#abhesk

The robbery, termed a “rightful seizure” by the thieves, was carried out at the Vyukhalh Counting-House three days ago. A wagon loaded with explosive material placed against the building's exterior was set alight, causing the device within to detonate. This brought down a sizeable portion of the Counting-House's wall, allowing ingress to the vault within; additionally, two passersby were killed by the detonation and a handful of others were wounded. A gang of four thieves rushed to enter the vault, while three others rushed the door of the building and assaulted the guards, who were recovering from the shock of the explosion. While the guards were thus occupied, the thieves within seized as much currency as they could carry, along with assorted valuables, and cast incendiary devices upon the rest. All four thieves made good their escape, pausing atop the rubble to declare their act a “righteous seizure of funds, for the cause of agitation!”. Two of their confederates engaged in assaulting the guards likewise escaped, while the third was wounded grievously by a truncheon-blow and died shortly thereafter. While fleeing the site of their crime, the gang were heard to shout agitationist slogans, reported as “we strike this blow for agitation!”, “Solidarity with the Nomadeers”, “The Popular Executive lives!”, and “Mutiny!”. Due to the disorienting nature of the explosion upon the senses of the witnesses I suspect it reasonable to doubt that all of these were uttered in the process of escaping, though the general impression of the statements may be considered as accurate.

These are the facts of the case as generally understood, and as reported in the press.

In the course of my investigation, I have uncovered the following additional facts:

The thief slain at the Counting-House was identified as Keryen Afall, of The Bolt district. This individual was known to me personally, and to several other bailiffs. Afall was a known member of the Rubble tendency, militantly opposed to agitation. During the recent insurrection his brother was killed, allegedly at the hands of LPE enforcers. His place of work was also destroyed, depriving him of his steady and prosperous employment as a printer's assistant and causing him to rely on casual labour, for which his temperament was ill-suited.

Informants among the city's few remaining agitationist cells professed zero knowledge of this action; when questioned under significant inducement, none seemed to be aware of the theft's planning or operational detail.

According to our understanding, the few agitationists remaining in Lansk lack the ability or equipment to carry out actions on this scale, and since the insurrection have taken pains to avoid unnecessary deaths of groundsfolk. I consulted with the security office of the Valdjin Company, the operators of the Counting-House, and their understanding of the agitationists' current standing agrees with ours.

The Rubble tendency are likewise unlikely to have access to the materials required to carry out this act, being primarily engaged in street violence and counter-agitationist disruption.

The conclusions that must be drawn from this are:

This theft was most likely not the work of agitationists.

The action was carried out by at least one person affiliated with the Rubble tendency.

It is probable that it was carried out with assistance of a third party; the only actors capable of supplying these means are a Trading Company; either the Valdjini attempting some complex scheme or a rival company attempting a covert blow against Valdjini interests.

My investigation will continue.

In the aftermath of this debacle, Otvev and Vilv have cancelled their municipal contracts with us. Our routes to the East have been dogged by attacks, seemingly from free traders. I suspect the Valdjini and Eltjini may be the originators of these aggressions, either through employing proxies or disguising their own vessels. As well as these cowardly acts unbecoming of civilized trade, many believe the Valdjini and Eltjini Commissions are close to declaring outright open war upon the Company, with the backing of Vilv, Otvev, and many of the smaller companies. Public opinion among the groundsfolk has turned against us in these cities, though our support in Mirsvr and Zhikav remains steadier.

These events have caused significant disruptions to our TransOlyen and Hoitani offices – as well being unable to supply our Depots adequately, investors are beginning to doubt the security of the enterprises carried out in those regions, and their wavering confidence compounds our difficulties in addressing the material causes of their concerns.

Upon your arrival at my estate, I request that you begin to outfit the Fasaathi with whatever you may require for an extended cruise in the TransOlyen region. Supplies have been procured and my staff have been instructed to assist you to their greatest extent. I have arranged a line of credit to purchase any further necessary material from the city. Latest intelligence and reports will be made available to you; begin planning your operations. If I am not present I will join you at my earliest convenience to furnish you with further details and instructions.

