Arcanum: Of Anna and Elsa Obscura

Authors notes: "Arcanum: of steamworks and magic obscura" is an RPG from Troika games, released around the year 2001. Troika has been dissolved for a while now, but you can still find the game itself for download in various places.

Dealing with the strange interactions of magic and technology, I thought it was a fair game. Very open to different ways of doing things. From standard hack, shoot, and lightning bolt your way through everything, to speak softly and sneak about, to being really convincing that "Yes I'm supposed to be here. Don't mind me." the game offered a bunch of different ways around every situation. And it was awesome. Definite recommend for you old school rpg'rs to hunt down. Its 2d, but its good 2d. kinda clunky on the UI though.

So this story came as a random idea as I was reading through some steam punk articles and fanfics. And kind of gestated in my head for a bit, before hitting me with a big stick at work.

Seems like a lot of my story ideas work like that.

So, issues. Number one is this may or may not be another Elsanna. I don't know. For those of you who have read "of Ice and Dragons: rewritten", you may note that I have stated a distaste of elsanna. I think I need to elaborate. I don't find Elsaana to be bad if well written. And specifically not incest. That turns me off and ruins the story for me. Like, full stop never touch it again.

But I love a good "Love Story" apparently. So okay I guess? I just never saw myself reading or writing it until I sort of stumbled on one that was really good. if I find I'm not doing this well, they'll become mysteriously related. Word of god ladies and gentlemen. Then I'll set up something different for both.

Second, I am currently writing out the beginning of my sequel to "of ice and dragons". So this may or may not get updated often. I'm going to use this as a way to distract myself and hopefully keep things fresh. I noticed towards the end of ice and dragons that I had a pile of writers Fatigue. Not block cause I had story, I had ideas, I just didn't have the will to write. We'll see if this works.

So read and review guys and gals, give me some feedback please, whether it's a PM, or a review.

Paaz etaak Unahzaal.

Ace W.

Chapter one

I.S.S Zephyr, Caladon, Kingdom of Arland

Anna watched as various people filed into the enormous steam powered Dirigible. Technicians, minor nobles, and the occasional robed mage. She huffed slightly as she watched the mages immediately walk forward and away from the engines. Bloody super-naturalists. Oh sure, on a whim they'll play with the various demons and souls around you, but one perfectly good and reliable steam engine, and they turned into quivering pansies.

Eventually it was her turn as she followed a portly merchant up the ramp. When she arrived at the top she presented her ticket to the well dressed in uniform Conductor, his voice ringing out in that no nonsense, I'm all business tone that she swore all conductors had to learn, "Tickets please!"

Handing hers over, the conductor looked at Anna and nodded politely to her, then proceeded to ask the usual questions after checking her ticket. "Do you have any magical items on you ma'am?" to which she responded with a bored and flat, "No". the two of them both had twinkles in their eyes as they went through the game of who could be more flat and monotone as he asked the questions. Something Anna Never lost. The goal? Get through without smiling, because both players had to be aware of the game. It was another thing she thought they practiced in secret. Anna swore there must have been some sort of training school. When he was finally done with the twenty or so questions both looked at each other with barely concealed laughter in their eyes, and small smiles tugging at the corners of there mouths. Then he broke first, "You win…" and started chuckling, and punched a few buttons on the panel in front of him, "I needed that! Miss, I've upgraded you to a better open seat, have a nice trip aboard the I.S.S Zephyr!"

OOOOO

Elsa slowly walked aboard the giant mechanical steam powered zeppelin. Her older half-brother (by her fathers first wife) looked positively ill beside her. "Hans, pull yourself together," she was in no mood to deal with the mans tech sickness, "People. Are. Watching." that did the trick. The slightly older man straitened up and composed himself as they marched aboard the first class ramp.

Elsa nervously looked around at all the people streaming on board the airship. Nobles and laborers, mages and techs. Of course all the mages had first class seats but even that was segregated into different classes. They themselves having minor seats.

As they made their way to their seats in a small room near the first and second class bulkhead, her brother's thinly veiled upset stomach finally got the better of him. He bolted for the nearest washroom as she was about to enter the compartment. Elsa shook her head, and reverently wished this trip was over soon enough. She would have preferred taking a more quicker means of transportation in the form of Teleport, then to have to deal with her half brother for a trip of this length. But her family had nixed that idea rather quickly. Her fists clenched and she had to repeat the rules of her "Outing" in her mind.

