[WFRP2e] The Power of One - Part 2 - "Transire Benefaciendo"

[BananaPhone]

Taalia Giovanni

And just like that, Bella Collina became a small dot in the rear-view mirror before disappearing entirely.

Up here one was given a grand, sweeping view of the countryside, the wind pressing against Taalia's face as her steel helm was snugly sitting upon her head. Behind her was Bella, her best friend who was smartly dressed in clothes that made her seem like some type of explorer which, in a way, she was. It was very likely that the mad creation of Cestie was the first powered air-borne long distance flight performed by humans over any significant mileage, and Bella, though not an engineer or contraption-minded, was a part of that. Indeed, when they had taken off to the waving adulation of the town, Taalia had felt the ground move away from her feet and the free skies open up above, and her mind returned to those crows she had spotted in the forest when she had first escaped the Skaven, squawking their hidden opinions to each other before taking off to soar in complete freedom to where-ever they chose. Now she too had been given that same freedom, and as the world became both larger and smaller far beneath her and the great open blue of the sky was her highway, the shepardess snuck a look over her shoulder at Bella and offered her a bright grin.

The first day of flight was thankfully uneventful. Though some might find it anti-climactic, Taalia was relieved. There were no problems, no torn gears or broken parts, no ignominious and sudden end to their historical great adventure that saw them plummet out of the sky to certain doom pancaked across the uncaring earth. No no. They had flown into the air, across the great blue and then touched down near The Pigly for one final little shindig with the halflings, towards whom Taalia was rather fond. She stood protectively near the machine, sharing Cestie's instincts of not wanting it to be left alone to the wandering hands of the curious, before they eventually settled for the night on the small farm of a widower whose final years now had this extraordinary story to share. Taalia and Bella happily put the kitchen and its ingredients for work, for as much their hosts sake as their own. Though a degree of rations had been brought along as supplies in case they went down on the periphery of civilization, it was the type of bread-like hardtack that one would prefer to use only in an emergency. Thus, when given access to a stocked cookery, the girls whipped up a large, shareable bowl of creamy, mushroom gnocci and chicken Bolognese with sides of fireplace crisped garlic bread.

It was a shame that they did not touch down in Verezzo. As they sailed past, but safely out of missile weapon reach, Taalia smiled to herself when she saw the patched up hole in the wall marring the face of The Tower, knowing that that had been her handiwork. That she would then land into the town within a unique and miraculous flying machine, two memorable events in one year...well, the might just think she was showing off now.

The following night was much more rural in their respite, with the group touching down in an open field that was flat enough to permit take off the next day. A tent was erected, a fire created with a couple of the hardtacks being crumbled up into boiling water and joined with honey to create a simple, but nice-enough tasting porridge-like meal that they enjoyed under the quiet stars of Remas. Heeding Cestie's tale about the Arabyans out-maneuvering the Remans in a legend-crafting battle made Taalia ponder about the situation, her mind asking questions like why the Remans didn't have cavalry of their own or missile troops that could pick the larger mounted targets off and dull their attack. Whatever the case, their failure had resulted in a dark day of defeat and further plunder of the land. Arabyans - Taalia had never heard of them. As if the pirates, orcs, goblins, skaven and trolls were bad enough, now there were raids by these Arabyans too? It certainly was an incredibly dangerous world. Taalia looked over at her guns safely stored on the flying contraption and felt a little more secure.

When the trio touched down again the following day and were in the warm graces of a welcoming older couple whom would host their contraption within their barn, Taalia was smiles and gratitude as always, offering either her own services for any tasks around the house (such as cooking, animal care etc) while Bella likely did similarly with her skills as a seamstress. However, the more pressing matter of repair and maintenance was soon brought to the shepardess' attention, as Cestie pulled her aside to display the crack on a wooden strut that had to be repaired, lest the next flight be the final chapter on their tale. Hearing what must be done, Taalia turned to look at Bella.

"Fancy a trip to Remas, then?"

Taalia would withdraw her armor from storage and don it. Following this, both her pistols were placed into their holsters on her hips, her shield across her shoulders and over her backpack, Daybreak sheathed, a dagger in her boot and Leonardo held in her hands. Taalia's angular face was accentuated by the steel helm resting on her crown, as she peered out from under the rim with her attentive, large heterochromia eyes. Next to Bella, she looked like a bodyguard escorting a lady of eccentric and indelicate attire.