#so silver gets the whole voyage to work his con

[constant-and-immovable]

I'd give a lot of money to see Brian Henson and James Hart collaborate on an actual adaptation of Treasure Island without the Muppets. Even the technical details and book moments are soooo superior to other adaptations, just imagine the sheer emotional damage this would have done without the muppets hanging around.

[sailorportia]

Four Girls and a Balloon

Fandom: Little Witch Academia Pairings: Diana Cavendish x Akko Kagari, Hannah England x Amanda O’Neill

Femslash February 2019 [Index post] Day 12: Balloons

approx. 2,100 words, rated T

also available on AO3

In which Diana and Hannah travel on a Steam Age dirigible and meet some interesting characters...

"You're going to love this, Diana," Hannah said. "There's no finer way to travel."

"I prefer to travel by horse-drawn carriage or by broom," Diana said stiffly. "I don't trust these modern contraptions."

"Queen Victoria herself makes foreign visits by dirigible. Are you saying you're better than the queen?"

"I would never be so presumptuous. But her Majesty doesn't have the option of traveling by leyline..."

Hannah chuckled. "You're such a traditionalist."

Diana and Hannah were travelling from the Cavendish estate to one of Barbara's vacation homes. After a week of pleading and insisting, Hannah managed to persuade Diana to make their journey by dirigible, the transportation method favoured by the nobility of the Steam Age. Diana was unconcerned with matters of status, but she couldn't deny that she was cautiously curious.

Twenty minutes later, they had boarded and their luggage was stowed away as they watched the ground drift away from them. They made their way to their cabin and settled in. Hannah wasted no time ordering refreshments.

Not long afterward, the door opened and the waitress walked in, a girl with red eyes and shoulder-length brown hair in a bizarre half-ponytail that bounced as she moved. She carried in a teapot and a plate of gourmet biscuits on a silver tray, balanced on one hand. "Tea's here, your ladyships," she said.

"Thank you very much," Diana said. She waited as the girl poured tea into each of the two cups and took one for herself. Hannah followed suit.

"Are your ladyships enjoying your journey so far?" the girl asked cheerily.

"It's up to my standards so far," Hannah replied.

"I'm holding out judgement," Diana said.

"Oh, well. You can't win 'em all." The girl shrugged and snatched a biscuit off the plate and downed it quickly.

"Just what do you think you're doing?" Hannah demanded.

"What? It's not like you're going to eat it anyway? Twenty flights so far and none of you toffs have ever finished a single plate you've ordered." She popped another biscuit in her mouth and talked around it. "I mean, if you're not going to eat it, I might as well."

"I can't believe I'm sharing the same dirigible as an urchin such as yourself," Hannah snarked.

"If there wasn't 'urchins' like me here, who would serve posh people like you the food you don't eat?"

"How dare you! I'm going to speak to your supervisor and have your wages slashed."

Diana held up a hand, silencing her companion. "That won't be necessary." She addressed the girl. "Miss, would you please put the tray down and leave us to our own devices?"

"Sure thing, your ladyship." The girl placed the tray on a table. She did a little bow for Diana and blew a raspberry at Hannah before vanishing out the cabin door.

"Why I never," Hannah said, barely restraining her outrage. "The nerve of that girl."

"Indeed." Diana took a sip of her tea. "By the way, are you going to have a have a biscuit?" The plate, piled high with biscuits, was far from being emptied.

Hannah eyed the plate and sheepishly took a biscuit. "I was going to have one anyway," she mumbled.

Diana took a biscuit as well. The pile didn't look any smaller. Just as the girl had said, there was no way the two of them would be able to clear the tray on their own. Diana smiled, simultaneously galled at the girl and impressed with how unconcerned she seemed with the nobility.

They finished their tea and relaxed. Diana wasn't fond of relaxation. It made her anxious. Knowing that she could actually achieve something if she applied herself to some task made Diana practically twitch. In fact...

"You're shivering." Hannah frowned. "Is the cabin too cold?"

"I'll be fine," Diana said through chattering teeth. "It's just a little chilly..."

Hannah immediately started fussing over her. "You know better than that. With your frail constitution, you need to stay warm."

"Really, I'm fine—"

Diana was cut off by a scarf being tightly wrapped around her neck and face.

"There must be something wrong with the heating system," Hannah said, buzzing around the cabin like a confused housefly as she searched for more clothing with which to bundle up her companion. "Stay here, and I'll find someone to fix it. Goodness knows we're paying enough for proper service."

