“You’re right to be concerned,” Penny says. “And let’s not forget the other coppers we left at the back. We’ll have to keep a hostage.”

Penny hogties the militia so all they can do is hobble along, hands also bound behind them. Sleight of hand with a whisper of prayer: 10

“We’ll keep the lady,” she smiles ferally at the Vice Officer. “Now, get moving,” with her dagger out at the sleeping lady’s throat. “Wake these two and send them over, then the coppers. Lock the door to their car behind them, and decouple.”

”Best do it quick.”

Assuming Roland is stabilized, but likely still unconscious, Ormond will take the lead on moving the civilians and militiamen to the aft train car. 

Now, according to Penny’s plan, the guards are kicked over to the other car. Ormond ushers the two hostages over. Penny is undoubtedly pleased. However, according to Ormond’s plan, he tosses the final hostage into the next car, locks, and decouples the train with a swift hammer strike. 

The charred car that you are all in races off, connected to the engine, and leaves the rest of the cars off in the ever growing distance. With no hostages.

The tortle taps Penny on the shoulder and, in a small voice, says, “Deshi thinks... Deshi would prefer to take no further part in this adventure, please."

As Ormond walks by, he comments, "I appreciate that you got us out of that situation, but I don't take hostages - much less civilians."

Then, turning to Deshthi, he says, "Unfortunately, much like this train, you, my dear tortle, are on the tracks of this 'adventure' if only for a short while. On that matter, I would like to speak to you, but first, we should go check in on the engine's driver and make sure we get to where we're going."

Penny pouts. “I would never have hurt a bystander. But Vice Officer Dingle back there did not know that. I would have treated her well and offered her tea or something.”

To Deshi, she actually looks a bit pained when she says, “I’m awfully sorry about getting you involved. I know you would have preferred a less, um, bold approach. But you’re in the stew now, so to speak.”

To Ormond, “Do we need to involve the engineer? Maybe they’ll just keep going and not notice? It’s one more loose end.”

Penny continues with Deshi...

”So, it looks like we are all here after something you’ve got. I can’t imagine it’s your water bottle. My guess is it might be some knowledge you have, or a book you have that might say something unique inside? Maybe a treasure map, or a secret about the under world? Something about the event that made it? Any of that sound right?”

Deshi's hurt vanishes in an instant and their expression brightens. "Deshi imagines that there are COUNTLESS things in their possession that could be of great value to a thief." They tap a claw to their head. "Chief among them the contents of Deshi's mind! However, if we are to consider that these thieves are in pursuit of something tangible and only recently on Deshi's person, then it must be this incredibly rare and valuable map!"

The tortle gestures to the architect canister slung over their shoulder. Osskill buries its face in its wing. 

They think for a moment. "Deshi is surprised that your guess was so accurate. Do all adventures begin with such a map? Deshi assumed that was a contrivance of storytelling."

“Um..” Penny blinks and instinctively looks about, only to (surely) see Ormond paying attention.

”Yessss... that is, uh... likely it. Can we... see it? We have a little time. Unless, um, you want to go check on the train engine, Cap.” She refers to Ormond as Cap. “I’ll get a head start on this map thing, and keep an eye on the man who is also a Hippo. Yes?”

Deshi reaches excitedly for the canister, but the ink black raven jackdaws and hops on their shell. A little deflated, they say, "Ah, you're right, Osskill. This is hardly a suitable place." They gesture to the ruined, rocking carriage as they turn to Penny. "Deshi would require a sterile, controlled environment first. But Deshi would be happy to describe the map in exhausting detail, provided that we have some sort of plan in place to ensure Deshi's and the map's safety?"

“Shrewd,” Penny says, eyeing the bird. “So, we should get off the train before we arrive at the station in Drywood. I’m open to ideas about how to do that. Some of you know a lot more about trains than I do, but in the penny books there’s usually some sort of emergency brake the idiot hero pulls.” Penny looks about the carriage for something like that.

That would likely be in the engine.

Ormond comments, "Fine... We'll stay out of the engine for the time being. Besides, I don't trust you alone with Deshthi. And I agree that we should stop and get off the train before reaching the station - but then we'd have to disable the train somehow, or they'll simply beat us there and warn any local crews."

Addressing Deshthi, Ormond implores, "Yes, please tell us what you know about this map - perhaps an abstract first. Then more detailed questions if time permits. The one thing I know is that the Militia wants it for themselves, which means either it's a danger to them or they can use it for their own, unsavory purposes."

