The Plot Thickens!

The sun was burning hot on his back, as the Emperor Zalcoata passed back and forth.  The first of his steam dragon spies and returned.  He had learned of multiple places to raid for new workers for the mills and factories, but even more interesting was the valley of orphans.  "Now that will be perfect.  No one will miss them."  at least thats what Zalcoata thought.
"Oh dear, where is Senor Soren when we need him?" though Flick who was out of the factory being oiled on his off shift.  "I must let Mia know."
~  Flick

Steam Dragons!

As winter was fast approaching, with the first snows having already come to the San Juan Mountains, making things even more urgent for stocking our winter meat stores.  Word from A'ts'inna was that many of the elk have come down to graze due to the early heavy snows up near the Three Cities: Durango, Silverton, and Ouray.  Silver and I had been out for two days hunting, and had two elk already.  That was when I started noticing strange prints again in the sand.   It was the same strange, machine-like, lizard tracks.  We were nearly to the edge of the cliffs, where we could climb down into the safety of the cave house, when we heard it.
"Wryn!  St-st-steam....Dr-dr-dragon!" Silver stammered in shock.
"I see it.  Silver, get your butt down into the caves, now!  Take the elk, and keep Clove, Luna, and Murk inside till the dragon is past... No mater what you hear up here!  Now GO!"  I order.  Every bone and muscle in my body shifts into archer mode.  I draw my bow, but never shoot.  The steam dragon just flies slowly by me, eyeing me with my bow drawn, and goes on its way.  Apparently, we are not part of it's plan... today anyway.

~ Wryn Kasa

Lillian, Soren, and Ion

It was a cold day, and Lillian had brought Ion to the hospital.  "Why exactly are we here, Lillian? Are you still hunting for Soren?  Your father says he is as dead as a door nail."  Ion asked.
Lillian smirked, "My father has to say that.  He is hiding Soren and my secret."
Ion looked at Lillian puzzled, "Secret? Like what?"
Lillian giggled like a school girl, "Like that Soren and I got married... wait you know that one."  She paused.  "Ion, when Soren and I got married, we headed out the next morning to return to Yetim.  He placed me on his good steam speeder, and he road my old one, in part because he was planing to work on fixing it as soon as we got home."  Lillian paused, "But we didn't make it.  Two miles out from Yetim, my steam speeder exploded. Soren lost 3 fingers on his right hand, and 2 fingers on his left. His face is badly burned, and his right leg is mangled.  He has been in the iron lung in a comma ever since."
Ion thought for a moment, "First, that explains why communication stopped about 6 months ago."  He paused, "Has anyone tried making a portable breathing tank for him?  I know for a time they made them in the 1950's through the 2030's, until the plague struck.  It might help him heal faster."
Lillian shook her head.  "No, none of us here have any knowledge of how that was done."
"I have some old blueprints, and I am sure I can come up with something workable.  Maybe we can get you

and Soren home to Yetim, and he can awake at home and not in this ucky place."
"Ion, Soren and I would be forever in your debt if you could, and even more the orphans back in Yetim." Lillian huged him.  "I am sorry.  It is just, you have given me hope for the future for the first time in ages."
"I bet get to work then."  Ion said.  "While I am at it, I will make a mask for the half of his face burnt and a brace for his leg.  It wont be pretty, but he will walk again." with that Ion headed back to his smithy hut, near the airstrip where the A'ts'inna Celpins took off and landed, perfect inspiration for his work.

~ Ion 'Kles

Mia's Trails

Meanwhile somewhere in the Aztec Empire...

A wee automaton sat guarding his senorita's bed as she slept,  "Mia's hands are raw.  The gloves that had been sent via airship donations to factory workers via Soren and Lillian Kasa had long since worn out.  A few more days, and Mia's will be bleeding again."  Little Flick just sighed.  He wished his senorita could be free.  But until some one could figure out how to deactivate their tracking tags, he and Mia would remain factory working slaves of the Aztec Empire...  "I wish with all my steam powered might I could help Mia more.  Making the sandblaster work, and standing guard over her at night while she slept seems so small... but I am just a foot and a half tall. La sigh!  Where is the help Soren promised?"