She was gone before Diana could remind her that the problem could be alleviated with a simple heating spell. Apparently Hannah had gotten so accustomed to modern conveniences that she'd forgotten she was, in fact, a witch.

Diana performed such a heating spell, sending a wave of warmth through her clothes and over her skin. She felt more comfortable, but she would only get cold again if she sat still. Better for her to warm herself by moving around through the airship. And so she did, leaving in search of something to occupy her.

Elsewhere, Hannah stalked through the dirigible's corridors searching for someone to complain to. She peered through a door and spotted her quarry hunched over some steam-powered contraption. Hopefully the device was related to the heating system, for his sake.

Ordinarily, Hannah wouldn't condescend to speak to someone wearing an (utterly unfashionable) engineer's overalls and undershirt. That didn't stop her from admiring the rippling shoulder muscles on display. And those toned arms made strong by handling heavy tools. She imagined him holding her as she ran her fingers through that orange hair...

Hannah swallowed thickly, then chastised herself for getting distracted when Diana was in need. She banished all improper thoughts about the engineer before her and addressed him.

"Boy! My cabin's heating system isn't functional. My companion has a weak constitution and this problem must be fixed immediately."

"Ex-fucking-'scuse me?" The engineer turned around and revealed that she was, in fact, a girl. "The fuck did you call me?"

Damnation, Hannah thought. She's a girl.

"What!?" The engineer girl glared at her. "Is there something on my face?"

"Um, well..." Hannah bit her lip. "There's a little oil on your face..." And a whole lot of hotness under that oil.

"Oh, let me get that." The girl waved her wand, and the amount of oil on her face doubled. "I prefer to have a lot of oil on my face." She grinned impishly.

Hannah found herself incapacitated. She was blown away by the engineer's abrasiveness and blatant disregard for their gap in status. Furthermore, she was incredibly flustered by this girl's physique and attitude, and this confused Hannah terribly. Her heart pounded, her pale skin flushed red, and the fact that engineer was a girl did nothing to shut down her scandalous fantasies.

"Hello?" The engineer waved her hand in Hannah's face. "You were yelling at me about something?"

That's right! Hannah thought. I can't let Diana down. "My cabin. The heating system isn't functioning. It's imperative that someone fix it immediately. My companion—"

"Has a weak constitution, yeah, yeah. What's the cabin number?" The engineer groaned when Hannah told her. "I thought Cons fixed that one last week? Airships are a nightmare to work on, lemme tell ya."

"All I want you to tell me is that you've fixed it properly this time."

"Don't get your petticoats in a twist," the engineer said. "I'll have you all warm in no time, sweetheart."

Hannah's face grew so hot she thought she might faint. "S-s-sweetheart!?"

"Whoa, you could power the engines for the rest of the voyage with steam like that." The engineer girl laughed as she headed off to Hannah and Diana's cabin, Hannah trailing behind her helplessly.

Meanwhile in one of the viewing rooms, Diana had stumbled onto something of interest. Rather, someone of interest: the cheeky waitress from earlier.

The girl's attention was directed out the window, rocking back and forth on the balls of her feet as she marvelled at the boundless nothing between the airship and the ground far below. Diana sidled up to her.

"Good afternoon."

The girl turned and smiled when she saw who was speaking. "Well, if it isn't her ladyship? Come to talk to the urchins?"

Diana smiled back. "Does the 'urchin' have a name, or should I refer to you as such?"

"My name's Atsuko Kagari. You can call me Akko!"

Etiquette dictated that Diana refer to her as "Miss Kagari," but she probably didn't know that. "Very well, Akko. I'd prefer that you address me as 'Diana' rather than 'your ladyship.'"

"Gosh!" Akko said. "Am I allowed to do that?"

Diana raised an eyebrow. "I wouldn't have thought you were concerned with what you're allowed to do?"

Akko puffed up her cheeks indignantly. "If you had to put up stinking rich types bossing you around all day, you'd mouth off too!"

Mentioning her domineering aunt might have refuted Akko, but Diana preferred to listen to the bubbly waitress talk.

"Putting up with toffs like—well, not like you—like your companion is a chore, but it's worth it just to get to fly."

"My companion said something similar," Diana noted.

"It gets me every time. Flying. I wish I could fly myself. I'm a witch, but I never got the hang of brooms."

