Scenario:Herja - The Melancholy of Herja

The Melancholy of Herja

(Captain) and Herja save a little girl from monsters. The child's merchant older brother hires the Iron Spear and the Grandcypher crew as security for his trading convoy. But some of Herja's mercenaries recently had a run-in with other skyfarers in the convoy, making her job as the expedition's leader extremely difficult.

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Herja: Whetstone, oil, wool... That should be everything I need.

(Captain), Herja, and the crew are out shopping.

Herja: We'll run out of hands to carry our purchases at this rate. Shall we return to—

Herja: ...!

Just as they are about to head back to the Grandcypher, Herja makes a sharp right turn.

Vyrn: What's up, Herja? This's the way to the forest, not the port.

Herja: I know. But something isn't right. It was faint, but I thought I heard a scream just now.

Herja: Someone may have run into trouble in the forest. I'm going to go check!

Vyrn: Hey, don't run off by yourself!
C'mon, (Captain). She'll need backup!

(Captain) and the others hurry after Herja into the woods.

Girl: ...!

Monster: Grraaah!

They find a girl treed by a monster, clinging to one of the upper branches and trembling with fear.

Herja: I knew it! Come on, (Captain)! We have to get her to safety!

(Captain) nods and prepares for battle.

Moving in tandem, the pair soon sends the monster running for the hills.

They help the girl—Michelle—down from her perch and escort her home.

Her home turns out to be the stately manor of the town's most affluent merchant.

Michelle's grandfather and older brother greet the crew with tears of gratitude and invite them inside to enjoy their lavish hospitality.

Merchant Mike: I shudder to think what would have happened to my sweet little Michelle if you hadn't found her!

Mike III: How can we ever thank you!

Herja: Anyone would have done the same. We're just happy she's safe.

Merchant Mike: But how did you ever realize she was in trouble from so far away?

Merchant Mike: You must be famous skyfarers. Or perhaps mercenaries?

Herja: Oh, forgive me. I should have made introductions sooner.

Herja: This is (Captain), captain of the airship Grandcypher and its sizable crew.

Merchant Mike: Captain (Captain)? Well, I never! I've heard all about your exploits from Sierokarte!

Herja: And my name is Herja. I lead a band of mercenaries known as the Iron Spear, although I'm not certain I've fully grown into the position.

Merchant Mike: The illustrious Captain (Captain) and the commander of the famous Iron Spear? I don't think I've ever had such distinguished dinner guests!

The merchant can hardly contain his surprise.

Merchant Mike: Hmm... Perhaps this is fate.

Herja: What do you mean?

Merchant Mike: As it happens, my grandson is planning to strike out to expand our business off the island. We've been looking for security personnel for the expedition.

The merchant gestures to his grandson, seated beside him.

Merchant Mike: You never can tell what dangers may lie along an unexplored sky route. If you would be amenable, I would be thrilled to hire all of you for the job.

Vyrn: Whaddya think, (Captain)? Might as well hear him out, right?

Sensing a good customer in the grateful merchant, (Captain) asks for more details.

Vyrn: Whoa... This job is a lot bigger than I was expecting.

Herja: From the sound of it, I'm not sure the Grandcypher has the hold space or enough crew to transport all that cargo alone.

Mike III: Oh, of course. We plan to enlist the help of other crews and merchants in order to put together a convoy. And that's where you come in, Herja.

Herja: Ah, so that's why you need the Iron Spear to run security.

Mike III: Exactly! I was worried we wouldn't have enough people to protect such a large convoy, but if you accept, all our problems should be solved!

Mike III: Not to mention, I'm eager to learn how an exquisite flower such as yourself commands an entire band of rowdy mercenaries. I'm sure you could teach me a thing or two about leadership!

Herja: Exquisite... flower?

The young man's frank admiration brings color to Herja's cheeks.

Vyrn: Easy there, Herja. You're gettin' that glassy look in your eyes again.

Herja: Ah! I can't let my impure thoughts get the best of me!

Herja: A-hem! Understood. I'll see how many Iron Spears are available for this assignment.

Merchant Mike: Thank you so much! With your cooperation, this venture is bound to be a success!

Herja: ...

Herja does her best to return the merchant's beaming smile, but it falls a little flat.

Herja: (Merchants shouldn't be a problem, but I'm not so sure how the Iron Spear is going to get along with other airship crews...)

In the end, Herja accepts the job. A few days later, she and a contingent of Iron Spears prepare to meet their client at the port.

Herja: Is everyone here? I trust you're all ready to give this assignment your full dedication?

Iron Spears: Ready and waiting, ma'am!