Finally composing herself after a few deep breaths, Elsa stepped inside the compartment, and sat down near the window, her wide ice blue eyes taking in the hustle and bustle below her.

It was the sound of light boot steps which turned her away from the spectacle of watching the baggage being loaded, she formed a scathing set of words for her slightly older half-brother. "Hans, you really…" her words trailed and died as she turned to the person who had entered the compartment. A young woman, maybe a few years younger then Elsa herself, wearing a green wool dress, that was well worn but still gave the impression of being in pristine condition (perhaps an heirloom travel dress?). Her hair was a lustrous red-gold in coloration, tied back into a pair of braids which hung down over her slim shoulders. She wore a simple travelers hat of green felt which matched the dress, but it was well worn, a testament to the young woman's wanderings. A small black leather satchel was at her hip secured to a wide black leather belt, one toe of a pair of well worn ladies traveler boots barely peaked out from the dresses hem. The younger woman seemed frozen as Elsa took in her appearance before finally settling in on her face.

It was a strong face, there was a good deal of strength there, it was thin as if she hadn't been eating well either. There were light freckles upon the honey skin of her cheeks and small slightly upturned nose. If anything though it was her eyes that captured Elsa's attention, they were large (Teal? Yes that was a good description of the color, though it seems to drift slightly with the light slow rocking of the airship. Blue and light blue-green mixing together.) eyes opened wide, curious and reserved, absolute intensity in their gaze.

A short second of awkward silence, and the young woman looked down at her ticket then back at the rooms number plate. Oh.. "Hi." perhaps someone other then her boor of a brother to chat with on this journey would be nice.

OOOOO

"Hi."

Anna started at the absolutely beautiful woman's startlingly quiet and smooth timbre. "Hi me?" She was dressed in a concealing black and blue travel dress, which in her opinion was a little too new to be as old as it looked. She had a small purse which hung from her left shoulder, it was small and slim so couldn't be holding much more than a couple of coins and a small book(and judging from the latching, you couldn't open it quickly, very important.) and was wearing a small travel hat of black, less an item of use and more an item of fashion. Slowly she slipped into the room, taking the seat closest to the door and farthest from the woman.

The young woman was only a year or two older than Anna, if she could make an accurate guess. She was blond, but it was such a fine white blond that if she couldn't see her cool blue eyes (Ice blue, yes that's it! Ice blue!), she would have guessed her for an albino. Even her skin was a pale coloration that spoke of a lot of time spent indoors. From what Anna could see this young woman did not get out much, the only dirt on her boots was literally on the soles. She was completely covered, head to toe, wearing even gloves on this warm summer's day, leaving only a few inches of her neck exposed below her face. Her hair was done up in a bun, with a small ribbon of blue weaving in it.

It was what she could see that certainly captivated her attention as she situated herself in the chair. The woman was absolutely perfect. There was no other way to describe her. She had those eyes, and hair, and what seemed to be a smile playing the corners of her mouth. (fucking damn-it, she noticed me staring.) "So. Um.. Hi? I'm Anna." the woman inclined her head with her reply, "Elsa. It is nice to meet you." "Likewise. So…" Anna drew out the word slightly, "First time on an airship?"

OOOOO

Elsa didn't answer Anna's question immediately before she settled on the truth, "I don't think so? There may have been once when I was younger, but it would have been before I remember. It is my first time as an adult." the young red-head smiled at her, "fourteenth time for me, I've done a bunch of hops around Caladon and the surrounding townships. This will be my first long range trip." the redhead smiled brightly, "And my first trip to Tarrant and the Unified Kingdom."

Elsa smiled at the enthusiasm displayed by the young woman, "My first trip to Tarrant as well."

Elsa was about to open her mouth to speak again when the loud groan of a steam whistle split the air. Looking at her fellow passenger the younger redhead smiled, and pointed up.

OOOOO

Back in the bowels of the ship, Half-orc shovel-men bent their backs to feed coal into the boilers. Raising the temperature inside to a blisteringly hot level. Water was fed into pipes at the chief engineers command, and under his watchful eyes, the gauges began to climb rapidly.

Walking over to a new contraption that allowed one to talk to the bridge. He keyed the mike. "Bridge? Engineering. All steam ready captain."