Diana felt a curious urge to offer Akko a ride-along on her broom. But that would be improper. Actually, why would it be? Diana wondered. After all, there was nothing untoward about two girls sharing a broom.

"There's just something about being lighter than air, y'know?" Akko continued. "It's like, not even gravity is the boss of me. Flying is like, freedom."

"Dontcha think?"

Diana considered that, had she travelled by leyline, she would have arrived already. On the other hand, the flight offered her a reprieve from the constant hassle of being held to the expectations of being a Cavendish. And of course, one couldn't discount the importance of interesting company...

"I suppose."

Akko giggled. "Oh, I should probably pick up that tea tray if you're done with it."

"And eat any remaining biscuits, I presume?"

"So you admit I was right!"

Diana shook her head and they returned to Diana and Hannah's cabin. Their journey stopped short just in front of the door, caused by the sight of Hannah and the engineer girl leaving the cabin.

"I trust that was hot enough for you?" the engineer girl asked.

"If I'm not satisfied later, you can be assured that I will find you and force you to fix the problem," Hannah replied.

Akko made a strangled sound and pointed accusingly at the engineer. "Amanda! You can't be doing that with the passengers! You've been warned about that!"

"Warned about what?" Hannah asked. "She was simply fixing the heating system. What else could she have..." Her voice trailed off and she blushed once again as the realization hit her. "How dare you insinuate—why I never!!!"

The engineer, Amanda apparently, cackled. "Like her delicate self could handle all of this." She waved a hand at her impressive physique. "That being said, pot calling the kettle black, Akko. I see you were bringing her companion back for a little high-altitude rendezvous."

"Wh-what!" Akko squeaked. "I would never!"

"You don't have to worry about that weak constitution of yours," Amanda said, winking at Diana. "Akko hasn't joined the mile-high club yet, but she's a gentle girl."

"Duly noted," Diana said neutrally. Her thoughts were anything but neutral.

Her aristocratic manners forgotten in the heat of the moment, Hannah smacked Amanda on the arm. "You ought to know better than to imply such things about a Cavendish!"

"But it's fine to say that kind of thing about you?" Amanda teased.

Hannah's blush did anything but die down. "Ugh! Diana, let's leave these urchins to their shamelessness!" She stormed back into their cabin.

"Well, I've got some shameless engineering to do," Amanda quipped. She walked off and tossed one final comment over her shoulder: "If you get cold again, it's Akko's turn to warm you up."

Akko practically vibrated with indignation. "Amanda! You can't just say that!" She breathed deeply to calm herself down before she spoke to Diana again. "Well, um, uh, I guess I better come back later, when your companion is a little less... testy."

Inspired to be daring by the scandalous conversation, Diana allowed herself a little tease of her own. "I eagerly await your return." Then she did something she'd never done before; she batted her eyelashes.

Akko blushed a deeper shade of red than even Hannah. "Um, well, uh, I'll be seeing you again!" She scampered out of sight, her half-ponytail bouncing erratically as she went.

Diana chuckled to herself. Hannah was right after all, she thought. Flying really is the only way to travel.

[dndfuckhouse]

THIS IS PROBABLY WAY TOO LONG BUT I LIKE TO BE THOROUGH (my brain dont work so if any two facts dont line up at some point thats why kk have fun reading)

> NPC Lore 🌍

➣  Ornald Vin ✨

First and foremost Ornald considers himself a wizard and researcher, his particular strengths lying in the school of Evocation. He has about 10 years of experience under his belt and is considered by most of his peers as a bit of an up-and-comer, experimenting with planar shifting magic and the like. He met Koszer about 5 years ago at one of Prespit Look’s past expos and the two hit it off almost immediately, a few years later the two were wed.

Though Koszer never had much of eye for the arcane he always seemed to exhibit a curiosity in Ornald’s work and currently acts of an agent of sorts for him. Ornald appreciates this since he finds it hard to focus on anything else once hes in the throes of his research. 

Said research finally began to yield fruit, as at last year’s expo Ornald was finally invited to be an exhibitor, wherein he displayed the prototype for his Somatic Interpreter. He was invited back again this year to display the more or less finished contraption. It was there he met and mingled with a few of the other exhibitors, including Marina Stellard. 

