Legend of Ransera

The planning phase of the expedition was in full swing, and Brenner had begun the vetting process as he sought out a few stalwart patriots of the State to fill out the complement. He'd already enlisted his core group, but that was a foregone conclusion. He'd always envisioned embarking on this mission with his brother and his best friend at his side. He wasn't even sure he could do it without them. They had their own teams to assemble, but beyond the science team and the reconciliation team, security was the main priority.

The Warrens were notoriously treacherous and they would never achieve their goal if they couldn't survive its dangers. Brenner might not have thought of Myles Arnnett, if not for bumping into him at the opening night gala of the Riverland Festival. The Air Commander couldn't recall the last time he'd seen the younger soldier prior to that social outing. He was sure it couldn't have been as far back as their year of overlap at the academy, but the youth seemed to be coming into his own in another branch of the Zaichaeri military than Brenner's own. There was no telling whether he'd be the sort of man to suit the peculiar, top secret task Brenner was in the process of devising, but that was why Commander Dornkirk had set up a simple, social engagement to feel the man out, before taking him seriously as a candidate for the endeavour to come.

He took a sip of the rich, smooth ale in the tankard before him and signaled for the old barwench, Helga, to approach.

"Do you have the time?" He inquired with an arched brow,

"Comin' up on seven in the evening." She replied gruffly, checking his glass and finding it too full to bother with. She grunted and moved on, and Brenner smiled. Myles should be there any moment. He tilted his head toward the front door, and wiped a bit of foam from his top lip with a jacket sleeve.

Meetings, appointments, dates to remember, all things he'd grown accustomed to as a officer, as a soldier he'd tried to keep it to just current orders. Now however he was becoming like his elder brothers attending parties and rubbing elbows. Not that every aspect of it was detestable, he'd found his palette for alcohol was expanding along with his tolerance for the stuff. Todays appointment was a surprise one, an invitation to drinks with Brenner Dornkirk, he'd met the man in past a few times, most recently a gala, and heard of his exploits with the Air defense in passing a few more times than that.

Having the time to do so he again donned his officers blacks, one of his nicer work uniforms he'd been assigned by the quarter master. It was more comfortable and less flashy than his red uniform making it nice for casual assignments as well as the occasional urban recon. It didn't take him long to find the address he'd been given, his familiarity with the nicer parts of town betraying his lineage. Opening a door to an unfamiliar tavern with familiar furnishing Myles sighed at the smell of slightly nicer stale liquor and polished timber. Letting his eyes wander the room he quickly found the man who'd called him here.

Giving the man a curt nod Myles allowed himself a thin congenial smile. “You look well as always Sir Dornkirk.” Striding to the bar the man looked to the elderly bartender he kept his smile “nicest whiskey or rum you have thanks, and one of whatever the commander is having” Seating himself as he waited for the drinks he ordered he looked back to the commander his eyes searching the well bred officer for some insight into his intent for this meeting. “Not that your company alone isn't fine, but if I might be blunt, I'd like to know what you'd have of me so I don't have to drink slowly and puzzle you out.” Smirking at the man he hoped that Brenner could appreciate his manner of frankness.

Brenner rose from his barstool at the sound of Myles' voice, and turned to offer him a proper Zaichaeri handshake.

"Glad to hear the old façade is holding up." He offered with a chuckle so it would be apparent that his self-deprecating humour was little more than parody. "And you look quite well also, Sir Myles." As the younger man sidled up and placed his order, Brenner regarded the exchange and reclaimed his seat.

"Just a Gelerian schnapps for me." He said, with an absent rap of his knuckles against the bartop. He still had the better part of a full ale, but if the young Mr. Arnnett was going to drink spirits, Brenner would not let him do so alone.

"Ah..." Brenner sniggered good-naturedly at the candour, "Well, I appreciate your directness. That's a good trait in a man of Zaichaer, in my estimation." He cleared his throat and shifted in his seat, so he was facing Myles at a diagonal.

