, we didn't run into any Infidi either until we found you in Magusalto."

Before you know it, you're inside the capital building, walking past the little armored girl and other guards, and enter the lord's office. She's there as usual, with her maid and the armored lupus.


________________________________________


Kark: "Alright, load 'em up!"

The crates are loaded into the ballistae, while the operators make final adjustments.

Kark: "We can launch half of you in the first volley, then the other half in the next. It'll be about five, maybe ten minutes between landings. First group should make sure the area is clear of hostiles before the second lands. Judith doesn't have a good sight of the LZ, so be prepared for anything.

So, who's in first?"

6 Black Mages
2 Blue
Sanoa + Torrent
Monk
Vandolf
John
Horoma
Miimas

Looks like you have 14 total. Might wanna ask names later, or not. Doesn't really matter, right?



Sanoa: "I'll go first, scan the area with telepathy."

Black Mage 1: "I'll be first, too."