The two hit it off and she promised him an invite aboard the locomotive, inviting him to bring anyone he wished. He took her up on the offer, taking Koszer with him as well as a wizard-in-training he was acquainted with named Davian at the time. Koszer a few months later recommended another friend of his that would enjoy the spectacle and thus Boris was also included in their entourage at the expo.

➣  Koszer Vin  🖋

In contrast to his husband Koszer has a bit more of a curt attitude, though it helps him when speaking with others on Ornald’s behalf, as he tends to agree to anything easily enough. It was that attitude that initially caught Koszer’s attention, feeling the need to look out for him in a way. 

This nature of his was much more efficient in his past trade of choice however. Before he had met Ornald, Koszer was a bit of a known conman and thief in Talorin, running with a small group that included Lillista in his early twenties. He began to slowly grow weary of the life however, and on a chance trip to Prespit Look finally met Ornald. The typically stoic tiefling quickly quickly found himself a reason to cut himself off from his old habits and adopt a more aboveboard lifestyle. Though he quickly decided he’d never tell Ornald of his very recent dealings for fear he’d immediately ruin their budding relationship.

Koszer sent word to his old group that he was cutting ties and never returned to Talorin. Soon after he quickly made an effort to blend into the background of the new city and made painstaking efforts to find some sort of legal job before finally marrying Ornald. After a few years past he felt confidant in his new life with Ornald, taking pride in his accomplishments, though this was not to last. 

Soon after last year’s expo Koszer got a letter in the mail from Lillista, stating she had finally found him where he’d settled down in his new life. She stated she wasn't mad he left all those years ago but she now desired his help and she wouldn't take no for an answer. She wrote that if he disagreed she’d air his old past to the public and Ornald, exposing him. Koszer agreed, terrified that if is past were to be revealed now that Ornald’s reputation in the arcane community would plummet with it. 

➣  Lillista Min ☠

Lillista from her youth had a budding talent with magic and the arcane, she used this to her advantage growing up, abusing it to give her the edge when dealing with others to make sure she always got what she wanted. She soon quickly gathered an entourage around herself and as she entered her twenties, a small ring of criminals to conduct as she saw fit.

Koszer was one of the few of her merry band, she found his silver tongue a great asset in convincing certain stubborn clients to give her what she wanted without having to lop off a finger or two. If she didn't have to do it herself she seemed to always prefer delegating the task to someone else. She kept these dealings up for a few years, her small gang however slowly began to splinter off, it made sense after all, they weren't all too personally close knit, and it seemed her self-important attitude had begun to slowly grate on them.

Lillista soon found herself alone, bored without anyone to boss around. On a whim she decided to look into the world of professional arcane practitioners, seeing if she could find a way to hone her skills by herself. She remembers hearing about the city of Prespit Look and travels over to experience one of its yearly expo’s, finding herself surprisingly intrigued by what was displayed there.

It was there she met a younger Marina Stellard, exhibiting the prototype for one of her reactor core’s that would soon function as the core for her Arcane Locomotive. It seemed Marina was looking for skilled hands to help her in her research and Lillista agreed to work with her, coming aboard her crew as a conductor in training, charmed by her work.

Over the next 3 years she worked away with Marina to craft the train prototype and exhibit it at following expos. Though Marina made sure to routinely include Lillista in the events, the public seemed to lavish Marina with praise for her invention, and Lillista quickly grew bitter. Her self important attitude only continued to stoke her envy before it finally reached a boiling point. During last year’s expo she mentally snapped with anger at Marina bringing on another conductor in training to help named Sam. Sam seemed to rebuff most of Lillista’s commanding attitude and these slights enraged her greatly.

Taking a step back Lillista looks upon her life the past 3 years and scoffs, what on earth was she thinking working under someone else, she should have done what she’d always had and taken what she wanted instead. She decides to set a plan in motion to sabotage Marina’s maiden voyage next year, quickly falling into her old ways and tracking down people to aid her.

She looks into the underground of Prespit Look and finds a conman going by the name of Randy Teller, she hires him to come on and work as another conductor-in-training over the next few months. Convincing Marina they'd need the extra help, Randy quickly learns the inns and outs of the train on the job and the two enter an agreement to blow the reactor during the train’s journey. To not draw suspicion however he soon quits a month before the train’s voyage, Lillista planning instead to have him board as a passenger in disguise.

Its then that Lillista remembers why she had this city in mind in the first place and goes looking for the ghost of Koszer, quickly finding him and blackmailing him for his help as well to guarantee Boris a spot aboard with his husbands connections. Finding joy in having a set of underlings under her thumb again Lillista sets her plan in motion.

