Last Kiss Near Grussia

 Nine to Ten hours or giurs, brought them to a large city along the borders between Grussia and Eoth. One what appeared to be a swamp the city rested on a massive lake for a large rice field. Set up exactly like a port this Eothan rice production and trade city of Chattoe sat on raised platforms. Very similar to a dock this city's sections and buildings were built raised up to avoid flooding. One swinging advertisement sign advertised a copy or play of the Skywhaler's Shot being mass printed and produced on stage. According to an Eoth Mamoa, a term for warrior, Chattoe was home to rice farmers, monks, rectors, curates, shamans, sages, weavers, arcane users, enchanters, some civilized Hags. The humanoid that emerged from who knows where, not the aging women. Calling herself Josho this Eothan also mentioned that 308 or so Tireless Missionaries residing inside a Cathedral University. 

Located near the Dirone style commercial docks the Cathedral sat where the tracks entered the city. Dirone style was a more eastern style with obtuse roofs with scale shaped shingles. Most of the structures are trapezoid from the foundation, base and top. Here this city possessed enough space for convoys to move around to load or unload. Noswal knew they held no time to waste. Rather than tour or snoop around he boarded the train that sat waiting. Cyrstallo followed him to their seats in a passenger car full of Eoth Soldiers, female soldiers. Crystallo had to tuck it in and keep his charm to himself during this whole endeavor, Vanned, Toyal, and the three Uxane joined them. When asked about the cat Toyal explained that cat liked to mooch off the neighboring households in the town. It was in good hands. Over an hour went by before they moved west on the tracks. Thanks to the Quadruple Alliance these nations created a working tunnel through the mountains. Noswal slept through much of the journey until they had to stop. Just a league inside Koriv, East Koriv, a couple of Sky ships landed on the tracks. Word spread like wildfire among them with assumptions these were pirates attempting to rob the train. 

This would appear difficult as the train carried 734 infantry, 6 Eoth Beetle Tanks, 2 V9 Explorer Jeeps, 2 missile/rocket trucks, a single Red Cat Anti-Infantry Armored Car (AIAC), Molose Troop Transport, Nazdar half-track either made in Grussia, or given to them by the invaders. Twelve tanks, three small bombers, ten aircraft, 10 artillery pieces shipped from the VUVR. From other allies came 12 tanks, 3 bombers, 10 aircraft, 11 different artillery pieces. Among captured vehicles included 9 bombers, 22 aircraft, 21 tanks, and 18 artillery pieces from the Vullanese Islands. Aside from the 734 infantry men aboard this train also carried the teams needed for the artillery, tanks, the pilots, 19 stars who chose to fight, 20 targeted individuals who chose to hit the front in order to avoid certain entanglements. There were also 20 or more elitists on board as well as half a score of foreign volunteers. Despite the possible aerial advantage these pirates did not have favorable odds. 

One hundred sixty-five pirates of the infamous Drake Roost crew of 350 barred them from reaching their destination. Taking note of the tank turrets, armed soldiers, armored train cars with turret guns these pirates moved their ships off the tracks. Noswal was certain some aircraft would come over to assist. He guessed most were called to the frontlines or in reserves. From one of the ships a bleach haired female pirate in the typical attire, but with modern knee-high boots approached the train as it started up again. Wielding a white flag of truce this crew member carried no weapons on her. Five Eothans met her then escorted her over to the highest-ranking commanding officer. Chief of War Claw-Tanner who did not have any patience for this hold up. In a clear tomboyish voice, she revealed they just sent a Trove Tracker in search of a Khopesh. The Honed Khopesh of ancient Khet. It was likely they ran them over. None of the Eothans were in the mood to discuss anything or search for a corpse on the train wheels. Each one trained their weapons on this pirate. Shrinking away this female pirate returned to her crew. 

Within minutes they were on the move again with the Sky Ships going south. Another hour passed into their journey to a city in Koriv called Omoi Dake. Omoi Dake intertwined with another city called Oikakete. Although the name Koriv did not fit the people it seemed to sit well with them. No one really bothered to change the name of East Koriv back to its original name while keeping the names of their cities. These cities were the final stops for the soldiers and the team hunting down the Storm Cloud Djinn. Only getting to know some of these other Eothans for a bit they gave them quick goodbyes. Vanned's next contact was an Arcane Investigator of a Malevolent Dwarf Noble Cog work Archivist. This Dwarf sat on a cog work looking wheelchair her long coat covered everything but her black shoes, and thick long pig tailed red hair. They both just came from an Expanded Anatomy lab near a large Armillary Sphere forged in different metals. She often helped as a volunteer with key cases for identifying damage done by arcane spells. Both Investigator and Dwarf Cog work Archivist took them on a brief tour of the city. One of their offices sat near a garrison of four stables for 300 Livecraft cavalry. Some used to be a set of stables to knights, a warlord, some old king, and parts were a scout style stable. 