Deshi nods enthusiastically. "Deshi would be thrilled to do just that. Let's see... Eons ago, or perhaps longer, when the mana and magma of the primordial world finally began to cool, and the Names of things settled into their current shapes..." They look around. "Hmm. Abstract first? You are all familiar with the surface geological organization of this world, yes? That somehow, long ago, our world became encapsulated like some terrible and enormous hard candy?" Deshi looks at his companions and then at the (presumably) snoring hippo person on the floor. He resumes. "Prior to this event, the world was, quite obviously, wholly and unimaginably different than its current state. THAT world, the original world, was comprised of landmasses much like our own. UNLIKE our land, however, there are those of us who believe that these masses, what we call tectonic plates, floated upon a sea of still-molten magma below the planet's crust." They smile. "Like croutons upon a thick soup. We ALSO believe that our landmasses are suspended in a similar way upon something, though Deshi admits that, given the militia's pointed discomfiture at even the mention of the world before, direct observation of any of this is nearly impossible."

Deshi touches the canister reverently. "Deshi is delivering a map to a friend and colleague of Deshi's master. This map demonstrates the positions, divisions, and inexorable motions of the major plates that comprise our world's shell. It is the culmination of years of work and the combined efforts of many scholars. Deshi does not doubt that the militia would kill anyone carrying such, ah, treasonous material." 

The light in Penny's eyes dies a little. "It's a... map of... geology? You're saying it's a... Science Map. Not a Treasure Map." Her eyes look about the carriage again, perhaps looking for a way out of this now. "Maybe your master's colleague will be grateful to the tune of some reward for its safe delivery?"

The girl turns and begins methodically searching through the luggage and personal items panicked passengers surely left behind. Under her breath she mutters, "Maybe there's something to salvage from this debacle."

Searching (20) with Perception (add 6) or Investigation (add 4 instead)

Edit: She's distracted by her disappointment.

Quote from Mingofaust >>

The light in Penny's eyes dies a little. "It's a... map of... geology? You're saying it's a... Science Map. Not a Treasure Map."

 "Exactly!" 

Quote from Mingofaust >>

"Maybe your master's colleague will be grateful to the tune of some reward for its safe delivery?"

Deshi nods sagely. "Anything is possible. Though the safeguarding and expansion of knowledge are rewards unto themselves!"

Osskill pecks the tortle's shell for emphasis.

Whole lotta nothing of value in those bags.

Frustrated, Penny lets some lady's handbag drop to the seat. Stepping over Roland's sleeping form, she rounds on Ormond, "So what's so valuable about a map of how the world is built? I know we could fence it back to the government, they want it so much, but I expect you won't want to do that, so what's the angle? Somebody has got to want this bad enough to pay for it... wait, is that you?" She takes a step back from Ormond, hand to her dagger.

The camera pans to a turtle with a dopey grin and a slow blink.

Quote from Aveiro_ >>

Deshi touches the canister reverently. "Deshi is delivering a map to a friend and colleague of Deshi's master. This map demonstrates the positions, divisions, and inexorable motions of the major plates that comprise our world's shell. It is the culmination of years of work and the combined efforts of many scholars. Deshi does not doubt that the militia would kill anyone carrying such, ah, treasonous material." 

 Ormond walks up to Deshthi, and says quietly, but seriously, "Now Deshthi, you and I both know that the militia is not too concerned about maps of the surface - geological or otherwise.  Like I said, I've been to where I suspect that map leads to. More importantly, if the militia wants it, then they should not have it. That, alone, is worth the time and effort I put into tracking you down... but I think it's time to find out how deep that umber hulk tunnel goes."  Then after a moment, he jabs, "Just because we didn't spend time studying time at your university, don't underestimate us - or take us for naive grade school students."

Quote from Mingofaust >>

Frustrated, Penny lets some lady's handbag drop to the seat. Stepping over Roland's sleeping form, she rounds on Ormond, "So what's so valuable about a map of how the world is built? I know we could fence it back to the government, they want it so much, but I expect you won't want to do that, so what's the angle? Somebody has got to want this bad enough to pay for it... wait, is that you?" She takes a step back from Ormond, hand to her dagger.

Ormond allows his stare to linger on Deshthi a moment before turning to address Penny and her threat.  

Ormond does not go for his weapon, but his hammer is on his belt loop, easily brandished, and his shield is still strapped to his arm. He gives Penny a hard look, and says very slowly and deliberately, "Miss, I'd be very careful about your next move. Grabbing your weapon and making thin-air accusations like that is going to make me nervous, and we don't want anyone twitching.  Why don't you go back to looking through the personal belongings of those passengers until you find something shiny you like."