2: Horizon
Akane checks in on a special project.
It was really quite rare for Akane to come visit the dockside workshops and foundriesβ which is why whenever she did, it caused something of a fuss. This time had been expected, however; a project was in the works, one that Akane herself had commissioned and funded. Mighty in undertaking and grand in ambition; as were many of the goals of the Queen of Spiders.Β
She trotted along one of the catwalks from the workshop entrance that hung suspended above the deck of her project, her heels clacking loudly throughout the hall. Her people waited for her upon the platform at the end of the walkway; all of them clean and in a uniform line, save for one, who hadnβt bothered to do either. At the very least she was clasping her hands behind her back this time.
βMiss Darwall,β Akane greeted, with a slight bow of the head. βHow goes things?β Cordalia Darwall nodded her head in a greeting of her ownβ which wasnβt really a bow but was close enough. The woman cut a rather fine figure in tough leather pants and a thin singlet, despite being stained with grease and ceruleum. Or, naturally, because of it.
βThe Chiheisen is cominβ along splendidly, mβlady,β she offered in her Ala Mhigan drawl. βYour people ainβt so good at the mechanical side, so until the folks from Ishgard deliver their blueprints, sheβs not gonna fly. But what they can do is shape wood finer than a Gridanian carpenter full oβ so many splinters theyβd make a passable porcupine.β
While Akane had absolutely no idea what that meant, she did appreciate how the Chiheisen was turning out. At a little over three hundred fulms, she was indeed a mighty piece of Hingan craftsmanship. Mighty and sturdy, painted and lacquered in deep crimsons and jet blacks, trimmed in goldβ and the grim oni serving as figurehead. Were she a sailing ship, sheβd easily rival those used by the Confederacyβ unfortunately she wasnβt going to go very far until the engine was actually complete. Akane couldnβt pretend to know the specifics of it, but Cordalia had mentioned something about being able to do the broad-scope work with their craftsmen but needing specialists to produce the parts necessary to get further west than Aldenard.Β
βAre the blueprints from the Ishgardians the only thing left to resolve?β Akane posited, tapping her gilded claws upon the railing.
βAye,β Cordalia nodded. βThough even when they get here, itβll take time to set everything up. Itβs a process, yβknow? Gotta make sure it all works, make sure it all works safely, make sure we wonβt plummet into the sea if something fails, make sure that weβll float safety if we do need to plummet into the seaββ
βCordalia,β Akane interjected, βplease make sure we donβt plummet into the sea.β
Cordalia could only laugh at that. βAye, maβam, Iβll do my best.β
Akane turned away then, trot-trot-trotting her way across the catwalk again. βKeep up the good work, everyone. Before long the Chiheisen will take to the skies, and even the New World will not be beyond our Lordβs reach.β