An immediate reply, "Very good." and the engineering communicator rang its bell as it moved its announcer to "Prepare to answer all bells." Working the brass lever, the chief answered back, "ready". And the command for ahead one third rang through.

Calling out his orders, Valves were turned and dialed into position.

OOOOO

"Captain! Engineering answers ahead one third!" the older gray haired man nodded, dressed in his white uniform. Looking at the wind-sock he gave the order, "Drop ballast. Up ten degrees." outside of the massive air-ship, vents opened and began to equalize the ratio of air to hydrogen for lift. Once the required mass of air had been expelled, the greater buoyancy of the hydrogen began to tell and the main mooring lines slipped out of the hands of the men on the ground.

Once he deemed them clear of all ground obstructions, the Captain nodded once,

"All ahead full!"

OOOOO

Anna watched Elsa's face peering in wide eyed wonder out the window. The massive airship took on a slight incline as she began to accelerate, and leave the confines of Arcanum's lands. Anna wondered if she had looked like that when she had taken her fist airship ride.

Damn-it-all. She had probably left nose-prints on the glass.

Pulling out a book to read while she waited for the ship to level off, (a well remembered incident with an unsecured food trolley foremost in her mind) Anna also kept a wary eye on her fellow passenger. It was all well and good she was excited, but something seemed off. And that irked the young technologist to no end.

OOOOO

It was fascinating to see the ground of their birth slip away like they were birds. The fleeting glimpse of the world Teleport showed you had nothing on this. Elsa was rapidly becoming enamored of this mode of travel. Sure you could just 'Hop to a Pattern', but then you skipped the journey. And if there was one thing she wanted, it was to experience the journey.

She was genuinely glad that she had to go in this sort of style.

The reflection of the glass showed the younger woman reading something. Turning away from the window she noted the title of the book, "Steamworks of Tarant" Oh, maybe she was attempting to find a reasonable spot to avoid the magical-technical issues involved. "Is that a recent edition?" Elsa was genuinely curious as to the answer, perhaps Anna could find a suitable Hotel or Inn which Mages could keep away from the destabilizing effects of Technology.

The young woman looked up, then seemed to realize that Elsa had asked a question. "Um.. No, it's a.. yeah.. 3 year old text? 4782. Three years, yeah. Um. It wont be the most up to date but it will do for me for now. I mean its fas.." whatever else she had been planning to say died in her throat as Elsa's half-brother walked in. Did a double take, and a slow, very familiar smile made its disgusting way across his face.

Elsa crushed the multitude of unladylike swears that had raced through her mind. She had forgotten her half-brothers penchant for gingers.

Fixing his mages robes slightly, Elsa could have Cursed him that instant for interrupting this beautiful woman's conversation,. (Including her cute rambling.) causing the teal eyed beauty to raise her book like a shield. Beginning to open her mouth to ward off her lecherous sibling, as he tried to get Anna's attention, something happened to snap it shut.

And changed her opinion of the ginger in an instant.

OOOOO

Hans could not believe his luck as he sat across from this perfect target of opportunity. As soon as he had saw her he placed his best smile upon his face, sat down, and leaned forward to get her attention. And pulled out all his charm, "well, well, well! Are you not the most beautiful thing I've seen in a while. What brings you on board for Tarrant?" Only for her to pull up the book she had in her hands as a makeshift shield. Never to let an opportunity to go to waste he reached out and grabbed the arm holding the book.

And then he stopped moving entirely as a very large double barreled pistol-shotgun hybrid was pressed against his nose.

"Let. Go."

Those two words, spoken in distinctly separate sentences, made him release her arm like it had been energized by Spark. The instant she was free she put the book in her travel satchel with a swift economical movement. Hans wasn't sure where exactly she had produced such a large weapon from in an instant. He could have sworn she was unarmed, not to mention she had done it at such a speed, that he couldn't tell she had moved until after.

OOOOO

.

Anna was a techie. The word rang through Elsa's mind and left a bad taste afterwards. She found herself standing, her hands at the ready and a full repertoire of Elemental spells waiting behind her lips. Plus a few select tricks of her own, but those couldn't come out without a very good reason.

She watched as the young redhead looked to both of them, and her face changed from an open young woman, to a mask which didn't let anything through. Then, once Hans had moved well enough away from her, the redhead put away the pistol into a holster cunningly concealed in her dress. Then with a look that could only be called contempt, strode out of the room.