Herja: Good!
We're ready to rendezvous with the convoy, (Captain). Shall we be on our way?

(Captain), Herja, and the Iron Spears all head toward the port where the convoy ships are docked.

Iron Spear 1: Leave it to our commander to find such a big job!

Iron Spear 3: I can't wait to show all these skyfarers what we're made of! We'll dismantle those monsters before the skyfarers can even get near 'em!

Herja: I'm glad you're enthusiastic about your work...

Herja sighs, a look of disapproval on her face as her mercenaries sound off.

Herja: But we should focus on successfully completing the job. Don't get so caught up in the competitive spirit that you lose sight of our objective.

Herja: I won't tolerate any jockeying for meaningless status. I've already told you how I feel about that—I trust you won't make me repeat myself.

Iron Spear 2: We won't! No fighting with skyfarers—we promise!

Iron Spear 1: Besides, we have (Captain)'s crew with us. I can't see how this job could go wrong.

Herja: All right. I'm trusting you. Just as our client is trusting us, so let's not disappoint him.

Their client welcomes them with a beaming smile.

Mike III: Herja, (Captain), and members of the Iron Spear! I'd like to thank you again for taking this request!

Herja: Oh... No... The pleasure is ours... You just, er, just leave everything to us!

Herja blushes as Mike III clasps her hand for a hearty shake.

He seems oblivious to her embarrassment, however, and turns to gesture to the people standing behind him.

Mike III: Allow me to introduce the other skyfarers in our convoy.

Herja: Ah, yes...
Everyone, please introduce yourselves.

The Iron Spear members line up and wait for the skyfarers to step forward.

The very first one to approach looks strangely familiar.

Herja: ...!

Skyfarer 1: Wait a minute... Aren't you the mercenaries we met in Port Breeze?

Iron Spear 2: Hmm? You look familiar... Ah!

Herja: (Oh, of all the luck...)

Not long ago, a few members of the Iron Spear got into a dust-up with some skyfarers in Port Breeze.

Iron Spear 2: Listen here, moron! You think we're just gonna take that lying down?

Skyfarer 1: Ha! What's a merc with no ship gonna do, flap your arms after us?

Herja: All of you, cease this nonsense at once!

As commander of the Iron Spear, Herja stepped in to mediate and gave her mercenaries a stern talking-to.

Herja: We all understand that demonstrating strength is necessary to secure our daily sustenance in this world, don't we?

Iron Spear 3: Yes, of course...

Herja: In order to improve our strength and our earnings, we mercenaries banded together.

Herja: Not for the sake of recklessly quarrelling with other groups.

Herja: Starting a fight over pride is something I will not tolerate. There is to be no more of this rivalry nonsense between skyfarers and mercenaries.

Herja: Come to me first if any issues arise. I will always have your back, as commander of the Iron Spear.

Her words, on the heels of a judicious application of force, had the desired effect: both sides backed down.

Judging from the sour looks on the faces around her, however, neither her subordinates nor the skyfarers have forgotten the incident.

Skyfarer 1: ...

Iron Spear 2: ...

But professionalism seems to win out, and they all force a smile and step forward to shake hands.

Iron Spear 2: Of all the luck... Great luck, I mean! Fancy running into you again so soon! So very, very soon.

Skyfarer 1: Yeah! Never figured we'd wind up working with you all. We really are... lucky.

Mike III: So you all know each other! Given your reputations, I suppose it's no surprise you have connections all over the skies!

Herja: Oh, er... Thank you...

Herja and the skyfarers seem equally nonplussed at this reunion.

Herja: (After everything I told them, I'm sure my mercenaries will conduct themselves professionally in front of the client. Everything will be fine.)

Iron Spear 3: Sounds like there are monsters along the sky route we're taking, but don't worry, we'll take care of those nasty beasties so they don't use you as chew toys.

Herja: (Just fine...)

Skyfarer 2: Ha ha... That's a real load off my mind.

Skyfarer 2: And don't you worry—we'll keep the ship sooo steady, even a toddler with an inner ear condition could walk safely across the deck. We'd hate to see any stupid accidents.

Herja: (Yes. Just... peachy.)

Skyfarer 2: ...

Iron Spear 3: ...

It seems neither side is quite ready to let bygones be bygones. The tension is palpable.

Herja: (Oh dear... This job could lead to a lot of future work. I really don't want to spoil it...)

Herja: (No, no. I mustn't give in to pessimism.)

Herja: (For the sake of my subordinates and our client, it's my job as commander to make certain this goes smoothly.)

Herja tamps down her misgivings, but this job is clearly off to a rocky start.