Our investment in you was not insignificant, and we expect it will continue to deliver.

Yours,

Alett, Finance Board Eastern Office Representative

We came to these lands from abroad – it is not known where exactly from. Some believe that one of the distant lands of Ycairn is the place of our origin, but most agree that we came from another world. Traditional belief across much of the continent holds that we came from the Sun itself, but others believe our origin is from Fasaath, or Kombyeny, or another point within the night sky.

We Abheski are an industrious, creative, and innovative people. Having tamed patches of the wild expanse of the lands, building towns and farms and trading posts, the most successful and prosperous of our ancestors founded the five great cities – Zhikav, Vilv, Otvev, Mirsvr, and Lansk.

Though we live alongside other peoples, we hold ourselves apart. The Abheski have distinguished ourselves twice by mastery over the skies – first, in building the mighty towers that soar over our cities. Some of these towers are centuries old, and stand strong to this day, the least of them stretching higher than fifty people. In the last few generations, our supremacy over the air was proven again in being the first nation to recreate the science of powered flight; our ships, lifted by mighty dvint, broke us free from the shackles of the land.

Trade is the blood of the Abheski culture. Spread across this harsh and hostile continent, ever taming the ancient forests and defending against the great beasts, our trade is what makes the Abheski prosper above all other people; and the Companies are the pinnacle of Abheski trade. Not restricted to one province, we can deal in goods from across the known world. Not bound to the paths of the rivers and coastlines, we can go anywhere our airships can carry us. Abheski goods are prized from the tents of the Anshessi to the outposts of Hoitan, and if an Ebwari baron wants to exchange letters or goods with a Nalmyan chief, it is most probable that an Abheski vessel will carry their intercourse.

There are other practices that mark us as a peculiar peoples among our neighbours. All nations have their own calendar of celebrations and holidays, and the most important of ours is The Yearsrise festival. Though we differ on which precise day this takes places, Abheski always celebrate the end and beginning of the year around the time of winter solstice. Other peoples reckon the year differently: the Erthani begin at the spring equinox, and the Ebwari count from the height of summer. Other nations practice more curious calendars yet.

Our other important festivals are the First Feast, which in ancestral times celebrated the first hunt after each winter; and the late summer Meetday, where the harvest traditionally begins and the year's differences and disagreements are put aside.

Each city and town observe their Founding Dates. These may variously remember the day the first settlers began to build their new homes, or the day the first Spire was finally completed, but always are celebrated with great revels and public entertainments.

Though we are all Abheski, we may have slight differences in our speech. The rapid speech of a city-dweller may sound different to the calmer pace of a settler from the deep forest; the clipped vowels of Otvev are readily distinguished from the rounder syllables of Zhikav; the plain words of the groundsfolk contrast with the florid oratory of the wealthy classes. All these however are still Abheski, and can readily talk to one another; just try to understand the harsh Hoitani or the singing cadences of the Ebwari to hear how truly different language can sound.

I have facilitated your Abheski practices in this land. When my father balked at adopting your methods of business, I replaced him and in doing so our mutual prosperity has increased manyfold.

Now your Abheski business has brought your Abheski troubles to my operation. By my native customs, this cannot be borne. By your customs I have adopted, this cannot be borne! As an esteemed partner in commerce, as a shareholder, I insist upon your aid. The contribution of my efforts to the company's fortunes are no lesser than those of many a Spires-born merchant or business agent. I demand the treatment due to me in protecting my interests and those of the Company.

Attempting to use my own forces to quell this agitation nearly triggered a mutiny. Desertion has since reduced the numbers of my force to a scant handful. We are rendered unable to impose order upon the workers. Our factories yet stand but my stockhouses, left unprotected, have been looted and burned. Let not this outrage go unpunished!

A detachment of Marines and the batteries of a vessel shall be sufficient to crush this uprising. Our commerce can resume with greatest haste once we have excised the agitationist elements from the population.