OOOOO

Anna did her level best not to call anymore attention to herself while she made her way to the main sitting room. Looking around she took off her simple hat and folded it up, to tuck away in her travel bag. To anyone who didn't know her very well, she outwardly was a model of calm and peace.

Her den mother would be very carefully asking her to go to her room to calm down. The revelation that the woman, (Anna refused to use her name) was a mage. It was something she should have checked for as soon as she had entered the room. All it took was a quick casual glance at her timepiece, but noooo….. She just had to be distracted by the woman's beauty. Probably sacrificed a few souls to get that way too. Fucking mage.

OOOOO

Elsa covered her eyes with a gloved hand, listening to her half brother complain about the techie. She refused to call her by name, even in her own mind. But her brother, she was about to do something very naughty to him. It wasn't really fair, but if he didn't shut up, she was going to do it.

And she told him so. He got really quiet after that.

OOOOO

Anna had one weakness, one certain vice she did not mind indulging every now and then.

"Raise twelve." of course for some, "call." it was a vice.

For her it was a legitimate way to make money. The poker game had just sat down when she joined in. Tossing the buy-in on the table and asking which game rules they would abide by, before dragging out her pocket chronometer, and conspicuously placing it on the table. This prompted the rest to do the same, before a dwarf, smartly dressed, asked her a question, "you expecting someone to play with our cards missy?"

Anna however knew the proper response, "No, good master dwarf, I am merely taking a precaution against the 'Randomness' of our fellow passengers." the dwarf dark bearded and dark haired, bust out in a belly laugh which the rest of the table joined into. To her immediate left was a gnome, who looked very unhealthy, to her right was a richly appointed gentleman who looked like luck alternatively graced and then abandoned him. His clothes looked a little travel worn. Across from her was the dwarf who had laughed, he looked well off, and was defiantly proud of his city dwarf status with a neatly trimmed beard. To the dwarfs left was an older gent, who had doctor written all over him, grey of hair and beard, but with youthful looking eyes.

Their game was ruthless, Anna herself having set the tone earlier, bluffing the dwarf on a pair of low cards. He had responded with a full on attack, only to find her with a flush. That set them off into a fierce rivalry witch slowly sucked in all but the gnome, who continued playing his hands as if they were the most precious thing in the world.

Currently she was up only by twenty silvers, and was very disgruntled. The dwarf had gotten her in the last round, clocking her for a single gold piece. In any other game she would have never took the bets. But her run in with a certain mage had given her an anger she needed to work out.

She got him good two rounds later, now having figured out he was counting cards.

"You, missy, are cheating." the dwarf was standing at his full height, (still a good couple inches shorter then her, but he out weighed her by twice over. "if you are referring to the fact that the cards have been on this table the whole rime I do not know what you are talking about, good master dwarf." he was visibly red in the face, and pointed at the cards on the table, "there is no possible way you could have a half royal {9 10 J QK} flush on the table. You are therefore.. Cheating." and dammed if he didn't enunciate the "c".

Anna reached over to the deck and flipped back the cards to their previous hand and spread them out. The dwarfs jaw dropped when he realized what she had just done. Discarded a winning hand, dropping money and making it look like she was bluffing on a low card. Then folding out of the hand to let him win it. Only to gut him now. "You were saying, good master?" her smirk was…wolfish.

'

He covered his face with a huge palm, before smiling across the table at her, "Okay. Ye got me missy. And here I have been rude. Averam Clear-eyes, at your service miss?" "Anna Dale, Master Clear-eyes." "well Miss Dale, you have definitely earned a place at this table. Gents! Let's make sure not to get on this young lady's hard side! She'll crush us before we got to swing the pick." turning the dwarf shouted "Waiter! Something expensive for the Miss! On me!"

'Yes a good game of poker was just what I needed' thought the ginger, as she accepted the glass from the waiter. Sipping she lit up like heated tungsten, and smiled radiantly to the dwarf, whatever she had gotten had definitely set him back a few gold.

OOOOO

Elsa strode through the forward decks, having left her half brother in the cabin drinking. Moving into a forward sitting room, she could almost feel the energy rise around her. Looking about her suspicions was confirmed, as she spotted several robed figures and one Elf of all things, sitting at various tables. Lightly stepping in her graceful walk she moved over to a window looking out the port side. A small table fitted with a chess set was there, unoccupied. Perfect, a game of strategy would definitely take her mind off a certain techie.