➣  Randy Teller (Boris) 🩸

Randy’s lived in Prespit Look for much of his life, finding a city that’s been hit by a windfall of innovation a great place to conduct his underhanded dealings of choice. In his youth he immersed himself in the cities underground, selling himself as a skilled impersonator and thief. 

At this point in his life hes garnered a wealth of knowledge on other familiar faces of the underground, including a certain Rick Artiz. He often found himself bumping into him on and off the job and the two developed a professional relationship of sorts, Rick occasionally informing him of certain jobs in the area.

As time went on however it seemed Rick was pulling himself out of the underground life, and Randy found himself out a great source of information. It was then however that a woman named Lillista contacts him out of the blue for his services. Lillista intends to hire him for a long con, bringing him aboard the revered arcane locomotive to sabotage it. Finding the job interesting he agrees to her plan.

Months through the job, right after he theatrically quits from his job as conductor however Lillista soon drops on him that shes bringing on another member to help with the job, Koszer. Randy panics slightly, thinking that more members means less pay for him in the end, and with his job pool having dried up for the moment he desires nothing less than the biggest pay day he can get out of this.

Randy decides over the next month to create a plan to sabotage the train with Koszer but instead enact it by himself to garner whole credit for the work, intending to throw Koszer under the bus, framing him for the crime, and getting him cut out of the deal. With this in mind he boards the train as Boris, ready to enact his plan ahead of time.

➣  Cosmo Knack 🔎

A member of the Burlap Hooks, a secret group tasked with investigating arcane phenomenon, Cosmo has been conducting investigate work for a number of years now. Considered somewhat of a veteran within its ranks, he typically works alone to keep out of sight on the job. Though despite being a well-respected member of the group by the boss, he’s often told to avoid talking to people on the job as he is known to be awkward company and bad at not speaking suspiciously.

Despite this he’s quite observant and good at staying near his targets, to this end he’s given one of the group’s more high profile jobs, to trail a certain woman named Melody Uldur to find evidence pointing to her being a lycanthrope.

The job in question leads him to following her to the expo at Prespit Look, wherin he remembers another hook’s group is sent every year to investigate the exhibitions on display. He finds himself a little envious of the easier task.

Dutifully he arranges for himself to get a ticket on board carefully arranging it so he’s seated in the same carriage as Melody to continue his observation onboard, knowing the evening tonight is said to be a full moon....

➣  Melody Uldur 🔮

A well known sorcerer who has managed to keep the fact that she is also a werewolf on the down low. In her youth her penchant with playing with magic led to a bit of an unfortunate accident and a chance meeting with a werewolf in the woods near her home. One thing led to another and she soon found herself turned the next day by one of its bites. Not one to let it get her down however she quickly dove into researching the creatures for much of her late teens, figuring out a way to live her life unfettered by the affliction.

Holding a deep love for the arcane in her heart, Melody works to craft items that mainly appeal to children as she finds the most joy in doing so. In doing so she garnered a bit of a reputation for herself and was invited to exhibit her moving scrolls at the next expo, she excitedly accepts and even finds herself sent an invitation to board the Arcane Locomotive as well.

Soon before the event however she finds the proceedings will seemingly occur on the night of a full moon, finding it too late for her to back out now she laments the next day, fully planning to keep herself indoors as much as physically possible, praying for overcast clouds.

➣  Rick Artiz 🔓

A lifelong conman and cheat, Rick lives life in the moment and doesn't focus on much else. Much of his time for the moment has been spent in Prespit Look’s shadier dives and hangouts where he lies his way through making a quick buck. He takes care to not draw too much attention to himself so he doesn't garner a previous target’s ire, keeping in mind when to make himself scarce and when to drink for 4 hours on end.

Through his observations he came to notice Randy, operating in similar locations and develops a professional relationship with the man, giving him heads up on potential clients in exchange for a bit of coin he can use to spend on drinks. By happenstance while on a job picking locks, he’s noticed by a passerby, and has to quickly invent a lie to get him off the hook, spilling a yarn about him practising his skills on his own house. Somehow it works and the passerby suggests he could exhibit something like that, making a joke that it would piss off all the locksmiths in the area before wandering off.

