Deshi is clearly confused. "Deshi was tasked with safeguarding this map and delivering it safely. If you and the militia are not interested in it, then Deshi is afraid they do no know why you-" The tortle blinks, then peers at Ormond more closely. "It would help us all if you explained why you sought Deshi in the first place. Who informed you that we were carrying something of value, and why approach Deshi here, on this train?"

As you think on it, Ormond’s right. The Militia would have no reason to want an ordinary map. However... if this map is actually the object that rumors have been talking about, then this isn’t an ordinary map. There must be something to all of this...

Penny relaxes as Ormond threatens her in turn, taking her hand off the pommel of her dagger. This she understands.

"Naw, there's nothing shiny there," she waves at the pile of personal effects she gathered. Then she faces him square up. "I just don't know why you're here, cap'n. You understand if I'm cautious. But I figure if we're in this boat together, we need to know who's for rowing, and who's for knocking a hole in the hull. I'll be right up front, I'm here because my guild is curious about the hubbub around this turtle. But me, now I know it's about a map, I'm curious about what might be at the end of said map, under the proverbial big red X, if you understand. I'm a simple girl. So why are you here, cap'n?"

"I sought you out because you are sought out by others. I've seen what the Militia has done with information that 'might' be similar to what you are carrying. So, I'm here to ensure that it's not used for something untowardly," Ormond replies to Deshthi.

He then continues, "At first I was just going to steal it from you, preferably without you realizing it, but the situation has evolved and you seem... honest... enough that I'd rather you not befall to the violence... or tricks... of others."

He then says, nodding towards Penny, "I don't think we'll find an 'X' as what the lady is hoping for, but I agree - we should take out the map and takes a look at it while we have relative peace."

"Deshi would be honored!" The tortle reaches out a claw to shake Ormond's hand. "And Deshi thanks you, Mr..." They look around. "Is Deshi the only one who has shared their name? Beyond Mr. Hippo, of course."

"THAT'S THUNDER HIPPO TO YOU, SHELLY!" Roland shoots up into a sitting position, his body back to his regular form. He looks around, noticing the half burned seats and the total lack of people. "AH, so the distraction worked!"  

“Penny,” she says, hopping out of Roland’s way.

Ormond takes Deshthi's claw shaking firmly and replying, "It's been a busy morning - so I understand. As I had mentioned before all the commotion began - my name is Ormond."

Ormond quips at Roland, "No - the distraction did not. I appreciate a direct approach, but then the execution must fit to the situation."

'In this case," Ormond continues, "Penny worked. She got us all what would have been a terrible situation."

"Oh, well you're welcome, cap'n," Penny sketches a curtsy. She is wearing a dress, after all, sort of an Annie Oakley knee-length black leather wrap, though loose enough to move in. She spares a glance backwards, then moves to the front of the car, looking ahead for trouble. Hopefully she sees none and turns back to the group. "Okay, if Hippo can keep his wrecking mitts off of it, I think it's time to see the map."

"Ah yes. The map!" Roland pushes himself back onto his feet and asks. "What map?"

Deshi opens their mouth to explain, point by point, everything they just told the others.

Penny makes it about thirty seconds. "Yes, good, thank you. It's a map, Hippo, that the turtle is to deliver, but cap'n here," she indicates Ormond, "Thinks it's more than just a map, though everyone is quick to tell me it's not a map to treasure." She rolls her eyes. "Now, we're going to look at it," and she raises her eyebrows at Deshi.

Roland scoffs at the mention of no treasure. "No treasure? Boooring. How can a map be more than a map anyway?" 

Deshi sighs, then gestures for the others to follow them to a nearby table. Slowly, reverently, they uncap the canister and remove the map, weighting the edges with stones to flatten the scroll. They take a half step back so the others can see, but not enough for them to actually touch the parchment.

Penny gazes on the map with the practiced eye of someone used to deciphering secrets...

5: Investigation +4, Perception +6

As Deshi unfurls the map, you all behold it. The map itself, while plain, is incredibly complex. Showing the whole territory, red lines crisscross throughout the surface. However, below that, you see shorthand explanations of the images above. Combined with Deshi’s own knowledge of the map, a cohesive picture forms in your minds.

This is a map of the fault lines of the territory. That is, it highlights points in the surface that will inevitably crack open, connect the surface and the underground, and then shortly close. 

(I don't know if tortle nostrils can flare, but...) Deshi's nostrils flare as they stare at the map intently, eyes narrowed and moving quickly along the red lines. 

"Wait..." Penny's eyes widen as she understands what she is seeing. "Are you telling us that... this map tells us where we can get to the... the world that was? Does it say when each opening will happen?" she looks up at Deshi.

// DM - do the lines cross over any of the places that Ormond has been to? Particularly close to where he last saw IT.

Ormond, eyeing over the map, comments, "Knowing paths in and out the world below is powerful knowledge indeed. It is of no wonder that the Militia wants this - there are many possible military applications possible."

None that cross directly over any locations you’re overly familiar with. For this region, the Militia’s main entry point is the the military base/town known as Underhill. It was a town built around a similar fissure, but it seems this one didn’t close.

To answer Penny’s question, there are estimated time frames listed.