Sitting down she rearranged the pieces to their starting positions, and began by opening, with the queens pawn. Then spinning the board around to open for black.

One quickly played practice stratagem later she again reset the pieces to their starting positions.

The Elf sat down across from her, his hair white from age. She knew a few elves from her parents business dealings. For the long lived race, white hair meant this one had seen the passage of seven centuries or more. He reached out and plucked a pawn from either side, and mixed them between his hands rapidly, before holding out both fists closed. Tapping his left fist gently, he opened it to reveal black. She would go second.

He opened with the queens pawn, and she responded with kings pawn forward two. Three alternations later he was setting up a Carrak's assault. Hmmm. This was going to be interesting.

It took her 38 moves to checkmate his king, after a bloody piece swap that took place, having taken advantage of the Carrak's assault five piece guard to nip a knight. It was a one move opening, but she had been ready. Resetting the board, they switched colors, and Elsa opened, but with queens pawn forwad one. She wanted to see if he knew a Caladon left and hang. He did. Very well apparently. Again the winner took white, and he opened with a knight. Again he won. But Elsa had spotted something. Two more games were won by Elsa after that. She had stopped using comfortable pre-made stratagems, and started introducing her own.

But she had noticed something in his games. He left certain pieces in handicap. Not moving them from their starting positions. Different ones each time. It would be a True challenge to see if she could get him to truly play.

So the next game, she annihilated him by playing for those frozen pieces. Drawing blood, so to speak.

His eyes shifted from the board to look into her own when mate was declared, and she could see a spark of interest in them.

Well, this could be interesting. She thought. It took two hours, and well over two hundred turns, before the first piece, a white pawn, was taken. It took her another hour after to secure Check, and another thirty moves later, Mate.

The Old Elf spoke for the first time, a younger elf who had come up unnoticed behind him smiling broadly. "You are the first, young woman, to beat me in an open game. I congratulate you. By what name do you go by?"

Elsa told her true name, knowing that for the time being, in the air, she was at least safe. "I am known as Elsa Aren, Elan' (elder)." the honorific made him smile slightly, a bare twitch of the corner of his lips, "Very well, Elsa Aren. I am Ta'lemo, and again I congratulate you. I thought you a minor player of Shah (the elfish word for chess), but you have corrected me in a most satisfying manner." He held out his hand an conjured a small crystal ball out of midair, "Take this, should you wish to visit my home in Qintarra, it will allow you passage by the guardians. Keep it safe young one." he stood slowly after she had reverently taken the token, the much younger elf helping the elder to his feet.

He paused before walking away, "I sense a great deal of power in you, Elsa Aren. But it is untamed. Should you come to my home, I will help you with its training. And perhaps we shall play Shah again, Aren'ii (student Aren) " slowly he made his way forward, and Elsa relaxed in her chair, looking out the window with a small smile upon her face. The small crystal orb warm in her hand.

Somehow she had impressed an Elder. And he had offered to help with the very problems that forced her to Tarrant. Mentally she shook her head. The journey was worth it, even with the problems of techies and half brothers. If her answers could not be found at her destination, then perhaps she would have to journey to Qintarra herself. And perhaps…just perhaps… Ta'lemo could help.

After a game of chess of course.

OOOOO

After a quick stop at Roseborough to pick up coal and water for the engines, and drop and gain some passengers. The Zephyr was finally ready to begin the highest part of her trip. The crossing of the Stonewall range. The captain readied his ship, personally inspecting the major areas himself. It would be three days to the city of Tarrant, capital of the Unified Kingdom, depending on wind and weather. But he suspected that the wind would work in his favor.

OOOOO

After bidding her newfound friends a farewell, Anna relaxed in the lounge. Reading. Only the Gnome from the game had stayed onboard, stating he had business in Tarrant. He currently was also passing his time as they waited. This was to be the longest part of their journey.

Anna had managed to avoid the mage for a good long while now. Seeing hide nor hair of her or the Lech that she traveled with. It seemed as if they had transferred cabins, and were now in a different part of the ship.

Good riddance.

And less of a chance she would be exposed. Of course that's what happens when you find out certain things. You find yourself in between a rock and a mining drill. But the last thing Anna needed was questions about her and her past. Some she could answer. Others.

Others…She just plain didn't know the answers to.

OOOOO

The transfer of cabins had been an easy thing to talk her half brother into. It appeared he had no desire to test the techie again. Though Elsa would have found it highly amusing to see her brother with a gun up his nose again. He could use the humility.