Rick however becomes intrigued by the idea and wonders if he’d be allowed to exhibit something along those lines. His curiosity takes him throughout the whole application process, his skill for making up tales shuttling him along until he’s got a guaranteed spot and a payday for his troubles at the end of it. Rick finds himself intrigued by the idea that the expo will exhibit all sorts of presentations as long as he can spin it interestingly enough, going to a nearby bar to celebrate getting an easy job. 

By happenstance he wanders in on a group of nearby exhibitors also having just left the application process, here he meets a certain Marina Stellard and over the course of the night also snags himself an invite on her locomotive. He quietly wonders to himself what he did to garner this kind of luck for the evening but doesn't question it too much, thinking of the future free ride and drinks he’ll get to enjoy on board.

THE ‘WE DONT GOT MUCH GOING ON’ QUARTET / mostly fluff

➣  HollyAnn Fletcher 🧨

A half-orc with a firey spirit, Holly-Ann hails from the country of Vargonia, originally coming from a small town out in the sticks. The first time she saw anything related to the arcane it blew her socks off and she quickly found her herself obsessed with the concept of crafting magical items. 

Once she saved up enough gold she said goodbye to her mom and pop and set off to move to a small city near the capital, studying under a wandsmith as an apprentice for the next few years off her life. She’s currently still employed at the shop, titled Rizza’s Wands, her crafting teacher imparting her key tips and tools of the trade. 

During her studies HollyAnn experimented with all sorts of combinations of materials to create new strange wands, building both utter disasters and innovative designs. This caught her teacher’s eye and together with her permission he sent off an application to Prespit Look for her to apply as an exhibitor at its yearly arcane expo. 

Her combination of traditional wand tech with the propulsion of gunpowder greatly intriguing the panel, she was accepted and sets off with a glee to showcase her ideas at the capital, intending to see as much as she possibly can while she’s there. Arriving a few days early she does her most to meet up with as many other exhibitors as she possibly can, of particular import Marina Stellard. Intrigued by her work Marina gives her a guaranteed invite on board the train to depart over the next few days.

➣  Davian Shorns 💦

A self dubbed wizard-in-training, Davian is a nervous mess of an elf but has recently tried to give himself a new lease on life. Following a series of failures at working any other kind of job in his early twenties he finds himself wandering into a library in Prespit Look down on himself looking for any kind of inspiration.

Turning a corner by happenstance he bumps into a man named Ornald carrying a set of books on Evocation magic. After hurried apologies are exchanged, Davian finds himself intrigued by Ornald’s research curiously asking questions all the while. Ornald asks if he’s a wizard himself to which Davian quickly disagrees, Ornald tells him he seems to have a knack for it however and encourages him to pursue his curiosity. Inspired by the conversation Davian throws himself into study while shifting his job search, applying for positions at arcane shops in the area.

Over the next few months he manages to get a handle on the basic aspects of casting spells, while working his job as a storefront hand at a magical supplies shop he once again happens upon Ornald. After exchanging pleasantries, Ornald inspired by his growth invites him to join him aboard the locomotive at the expo in a few months time. Bewildered Davian accepts the offer, terrified but also excited at the prospect of being able to view such a marvel up close. He continues his studies diligently up till the day in an effort to not embarrass Ornald at the event, obsessing and looking for his finest clothes to wear.

➣  Sam Delorne 🚉

An elf with great customer service manner, Sam has known Marina for a few years now living in Prespit Look. Having previously worked as a guardsman for the city, she’s come across her at various arcane events and meetings, seemingly always going on about innovation.

At one point Marina and her chat over a few drinks and form a friendship, a few years down the line Marina out of the blue contacts her to help her put the finishing touches on her invention, as well as to hire her as a conductor-in-training. Flabbergasted Sam asks her why her in particular to which Marina cites her history as a guardsman making her a perfect candidate to handle ushering a crowd. Sam informs her she did little else on the job than patrol really but Marina disagrees and asks her once more.

Finding the idea interesting enough Sam agrees and is brought on board the crew where she meets another conductor-in-training named Lilista. Over the next year working together however she becomes annoyed with the woman’s attitude, eventually she just ends up quietly ignoring almost everything the woman tells her busying herself with setup for expo day. 

➣  Marina Steallard 🚂

An up and coming Artificer and self described Arcane Visionary, Marina has spent much of life immersed in the world of the arcane within Prespit Look. She is often cited as having very outlandish ideas that need to be whittled down to be made at all possible.