"The truth of the matter is, I am vetting a few good men to work with me on a private project. Something that will serve the State in the long-term and help to address certain... Inconveniences we, as a people, have been forced to face over the years." Not exactly the bluntness Myles might have sought, but it was more revealing than he'd intended to be before they'd so much as toasted each other.

"So, I suppose, I invited you here in hopes of getting a better idea what manner of man Myles Arnnett is. Now-" He reached for his glass of schnapps as soon as it alighted on the bartop, and clasped his fingers about the vessel.

"If you'll indulge me a bit- What did you make of the Kalzasern diplomatic visit to Zaichaer, last season? I'm sure you heard plenty about the travails we underwent as a result of their time in our fair city?" He held his glass aloft, but didn't draw it to his lips- Waiting, instead, for Myles to pick up his own tumbler.

"Hail Zaichaer." He suggested as a perfunctory toast, tilting his glass toward the younger man.

Closing the distance between them Myles returned the man's candor with a firm handshake as he heard him out, as the blue blood spoke he looked him over pondering the man's intent and station. He had all the fine traits of Zaichaeri lineage and carried himself with the dignity of one with kings blood. His frankness bellied a comfortable confidence that came with his station. Myles found it harder not to like the airman the more he spoke.

“Hail Zaichaer”


Myles raised his glass and allowed the liquor to flow across his tongue savoring its pleasant bite and the warmth it filled his stomach with. Myles let himself savor the drink using his exaggerated enjoyment give him a moment to ponder Brenner's candid answer to his front. A thin smile played across the corporals mouth, he was oft one to keep his cards close to his chest but the mention of the recent diplomatic efforts with Kalzasi made it hard for him to hide the malice those thoughts incurred.


“That... Diplomat, if you want to call him that had a confidence and bluster about him that leads me to believe that... He is either a fool bluffing, or something I fear we would be hard pressed to combat.”

It was hard not to have heard of that whole fiasco and the clout that Kalzasian had thrown about so boldly in the face of the Zaichaeri. Such disrespect going unpunished filled Myles with bitterness.

“The longer I serve Zaichaer and combat it's enemies the more it becomes evident that the truest monsters we face are those touched by the eather, and our lack of ability to combat it. The fact that we must use mages ourselves and allow our brethren to bear those cursed marks so that we might have a chance at combating the evils this world raises against us is saddening.”

Rapping his knuckles against the bar Myles awaited another drink and took a moment to gather his thoughts so as to not ramble as he was prone too, particularly at times he shouldn't.

“I have seen what the enemies weakest troops have to offer us, and I fear that the cults we already face are only growing stronger. Zaichaer needs new answers to these new problems, preferably one that makes a statement that will make them fear our name.”

Realizing he was beginning to posture he closed his mouth abruptly.

“Forgive me, I've spent too much time with my men and it's made me speak without much tact”

Brenner absently rolled the empty shot glass between his thumb, index and middle fingers as Myles replied to his open prompt. Slowly the friendly smile he wore waxed impish, as it became increasingly apparent that Myles was his sort of bloke. Right from the outset of his reply, the handsome youth was barely attempting to conceal the scorn he bore for Talon and his troupe. The more he spoke, the more flagrant the disdain grew.

"Splendid." He replied, silently- more to himself than in response to Myles. He placed the empty glass aside, and placed that hand on Myles' shoulder as he locked eyes with him.

"You have it exact, Arnnett. Having spent time in the presence of that creature and its coterie alerted me to novel terrors. As the tension between our two realms proliferates, so does Kalzasi's power. Talon wields a level of Kraft I haven't seen since the tragic events of Glade the 8th... Perhaps his puissance is even greater than that of the vile witch who perpetrated that atrocity.