While going through the central part of the city they witnessed a good chase from a street where Opium was sold. One Paired Tactician acting as a constable chased a goblin pilot to a Hollow Jungle Pleasure Garden. Crystallo was told to stay put with female Dwarf, Awkealsia Lightgut who only sat in her cog work wheelchair to reach higher shelves without using ladders. Noswal raced over to this Garden of Pleasure with Investigator named Jan Sao, and Vanned. Jan Sao appeared Oriental with heavy brow, fine cut hair that was in the Vestrisian, and cultural style without the long-braided hair. His own investigator uniform gave him authority in entering the private sector. Right before they entered a large slant eyed guard known as Hu Rong covered in tattoos gave them some pieces of cloth to cover their mouths and noses. 

This Garden of Pleasure was decorated with a type of plant that made one horny. Multiple orgies want on in each room of the Hollow Pleasure Garden. In of these rooms they found a Botanist, one who studied plants, the Goblin Pilot and the Tactician on top of someone. Each one of them showed Unholy hunger for a female mage dressed in an overlapping layered dress-robe that looked to be laced when closed. The pattern made it more like a tunic armor made from fabric. She seemed to be enjoying this intercourse due to the intoxication from the plants around the room. The only one they were after was the Goblin Pilot. Noswal grabbed the sweaty legs, while Vanned grabbed the arms. This Goblin kept thrusting until they pulled him off her. Still humping the air this Goblin Pilot known as Gerx Rozenk had to be tossed in a sack. 

Once they exited the Garden of Pleasure, Lightgut cranked up the engine to her own automobile which she had parked on the other side of the street. Gerx's intoxication required for him to be tossed and left in the sack then tossed in the trunk. Lightgut did not want him messing up her seats. At the intended speed the two cities allowed Lightgut brought them to apartment complex. Next to a trade merchant warehouse this three-building apartment complex belonged to their female Dwarf Companion. Here Gerx's longboat remained locked up inside the warehouse. Noswal suspected as much about the Goblin they chased down. Yet he did not expect for the acting constable to allow them to just abduct the passed-out Goblin. Lightgut had the Goblin brought to a guest apartment for visitors in case all the inns were full. This Goblin Pilot's own sky long boat was designed to move about ground and on water. What they did not expect was for a truck to roll up to the complex and warehouse. Three armed Uxane, and the Veteran Ranger himself hopped off as it stopped. 

"Have we found our Djinn yet?" Toyal asked them, using his long rifle as a staff to lean on. 

"West Koriv. You will find a figure wearing a fancy cloak under an ugly long ocat duster. Some bowler hat rests on their head." the female Dwarf revealed to them. She seemed eager to reduce the amount of time their hunt would go on. 

Awkwalsia left Gerx with the Investigator and a tenant of hers who approached them. Some lone traveling curator for divination in arcane history who didn't really give their name. They handed a couple of keys to the Dwarf who pocketed them in a pouch on her coat. Awkwalsia pulled out another set of keys to some locks. She unlocked the boat, which required extra help from the truck driver. Although they acted as a Chauffer hired to drive a private automobile they also acted as a tow truck. Pulling the craft out of the storage slot took time as they had to steer it. More tenants came over for a ride. Today was pay day for this drive who received 2.50 Eoth Eqenes per rider. Now they were paid to chauffer a Bleacher, clothes cleaner, a textile bleacher to work. The next passenger, a Limner, portrait painter brought six of their small portraits. Another passenger was a talkative Nymph with tattoos on her arms. Watching the truck drive away with a full load made Noswal sort of regret volunteering for this manhunt. 

Whoever was joining them on this adventuring manhunt climbed on the longboat. Larger than most boats this craft possessed a small cabin, and a shallow hull. In minutes it levitated off the trailer it rested on after the Dwarf cranked it up. Cautiously she drove the craft maneuvering it above ground. It acted as any vehicle on the road thanks to a steering wheel added. Following traffic out of the city they sped their way westward. Nothing but birds flew in the skies among them. Several other craft flew in the air like this one. Two brigantine sized sky ships, five longboats that levitated lower than most, ten aircraft that flew higher among the clouds. Half the aircraft appeared Calornese, the other half looked alien. Below they spotted a flock of 293 Supply Line Cranes. 

One sign that showed they were closer to Western Koriv. Unfortunately, those Supply Cranes were shot down by East Koriv Forces who seemed to ignore them or not notice their flight. Mainly armed with one-shot bolt-action rifles, breach loaders, Nazdar Invortus 93s, the Korivs fought another Koriv army under the invader's flag. He was certain those large Supply Cranes carried Gantronese weapons to the field. Hiding under the red cover he spotted sixteen sky ships were downed along the border. Out of the corner of his eye he could tell there were more along the borders showing the extent of this conflict. In his area he could see a downed Nazdar craft that was shot decades ago during one of the conflicts between the invading factions. His own companions spotted military forces and movement. Their Dwarf pilot steered them towards the ruins of a settlement. 

Hiding behind a temple mound, church, tower ruins, a street of destroyed buildings they observed the scene. Nine dead tanks, 27 active ones, 11 halftracks, armored cars, 357 or more soldiers engaged a larger force of 846 Korivan Gnolls, Goblins, humans, Gantronese spawn over five bases, a preserved sky ship Junk along the borders. Being near fighting did not bode well for their mission. Forced to hide they used an abandoned workshop as cover. Whoever won this skirmish-battle determined whether they could get to their destination. This Storm Cloud Djinn's whereabouts. Four days passed of them watching the whole region pass between hands six times. 