Much of her dedication to the creation of her Arcane Locomotive left her little time to look to deeply into the motives of those around her, she accepts whatever shes given without much hesitation. At the very least she is for a while, once the expo draws near and the Randy quits she begins to worry about how flawless her maiden voyage will actually be. Taking this in stride however she keeps her eyes ahead and projects the most confident aura possible, inviting other exhibitors aboard in an effort to showcase her hard work.

> Help What Actually Happened on this Farking Train❓ Timeline

Before Boarding

Koszer and Randy meet a day beforehand and exchange details on the plan, the two will steal another passengers tools and set off an explosion in the boiler cart intending to frame HollyAnn for the crime. At a specified time given to them by Lillista, they will cause the explosion, stopping the train in its tracks. They plan a time to meet and discuss the specifics on-board, Randy giving Koszer a location in one of the dining carts

On the day Sam is knocked out by Lillista, unbeknown-est to Randy and Koszer she boards the train to watch their work firsthand, disguising herself as Sam, bringing the real Sam on board, stowed in the conductor’s cabin. Wanting to observe the fallout with her own eyes she leaves Koszer and Randy to do their work.

On Train

Soon after HollyAnn leaves her cabin to go to the dining cart with Melody, Koszer and Randy break into her cabin and steal her gunpowder and tools. The two them walk to the dining cart to join Davian and Ornald for the moment.

Melody in the dining cart notices an open window in the carriage and quickly makes to leave towards the end of the train back to her cabin, afraid she will begin to transform.

On the way back she finds herself in the moonlight right as the clouds clear, panicking she uses the little time she has to run to the storage cart at the end of the train, breaking it open to trap herself inside for the duration of her transformation in an effort to minimise the damage.

Lillista in the conductors cabin hears the commotion by chance and peers inside, noticing a now transformed Melody going off the shits. She watches intrigued before closing the door again leaving her by herself.

In the meantime Randy and Koszer discretely leave one after another to meet at their disclosed time, however Randy instead heads for the boiler cart, breaking the lock and getting to work at setting off the reactor explosion

Ornald curious where Koszer went, walks down towards the front of the train, searching for him. Not finding him anywhere he continues walking forward before hitting the locked door of the boiler cart. Before he turns back around to head back to the dining cart however he hears suspicious sounds coming from inside.

Now a concerned samaritan he starts working to open the door, shaking the now loose lock and handle. Randy inside hears and panics, thinking Koszer realised his intent to set him up. He quickly moves next to the door, intending to knock him out before he can confront him.

Ornald gets the door open and is immediately attacked by Randy, in the dark the two fumble around aggressively, Ornald’s hat getting knocked off of his head. The two stumble and fall mid-fight next to the reactor, cracking it. At the time Ornald is carrying his Somatic Interpreter on him in his bag and the two collide, the subsequent reaction tears a hole through the planes, causing a small explosion. 

The two are teleported to the end of the train, dumped in their cabin with great force with grievous injuries, sliced through by magic, as the whole train is rocked by a small boom.

Post-Explosion

After the small boom, Lillista grows concerned, it was set off outside the time she specified, additionally it didn't even stop the train from moving. She climbs over the storage cart with Melody inside and hops down to investigate the rest of the train.

Passing by the boys cabin she notices the scene with the two bleeding out, quickly she sees Randy is somehow still conscious and asks him to tell her what happened. He quickly pins the blame on Koszer while he can before he eventually bleeds out, frustrated Lillista wonders what to do. Though she quickly realises a murder on a train is just as good of a way to sabotage a maiden voyage.

With the little time she has she pulls out a knife, intending to mess with the scene enough to frame the previously seen werewolf for the crime. If Koszer killed Randy she’d rather have the time to punish him for it afterwards then get him sent to jail. She gets to work cutting jagged slashes into the room and messing up items laying about.

Satisfied she drops the knife to further implicate the idea of a werewolf on the scene and moves to climb out the window of the cabin back towards the conductors cabin at the end of the train. As she does however the blood on the bottom of her shoes smears across the bottom side of the train.

Soon afterwards Melody returns to her normal form and quickly cleans herself up, she waits a moment before looking outside seeing the full moon has been clouded over again. Seeing that it has she quickly makes to head into her cabin for the rest of the evening but it stopped as she hears a scream, Davian having discovered the bodies. She quickly runs over and joins the scene. 