"With all this in mind, Arnnett, it became apparent to me that Zaichaer needs a secret weapon of its own to combat such a power." He leaned in and lowered his voice, "And I'm certain you've noticed even here in Zaichaer the mages we suffer to dwell amongst us are getting... Shall we say, uppity?" He cocked an eyebrow,

"I spoke with one of our own Reconciliators whose views on magic and mages seemed aberrant to say the least. He seemed to suggest that the State's strictures have grown too severe and that they are like to rise up, well..." Brenner slapped the bar top, "To that, I pose an old Gelerian saying-... Do you speak Kathalan, Arnnett?" The Air Commander continued in the guttural tongue of his distaff relations, as he quoth:

"If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.”

Myles's slight smile gave way to grin as Brenner spoke he'd met many a nationalist in his time in the military, but none who discussed the idiosyncrasies of the Zaichaeri using magic. He wasn't wrong in his statements that the mages were growing unrulier, both ally and enemy alike. When Brenner finished his short briefing of his intents Myles couldn't help but be taken by the visions of a weapon to end mages the Airmen conjured before him. When he switched tongue and spoke to Myles saying. "If an injury has to be done to a man it should be so severe that his vengeance need not be feared.” Myles nodded grinning seeing exactly where the man was going. So in turn he spoke in Kathalon back to Brenner, “Indeed, it is better to be feared than loved if you cannot be both.”

Taking a moment to absorb all that he'd been told Myles contemplated the future the man was proposing and wondered what the catch must be for such glory. His life would no doubt be put in great peril by the charming commander before him, with that in mind, life was giving him an opportunity he'd already been clambering for, to pass it up for fear of loss of limb and life was petty in comparison to what they stood to gain if he was being told the truth.

Composing himself before his imagination ran ahead of him he let out a long breath forming a few questions in his mind. “What is the nature of this weapon, and forgive me in saying this, but something this good must have a horrible cost to it, or be of rumored nature if the state hasn't already moved to claim it. It almost sounds too good to be true, at least these are my thoughts.” watching the man thoughtfully Myles already wanted to follow the man on whatever quest or search he might propose if his imagination was not getting ahead of him. He just hoped the man's words were grounded in something solid.

"Spot on, old boy." Brenner agreed with a firm nod. It was pleasant to learn that Myles was also familiar with Gelerian wisdom. There were many such sayings in the Imperium- Almost one to suit any situation.

Brenner glanced about their immediate surroundings as Myles posed his questions.

"Cogent queries all, Corporal Arnnett, but you'll forgive me if I'm a bit cagey for the nonce. We don't know one another terribly well, though I very much appreciate the cut of your jib..." Brenner ran his tongue over his top teeth in the pause that followed that sentiment. He eyed the younger man up and down, as if appraising him in an altogether new light.

"Suffice it to say, the quarry that my party will seek is a novel notion... I stumbled across some old texts a few seasons back which sent me down a rabbit hole of research. What we seek to do, Arnnett, is to make forgotten legends into present and potent realities. We are not the first nation in Ransera to loathe magic and the imbalance it creates in our world." He paused to take a sip of his spirit and to chase it with his ale.

"Nor are we the first to recognise that sorcery is stunting the growth and abounding promise of our race." He wiped at his lips with the back of one, pale hand. "If not for the obstacle of witchcraft, I believe humankind would rise to new heights and all would be forced to acknowledge us as the ruling race of Ransera. Zaichaer is the only nation that would not be crippled if magic should suddenly disappear from the world. Nae, indeed, we would excel the more for its absence. Even the Imperium cannot boast such a claim." He smiled faintly as his eyes turned to regard the delicate facial features of the corporal at his side.

"What do you make that, Corporal? Would you fain live to see such a world?"

Listening as Brenner deflected his questions and continued his pitch Myles couldn't help but wonder if the man's lip service had allowed him to climb to his rank as quickly as he had. Honeyed words like his would have most nationalists throwing their money towards whatever he was planning. Myles himself wasn't immune to such appealing rhetoric. Accepting that he wouldn't have any further questions answered this evening he resolved to hear the man out in the future and throw his lot with him.