At least the small conversations she had had with Ta'lemo, before he had departed the Zephyr for his home, had been eye opening. He was an Elf. But he was a very learned practitioner of Magic. But he was an Elf… with all the prejudices built in. Elsa sighed, hopefully Tarrant would have her answers, because Ta'lemo had made it very clear, in his roundabout elvish way, that she would have to apprentice to him to learn anything.

Not something Elsa was very willing to do. Fifty years of training? She would deal with the quirks first before spending her life in hock.

No matter how bad things got.

OOOOO

Groop smacked his brother in the head, "Dumshit! Crank an the' pull!" "Ohhhh!" Graap, heeding his twins words, cranked the prop around untill it tightened then with a mighty heave pulled while Groop (admittedly the smarter of the twin half-ogres, but that would be like comparing the brains of one stupid dog vs. another slightly more stupid dog. And that wouldn't be fair to the dogs. They'd win.) worked the throttle like he had seen the human do. With a cough and sputter the light aircraft, the first of its kind on Arcanum roared to life.

"com'on! We'ze gotz to go Graap! Same ting!" again the engine coughed, sputtered. Then with a loud bang spun the prop to clonk Graap in the head. Merely an annoyance for the half ogre, but it set of Groop's already short temper. Prompting him to clonk his brother himself, starting a short lived fight between the two.

It was a good thing the work yard these contraptions were built in was a good distance away from the city. Otherwise someone would have come knocking.

The next couple of minutes of the two half ogres struggling (after their tussle) before successfully getting both machines to start, and stay running, would best be accompanied by "Yakety Sax" as one, then the other would comically injure themselves, before the other machine would shut off. And the process would repeat. Heads clonked. Hands burnt on hot metal. Knuckles busted. Feet stomped, and minor fights.

Finally, after an hour of struggle they got both running and ready to go.

"You getz one, I getz udder. You 'member how to work itz?" Groop held his brothers gaze while his sibling nodded enthusiastically. "Good. Lez go."

They had a jobz to do.

OOOOO

Aww, Shit.

Anna woke up from her sleep with a start. She had just realized who she had been dreaming about. And of course, that had ruined a perfectly good dream, one of friendship and laughter. Sunuvabitch. She bit her cheek to keep from swearing repeatedly.

Now even her dreams had been taken over by her issues. A small sigh escaped her as she checked her chronometer. Hmm, breakfast time. She wondered what goodies the chefs had prepared today. Perfect thing to get her mind off that ruined dream. Damn mage.

OOOOO

Elsa was nearly walked into as she strode regally into the dining room. Stepping back she looked up into the face of her near collision. And froze. Just what she needed, after being woken up by her nightmares.

Ice blue met frosty Teal.

Both women noticed they were wearing the same travel clothes as they had first met. Anna had foregone her hat and so had Elsa. For a solid minute they did not break their gaze, animosity fairly setting the air between their eyes on fire.

Both were waiting for the other to blink first.

Fortune however, is a fickle bitch. And she chose at that moment to strike.

OOOOO

The Captain looked out through his spyglass at the strange contraptions roaring through the air next to his zeppelin. Both banked roughly around a cloud formation like birds, and turned directly at them.

His eyes shot wide as he watched sparkles appear on the front of one of the machines. It was followed by the crash of glass, as he and his crew sought cover behind anything solid on the bridge. A bullet finished its flight in a soft piece of sheet metal next to his head making him flinch as the contraptions finished their attack. The hissing and popping told the Captain that his ship was in very grave danger.

Incendiary Rounds.

OOOOO

Groop looped up and brought his flyer back torwards the front of the ship, his brother right behind him. Pulling the trigger once again, bullets raced out ahead. Pinging into the massive nose of the dirigible. He roared as he stitched a line down the side of the vessel. Guns ablaze. He banked along the side of the dirigible, descending slightly.

Unfortunately for Groop, he had made a mistake. "Uh-Oh…"

The last thing to go through his mind was one of the I.S.S. Zyphers main props.

The momentum from his plane blew the prop, (two blades, 20 feet in diameter) off its mounting.

OOOOO

One second they were staring daggers at each other, the next, they were trying to figure out why they were tangled together at the end of the lounge. With a thirty foot hole chopped into the room. And half a prop sticking into it.