Soon after she leaves Lillista watches her go, taking note that the werewolf is Melody while hanging on the side of the train. Once she leaves she takes the chance to book it back into the conductor’s cabin through the storage cart. 

Post Body Discovery

Koszer at a loss, is confronted by Lillista who reveals her disguise once she shuffles the rest of the group back to their cabins. She reveals what Randy told her to which he he vehemently denies, she believes him but has already set the crime up to look like Melody committed it and forces him to cooperate. He obliges but soon grows terrified, assuming she was the one who killed him, before she makes him leave the room to join Davian a cabin over she casts a spell to keep Ornald uncoincious. She then heads back to the conductors cart to not appear suspicious

Lillista growing frustrated with the party's antics, heads back to speak with Koszer. Once inside she quickly casts the same spell on Davian before she threatens Koszer again this time casting a spell on him, informing her of whatever words come out of his mouth so she’ll knows if he lets it slip that she framed Melody. She also informs him she wont hesitate to finish the job on Ornald or even get Davian involved if he doesn't comply.

Once shes caught impersonating Sam, Lillista gets fed up and decides to go back to sabotaging the very train itself, they're getting close to her original intended time anyhow. The plan being to have the train explode over the long bridge route above the lake, a fitting spectacle and end in her mind, not at all bothered about the loss of life involved. 

On her way to the front of the train she breaks the window to Cosmo’s cabin, revealing the moonlight on Melody. Soon after she enters her shifted form, Lillista casts a spell dominating her mind to use her as she sees fit.

Once she explodes the boiler room she heads back to where Koszer is, sure hes the one who ratted her out, intent on taking him somewhere he cant run his mouth again before killing him.

> Post-Game Epilogue 📜

The Locomotive Passengers

A days time after the evacuation make camp, help sent from Venscur arrives, bracketed by royal guards. In that time Koszer explains to the party and the others involved what he knows of Lillista’s deeds and intentions. Marina thinks for a good long minute before deciding shes going to keep his involvement from the guardsmen, shocked he asks her why, along with everyone else present to which she shrugs and says ‘dont worry about it!’. Koszer is noted to almost pass out at her statement, Davian as well though more so from the previous information dump.

In Vesncur the city contacts Prespit Look and informs them of the locomotive’s destruction and in tandem with reigning governor, make preparations to move the evacuation party the rest of the way to Venscur. 

During the trek, taking about 4 days time, the party and key individuals are questioned one by one on the events that occurred by royal guardsman. Lillista is officially detained before being sent to a high security jail in the capital for her crimes in the other direction.

Along the way Ornald finally wakes much to Koszer’s relief, unable to contain himself he floods him about all the information about his past in embarrassing fashion in front of the medical help. Marina quickly attempts to hush him so so he does not implicate himself further.

Melody is also woken and questioned, particularly by Cosmo. Ascertaining she wasn't in fact involved in the murder or the train’s sabotage he becomes conflicted. A day later he subtly engineers an opportunity for her to escape her cart and the guardsman in the middle of the night, disappearing without a sound. On his report later to his superiors at the Hooks he tells them that unfortunately even his keen eye apparently couldn't keep that close a watch over her, before immediately requesting a vacation. 

Once the evacuation group arrive in Venscur they're given a strict gag rule by the royal guardsman, directly from the reigning monarchs. Word of such an innovation being such a disaster would tarnish not only the expo but the capitals’ good name. The Gordeau Dominion instead publicly state that the locomotive simply stalled in its journey, and that stricter inspections will be placed on its next voyage. 

Marina is commended for her leadership overseeing the evacuation but the kingdom does not invoice her any finances to rebuild the locomotive. Reluctantly she must build her beauty all over again. 

The Party

Soon after arriving in Venscur the party are officially recognised by the Dominion for their heroic efforts aboard the train. In exchange for being unable to speak of it publicly or have a celebration held for their efforts, they are instead given official badges of honour by the reigning monarchs, though not in person. The badges allow them free board and food from any guards station in any city or town within the country, recognised as having done a great service for the Dominion. Soon after the party find themselves officially released from questioning and once again find themselves to roam as they wish.

The Hooks

After reporting their efforts, the hooks in particular are lauded by their superiors for going above and beyond their stated missive. The boss sends for the group and those involved to have a significant pay raise, in addition to a surplus of 10,000 gold each, appreciative for their thoroughness in documenting the events at hand.