~ Flick

Strange Tracks...

It has been a bit since my trip to A'ts'inna, and I have been swamped with trapping.  As I return to the cave home, I pull Clove and Silver to the side, "I have been trapping along side my brother Soren Kasa since I was 8.  I know every track that should be in the desert around Yetim Caves, but these new tracks are strange.  The are unnaturally large and seem to be a cross of a lizard and a machine.  I must investigate more. Dont let Luna or Murk explore without one of you until we find out what this thing is..."
Clove and Silver both agree with deep worry written on their faces.

~ Wryn Kasa

The World as It Is...

When I was at A'ts'inna I picked up the "Airship Traveller Times" which covers news and events from the major Airship Ports around the World.  Let's see what is going on around the world in 2113...

Wichita - 200 Years as the Air Capital: Coming in 2120! The current Airship Capital of the World, the City-State of Wichita, which has been the Air Capital of the World since 1920.  Apparently they are in desperate in need of more workers in the plants, especially with the gearing up for there 200th anniversary as the Air Capital.  Watch for more updates from this major event; the next 7 years should have alot of excitement!

Cairo, Egypt - After the great Cairo fire of 2106, the city is pleased to announce the opening of both the Hotel Bristol and Shepherd's Hotel have opened after years of work and rebuilt based on their counter parts from the late 1800's and early 1900's.  Tourist and diggers are reminded that Egypt is once again the land of the Pharaohs, and to remain respectful of Egypt's restored greatness.  Audience with the Pharaoh is held for tourists only 4 times a year.  Please see your local Airship Tour Guide for details.

Ulan Bator, Mongolia - The emperor Bataar Khan reminds travelers be tolerant of the Tibetan Buddhists, Christian missionaries, Hindus, Muslims, and Taoist monks who visit to advise the emperor as the Khan follows in the footsteps of his forefather Genghis Khan.  Visitors are welcome to take part in horse tours, archery hunting, and other traditional activities.  The newly renovated Yurt Camp and Visitor Center is ready to host your visit!

Allert! - No airships of repute will be travelling to the Aztec Empire after the sacrificing of the trade ship Comerc's crew last month by the Aztecan religious leaders.  An investigation is on going by the Airship Trade Authority to see if any Aztec or Trade Laws were violated warranting the deaths.  All trade and travel via Airships are suspended until farther notice.

Belfast, Ireland - Ireland is pleased to announce not only the re-founding of Tara Hill Palace and the Kells, Kildare, and Glendalough Celtic Church Monasteries have been rebuilt, and are again centers of learning.  Kildare Lace will soon be available for traders to order along with hand copied books from Kells and Smoked Salmon from Glendalough.

Well that is enough for tonight.  Time to turn off the oil lamp, and get some shut eye.  I have to go back to fixing my trap lines again tomorrow, as I have been for the past few weeks, so it might be awhile before I write again.

~ Wryn Kasa

Ion 'Kles

Ion 'Kles got off the Ceplin at A'ts'inna, and looked around at the mesa top community.  Avery Trading post, that is were he had to get to.  He kept practicing what he would tell Soren and Lillian, " I have been a airship pirate, cowboy, and am now a farrier.  I have headed out from the Blue Mountains, having stopped over in Ozarks for my training in horseshoeing first, towards the desert southwest.  I was invited by Soren Kasa, to head out to a trading post he and his future wife were planning to start near a system of orphan caves.  I was not an orphan, but might as have been..."

He saw Lillian heading into the trading post, draped in her black cape.  He caught up with her, "Lillian, I have not head from Soren since he last traded in A'ts'inna, but you have kept me posted, and insured me your father can use me till it is time to build the post.  Oh, I am Ion 'Kles..."
"Oh, of course.  You work for me now.  Father cant say no." That girl has some guts.  I just trust she is correct.

~ Ion 'Kles