The agitation began as a strike in a Valdjin company foundry.

The Valdjini leadership failed to supress the strike swiftly, and were indeed seeking to reach accomodation with the agitationists.

What began as a strike turned to violence; several Valdjini officers, a number of bailiffs and Valdjini marines, as well as unknown local workers and citizens, have been killed by the agitationists.

A traitorous cadre of Temari aviators and marines uninvolved in the dispute were convinced to join the anarchy, and in doing so murdered their Captain, Sakhila Pofyan. Their seized vessel was turned over to the control of the agitationists.

It is clear that agitation cannot be met with diplomacy. Neither accomodation nor debate will satisfy the aims of those who slay factory-owners and -workers alike, and claim to seek justice in doing so. In submitting to the demands of strikers, the Valdjini leadership in Otvev submitted to their own execution, and sentenced Captain Pofyan among other innocents to the same fate. This cowardly surrender to tyranny is the ultimate aim of agitation.

Lest the agitationists fashion the noble city of Otvev into another shattered Lansk, it is imperative that action be taken immediately to crush this occupation. In the name of decency and prosperity, in the memory of the martyred Captain Pofyan, the Cities must quell this movement. Those Companies capable of resisting the agitation must act against all strikers and anarchist agents.

I was in the unenviable position of providing a necessary product to the citizens of the district, and so I was forced to deal with the Executive and the self-appointed tyrants of the Supply Committe. I had no wish to support or validate their actions, but had less wish for the innocent population to starve! Thus, with no small distaste, I continued to produce bread with grain supplied by the Executive, to be distributed by the Executive, even at times relying on workers assigned by the Executive. Collaboration it was not, Muzhits, as it was performed under duress and only out of necessity.

Regardless, when the bailiffs and the Companies took back the District, I could easily have been accused of treachery, were it not for my bakery being shut down for lack of material. A scarce two days prior, I had a cart of grains stolen from my yard, the very last in the city that I could secure. I could not prove the author of this outrage, though I know it to have been on behalf of Pivan. That scoundrel has not been seen since the night of the battle, when his brewery was destroyed. The loss of that brew is a sore blow to Lansk; the man shall not be mourned so deeply. Nevertheless, this theft proved fortunate, as I had to suspend operation and thus the Company had no basis to accuse me of collaboration with agitators on that first day, a day of brutal reprisal.

I said, however, circumstances have not improved. Supply is still disrupted, as despite the collapse of the barricades, the Erthani no longer trade here and the Companies are struggling to deliver supplies sufficient to our needs. Many of my workers have fled or been arrested – good dependable men and women, who I never suspected of agitation in years of employment, are nowhere to be found. Those who remain are often without homes, or grievously injured, or seeking better employment than the wages I can promise on such meager trade. A new Temari agent has been deployed to distribute capital in aid of reconstruction, but I like her not. It's said she was a Licence-Prospector, and a brute. Whether this is true I cannot confirm, but despite abundant rumours of her rough conduct, she has taken on many clients and partners among my fellow business owners. I hope I will not need to resort to her aid.

You no doubt heard of the slaying of Chief Bailiff te Eintov, your fellow son of Mirsvr. I never thought to ask, did you know him? I can only hope the new appointee Akhirin Sarta will not repeat te Eintov's mistakes. The zeal he has shown in the first days of his office exceeds what is required – raids of businesses and homes are commonplace, carried out upon the least suspicion, and far more brutal than is wise. Though I have not been subjected to Sarta's attentions yet I fear that any day he may come, he and his bailiffs backed by Temari marines.

As you see, Muzhits, my siutation is dire, perhaps as dire as ever it was beneath the agitators. I know not of your situation, owing to our isolation from business matters, but I ask you – any spare capital you may have to lend me, or other assistance you could render, would be a great boon to an old friend in need. A stake in my business is forthcoming, should this be favourable, and my gratitude will be a surer bond still. I await your reply, and hope to hear of your continued success and prosperity.