Anna propped herself up. Eyes wide, jaw slack. Elsa had the same look on her face as well. Both looked at each other, then back at the destruction. Anna managed to gain her feet first, and steadied the other woman to hers as an alarm whistle began to blow. All animosity forgotten for now.

OOOOO

The good Captain shouted his orders. The bag was ruptured. He was certain of that. He ordered the ballast dropped. Every single ounce of it. As the crew leapt into action he noticed the helmsman cranking the wheel. Looking out the left rear windows of the bridge, he found something odd. Then he realized what had happened. And he saw the first flickers of flame along the bag.

I.S.S. Zephyr was doomed.

OOOOO

Graap came around for another pass. Having seen his brother crash into one of the props had filled him with a burning rage. Opening up he stitched the port side, and banked around to the starboard side. Again opening fire. He roared as he saw flames start to lick across the surface of the airship.

But being the brightest brick someone could find only applied to his brother. As he flew his cloth and wood flying machine through a hydrogen jet.

Graap never got a chance to jump out of the burning plane. He had been killed by the gas searing through his lungs.

OOOOO

The Zephyr slowly began to list forward and to port. Anna lead Elsa aft and starboard through the chaos. The ship was beginning to list badly, to the point it was difficult to keep their footing. Elsa stumbled. She noticed the Mage had a fairly large welt on her forehead, and seemed to be dazed. She hoped it wasn't a concussion.

Rushing to starboard she saw the engines were still turning, and something else.

They were only a couple hundred feet above ground level. And moving along at a terrifying speed. Gripping a door handle to the outside, she pulled it open and risked a quick look forward. Then immediately grabbed a guardrail. Conveniently Elsa was already doing so.

She barely had time to scream at the older woman, "Brace Yourself!"

The Zephyr collided with the ground, and both were thrown into darkness.

OOOOO

Anna woke to choking smoke, and a pile of twisted steel around her. She felt a weight across her legs, and sitting up, found the unconscious mage laying on them. Gently she tried to move the woman off, but only succeeded in waking her up. Flickers of pure magic wrapped around her gloves as Elsa sat up in panic. Hands raised defensively.

Anna spoke first, "That hurt a lot.." she could feel several of her ribs. And not in a good way. The mage didn't look any better off as she nodded agreement.

Suddenly Elsa stood, a terrified look on her face. "Hans!" Anna instantly got what she was after, "your friend?" a hurried nod, "Okay, I'll help." slowly the made their way through the choking smoke, alternatively coughing and calling for Elsa's half brother.

Faintly they heard a voice.

"Help! Help me! Please!"

It took Anna and Elsa a few moments to pinpoint the source. After both lifted a sheet of steel, they found someone. The gnome from Anna's card game.

He was pinned by a spike through his guts.

Anna knelt next to him, as he spoke again, "Thank you my friends." he hacked and coughed, "I don't have much time… " another ragged cough, as Elsa wrung her hands. "You must find the boy." he pressed a set of objects into Anna's hand, she opened it to find…. "You must find the boy… and give him back his ring. You must tell him I escaped. There are so few of us left now…" another ragged cough. "you must find him! The Evil! He is coming back… soon! The work is almost complete!" he coughed and the energy seemed to flow out of the old Gnome, as he spoke one last time, his head falling back. "He will know what to do…You, my friends…Its.. All… up.. to you….." Anna gently closed his eyes.

Anna felt the hand on her shoulder, wondering at the cryptic message of the Gnome. As she looked up at the ice blue eyes filled with pain, she knew that she would fulfill his dying wish. She just hoped it was something she could do. She tucked the passport and ring into her satchel.

"We need to keep looking, I'm sure your friend is still alive." even though her words, as sorrowing as they were, rang with a small bit of hope. Anna tried to keep her pain out of them.

They once again began to search through the rubble and steel. But the flames were creeping closer. Anna could see them beginning to gain strength. "Elsa!" once Anna had the blonds attention, "can you smother the flames?" Elsa nodded, and tried to conjure some simple water spells, but the technological balance was still too much against her. All she got was a fizzle.

"I can't! Too much interference." the horrified look in her eyes told a horrible truth to Anna. She cried out to the mage, "We cant stay here!" the mage didn't need any more prodding then that. Both women ran for their lives.

They had just made it out to the edge of the massive pieces of debris, when something behind them went up. The explosion knocking them to the ground.