“A magic free world, or at the very least, a magic free Zaichaer, truly noble goals. I have cannot say that it would be a easy or bloodless transition, but, the best medicines are often the most unpleasant.” Drumming fingers on the bar Myles pondered the intentions that truly lit Brenner's ambitions. He blazed so brightly that it made it hard to see the man's potential shadows. Between the alcohol and the patriotism Myles was far too invested to allow such doubts to prevent him from embarking on an adventure that might change history.

“Regardless, you've convinced me, I cannot begin to imagine, what it is this will entail, but frankly if worst comes to worst I avoided countless patrols to go on a wild goose chase. Given the quality of the company it seems i'd be in, I think it'd well worth the time, and well. In the best case scenario It would be a crowning military achievement.”

Awaiting Brenner's response to his decision to join him Myles began to ponder the scale of what it was he was getting into. The possibility of his death rejected he allowed the liquid courage good liquor gave bolster his confidence and imagination. He wasn't usually one to get lost in the revelry of something that had yet to come to pass, but it was hard to not entertain the idea of returning a decorated hero.

"Well, at the very least it's a good starting point..." Brenner acknowledged, inclining his head. "Humanity is due for a growth spurt and we've too long been handicapped by the menace of magic." There were other obstacles to surmount, if humankind was to rise to their rightful place as the uncontested rulers of Ransera, but magic was doubtless the most potent. Moreover, the arcane nuisance bled into most, if not all, of those other matters and bolstered the accompanying problems. It was an intricate web, but one which needed tearing down.

"Indeed. Sacrifices must be made." He sighed heavily, "Though I take no pleasure in the bloodshed, I know that these are prices that must be paid for the good of the majority. Even those who don't realise they will be benefited and stand athwart our goals will be elevated by our righteous endeavours. And those who must be cast down..." He considered Talon. He might have liked the man, if man he were. He hadn't been what Brenner had expected when they'd met, but that was part and parcel to the danger he represented. Were he an overt tyrant he would be that much easier to overpower. "...are those who would blithely upend our civilisation for their own convenience."

He sat upright, smiling brightly- almost boyishly at Myles' acceptance.

"Splendid!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands together once. "I am sorry I cannot be more specific about the details, given our current surroundings, but we'll have you to the Windworks in the next week or two to go over the specifics and introduce you to some other members of the team." Of course Brenner would have Myles further vetted in intervening days, but he had a good feeling about the man. He couldn't put his finger on what it was that disarmed him, but there was something about the lad.

With the prospects of a noble campaign before him Myles had to reign in his imagination. If there was ever a chance to live up to the dreams story books can plant in one’s soul it was one such as this. Brenner seemed to be the sort of man that could lead an army into hell and make everyone feel like that was a good idea. Still it took that kind of charm to be successful, and he was willing to gamble on the man.

“I look forward to serving under such a good conversationalist, while I adore my companions in the defense corps I fear that they are… lacking in both interest and inclination when It comes to discussing the future of our country, it is good to see you airmen are keeping you goals among the stars.”

Raising a final glass of the fiery liquor Brenner seemed to favor Myles grinned. “Zum Wohl” He toasted nodding to the man he’d be entrusting his life to in the near future. Visions of heroics dancing in his head fueled by alcohol. “If there is anything you need of me, do ask it, Until then I’ll prepare in every way the military taught me. I’ll be bringing my second, a young soldier named Jonah, a bit of a sassy tongue comes with him, but his spear is sharper, and he takes orders.” At a loss for more words Myles wasn’t really sure what to say to the airmen, tho they both bore blue blood, Brenner wore his far better, there was simply an air of confidence about him that marked him as someone who could lead. For his own part Myles was comfortable with tactics and keeping his men alive, but Brenner was the sort that kept men loyal. Setting his glass back on the bar Myles grinned satisfied with the outcome of this meeting of similar minds.