Your friend,

Nolfe is acting out of compassion and concern for those in the cities struggling against the increasing control the Companies wield over all affairs; a compassion I share in no small part. Who can see another toiling under unfair conditions and not hope for their relief? Such reports of agitation as have reached our town are received only with sympathy and agreement for their cause. But we are not placed in this struggle, and our responsibilities are to our own people.

I was not the first to speak in objection to the Agent's proposal, but I spoke at length, and by the volume of support received I was considered chief among those objecting. I outlined my opposition as follows:To break contract with the Company would be to invite legal penalty, and would bring greater scrutiny on the existing trade conducted outside the terms of our contracts. We have an obligation to this town and to those in our outlying farms and villages to represent them most fairly and profitably; suddenly breaking contract with the Temari will disrupt our ability to sell their produce and provide them with the supplies and goods they require. The independent vessels are low in numbers, and there are scant few who are not beholden to the Companies in some form, be it loans or exclusive contracts.

Agent Nolfe was elected to represent this town and its surroundings, and has done so admirably in all the years she has held office. In this instance she has troubled herself overmuch with the concerns of those beyond her reach; however noble her intentions, she cannot ignore the responsibilities of her office.

Well, I'd not been on the crew half a year when we got a contract to fly way out West, where few Abheski ever traded, but this one town was hacking out a living in the shadow of a smoking mountain – oh yes, those are real too, even the scribblers in their offices won't tell you otherwise. They were convinced they'd find gold, picking away at the ground like some godless Anshessi beneath this smoking brute of a mountain – it smoked and spewed all year long, a great dirty crag rearing into the air, not like those slumbering hills in TransOlyen that spit once in a lifetime!

We'd flown far beyond the routes any of you have ever taken, and twice as far again, before we found this tired little camp. We spent barely a day there before turning and coming back again. Our navigator, senseless drunk on what must have been all the brandy those poor miners had stored away, led us straight into the smoke plume from the burning mountain and we got turned every way, blind to all compasses and charts. One and all the crew coughed and spluttered and retched the sick atmoshpere, until the lookout recovered enough to sound the alarm – another vessel, her signals bright and guiding us from the smoke. We gathered ourselves enough to fly towards them to safety – and never was a greater mistake made in all the history of flight.

It's just as you've heard it described – if not worse, for no uncle scaring his nephews or master scolding his charges could truly tell the horrific sight of the Basking Maw. A hull as black as night, somehow sucking your eye to it. Though it was full noon, the sky all around was darker for its presence. Bristling with ragged and fierce batteries, gaping holes promising destruction no lesser than the mouth of that smoking mountain. Its dvint leaving an oily wake in the sky, hanging clear behind it as though untouched by current or cloud.

We turned and fled as fast as any vessel I've ever crewed, and I've crewed them all! The Basking Maw hung behind us all the way, never straining though we pushed our vessel for all it was worth. Jettisoning all the cargo, packing in our few batteries, every prayer every aviator could offer, and yet the Basking Maw hung astern, never falling a handsbreadth further behind no matter what speed we set.

Four days and four nights we raced ahead of the evil craft; not a hand among us slept a minute in all that time, and that, at last, was what brought our downfall. The captain ordered us to ride the edge of a storm, hoping we could lose our pursuers, but the exhausted crew could not match the violence of the winds, and we lost control, tossed asunder, pulled into the heart of the storm and finally cast into the valley below.

Those of us who survived huddled in the cabins and the hold, gripping our pikes and axes lest Grey Baurin and his crew descend to snatch us away, the storm raging without all the while.

And Grey Baurin never came. Whether the Basking Maw was finally put away by the storm, or the deaths of half the crew satisfied their thirst for violence, who can ever tell? When the storm blew over in another half a day, the Basking Maw was no longer in our wake.

After burning the captain and the hands, and burying the navigator and damning him as a fool, we picked ourselves up and began the long flight back to Zhikav. Most of the crew never signed on again, and didn't fly another day in their lives. The vessel was scrapped the following year and as for myself, I've never ventured further west than the Lenla since.