Right before they were discovered the East Koriv forces drove the Gantronese slaves away. Not before killing six collaborators to the Gantronese themselves. On the fourth day a nosy scout of East Koriv almost discovered them when a horde of hooded figures and West Korivans overran the East Koriv positions. Noswal figured over a thousand or two died taking those positions. What happened next only confused everyone. It made Crystallo soil himself when they witnessed an East Koriv get hacked and torn to pieces as their guts were torn out of them. Hooded figures bearing a symbol depicting that of the Djinn eye turned against the West Koriv troops. Most wore the dirt-colored uniforms that could blend in the current surroundings. Whereas some wore the Green, Red, Yellow Tang uniform tunics or shirts over the black trousers. Nothing on their heads except the bandanas, head bands, circlets donned their heads. Confident these cultists would be taken out easily they opened up their own line of fire from the windows and openings. More than a dozen or twenty of these cultists went down to their hail of gunfire. He did not see the others fall to the Uxane who exited the large hole in the wall. Vanned and Toyal took out at least ten more attackers. Crystallo was hit in the throat from a missed shot on one of their Uxane. Their Dwarf friend Lightgut charged with a maul at a trio of cultists. Her rage allowed her to take out several more as five of their own ditched them to their fate. Noswal held his own weapon and sat down next to the dying Crystallo. He held his hand as he watched their own companions take out more of these cultists. 

"Will you, will you please kill their fat friend and end this?" A voiced commanded from above them. 

Awkwalsia did not go down without out a fight. Yet the Mauler was beaten to the ground with clubs, and rifle butts. It was her last kiss as the last blow was to her face with a fist. What was he supposed to do? He may be an Orc but the last brains of the operation, a friend, someone he called family lay dying on rubble. Thinner than most Orcs Noswal did not appear the fighting type. Noswal went into a brief Orc rage tearing up at least one cultist who entered the building. He found himself surrounded with rifles trained on him. Noswal raised his arms while Vanned, and their Uxane colleagues pressed out of there. Six Cultists grabbed Vanned, beat him to the ground to subdue him before dragging him back over. Allowing the others to go spared them extra casualties. At least Toyal's cat would see its master again is all he could think. 

Noswal exited the ruins with his arms raised and head bowed low. Three cultists grabbed him, spun him around and forced his head to face the roof of the building. Vanned;s Djinn stood with a dozen of these cultists at their side. The hood hid most of their face except their chin. In seconds the cultists placed a sack or bag of some sort over Noswal's head. Four blows to the gut knocked him out after they placed the bag over his head. Unconscious Noswal could not tell where they were being taken. Time became unknown to him as they took them to West Koriv for all he knew. Roughly forced awake with a splash of liquid Noswal found himself beound next to Vanned. Bleeding from several places Vanned could not speak. The Orc's attention went to a figure wearing a colorful cloak of purple with gold symbols lining the edges. 

"Just outside Grussia you are." this Djinn announced, pointing out in a mocking serious tone. 

"What fate will befall you here?" They continued mocking. 

"Storm Cloud Djinn, Dahoj Thule, a wanted criminal according to Eoth and Grussia I see." the Djinn rubbed Vanned's scalp then caressed his chin. Dahoj's nails looked untrimmed but clean. 

"Sparing his life would not end the hunt. As for you Orc join my army of followers. Say add another to 1,516 or so?" the Djinn offered with a stretched-out hand. 

"Make it zero followers, Thule. Aliscar is done with your playing around." a woman's voice pierced the air from behind. Moments later Dahoj's followers were cut down by assassins, and henchmen dressed in all dark red. Most of his fled while the rest found themselves cut down. Dahoj looked outraged over this. Using his powers he took down a few the woman's henchmen. 

"Limnac the Witch! Or is it Aliscar's suckling slut?" Dohaj mocked forcing a grin across his face. 

"You are in no position of power to mock me Djinn. You failed to destroy an entire settlement." the female voice drew attention to a thing of beauty in a Kimono of red and white blooming flowers on it. Witch charcoal black hair this Limnac levitated towards the Djinn shoving her exposed cleavage into his face. Out of cruelty it seemed as she made no attempt at affection. She pulled the clothing away exposing them to the shaking Djinn. 

"Kiss them. It will be your last act on this planet." she commanded Dahoj giving him the cruelest smiles. 

In such pathetic motion the Djinn opened his mouth with his tongue out. Shaking he wrapped his mouth around her nipples then kissed both her breasts. Whoever this Limnac was she pulled out a pin from her own hair. As he kept kissing them with his tongue she shanked him in the neck several times. His dark blood splattered all over the witch's exposed self and face. Cleaning herself off she turned to Nosal and smiled. 

"Well Orc do you care to join?" she offered just like the Djinn did. 

Scared for his life Noswal joined this witch's side.