OOOOO

Elsa woke first this time, sitting up and looking around. She could see the red haired technologist was still unconscious. Looking back all hope of finding her half brother was extinguished in the conflagration she witnessed. Metal was white hot and softening. Flames licked up higher then the trees around them. She held a hand to her chest, grasping the pendant she wore underneath her shirt, hidden. A simple snowflake. But the most precious thing she owned.

Beside her a groan as the ginger woke up. Anna flipped over from her stomach to see the flames. Elsa clearly heard the breath catch in the technologists throat.

Anna spoke first, her voice was soft, "I'm sorry. Elsa." she didn't have to say what for.

The young technologist stood. And lent a hand to the mage, helping her to her feet. It was a racing set of hoof beats though that got their attention. And through the smoke a figure rode up. Anna kept a hand near one of her special pockets. A shared glance with Elsa, showed the mage was ready herself. Arms held slightly bent, palms up and fingers spread.

When the mounted figure got closer, they saw he rode a strange steed. One with antlers. Closer the rider came and finally spotted the two women, stopped. His reindeer mount now visible. Lowing in the rolling smoke. Stepping down the figure turned and pulled back the lumpy homespun grey robe he wore from his head. Revealing the weather-beaten face of a young but powerfully built man. Blond of hair and somewhat rugged, he simply stared at them, eyes wide and unblinking. When he spoke it was in a voice of awe.

"You.. And the fire… How…?" the two young women shared a look, before Anna spoke, "Didn't you see the crash?!" the look on his face was that of a man who had just been hit on the head. Hard. "umm… yes, ma'am," he cleared his throat, "I am Kristoph Virgil Bjorgman, at your service." he bowed slightly, "Druid and follower of the teachings of the Panarii." both women shared a look again, before Elsa spoke, "have you seen anybody else Master Bjorgman?" his face became pinched, as he broke the bad news, "No, miss, you two are all I have seen so far."

"I'm Anna Dell. Would you help us search for more survivors sir?" he nodded vigorously, "Of course Miss Dell." he looked pointedly to the blonde mage, who spoke shortly in introduction, "Elsa Aren." then turned to call out again for Hans.

Slowly and carefully the three moved around the crash site. Finding many bodies. But no other survivors. With darkness swiftly descending they made a camp in an old cave. It had become clear to all three, there were no other survivors. Kristoph turned loose his friend, who he called Sven. Telling him not to wander far, wolves were known to prowl these areas.

Elsa had stopped the man when he had pulled out flint and steel to start a fire. One wave of her hand and few spoken words of power, the pile of wood was quickly lit. Anna had disassembled her chronometer and was busily checking its inner workings. "humph, bent spring I'll need to find a new one later." she quickly reassembled the device.

The two women sat together opposite of Kristoph when he broached what was obviously a burning question, "So what happened?" the answer was simple, "something we didn't see." the two women were not forthcoming in information, save about the gnome and his request. Kristoph took the hint, he may not have been the smartest man, but he knew when to keep his mouth shut. At least his wagon had some supplies.

"Ok. We can't stay here for long. I have food for only two more days for three people. And that's if we eat very small. My tutor and friend is currently in a nearby town. He might have some information about the ring and 'boy'"

"What's its name?"

"Shrouded Hills. One days travel."

OOOOO

Later found them all curled up in individual blankets. Anna tried to figure out what had woken her up. Her answer came in the form of a sob from the mage supposedly sleeping a few feet away.

Anna could see the shoulders shake as the woman tried to keep quiet. Before she could think, Anna reached out and laid a hand on the mages shoulder. Covering her gloved hand. Elsa simply grasped at her hand holding onto it with a certain fervor that only came from grief. Anna didn't speak, no platitudes no words. She simply comforted by being there.

So the mage does have a heart.

OOOOO

Elsa had started slightly at the touch of the warm hand, but had not spurned its offer of comfort. Instead she had grasped at the offer, holding onto it with all of her strength. Slowly she calmed, an anchor of stability found in the storm of her grief. Her half brother was dead. Gone forever. She had hoped to at least find his body, to revive him at the nearest town. But that was now taken from her. He had found true death.

So she cried, quieter now, and held onto the hand of the technologist. The one who showed the most rare of things. A heart.

AN- So how did I do? reviews always welcome!

also the chess and poker games? I kinda pulled them out of thin air. same with the operation of the Zephyr.