Avywenna

CODENAME: Avywenna

GENDER: Female

AUTHENTICATION: Talos-II General Chamber of Commerce (TGCC)

DOB: October 25

RACE: Cautus

[ORIPATHY INFECTION STATUS]

Oripathy negative, based on medical examination reports.

[INTEGRATED PHYSICAL EXAMINATION]

PHYSIOLOGICAL STRENGTH: Standard

COMBAT SKILL: Excellent

TACTICAL ACUMEN: Standard

ORIGINIUM ARTS ASSIMILATION: Standard

Avywenna is an Armed Messenger of the Special Logistics Module under the Endfield Industries Specialist Tech Division.

Sweet as a sugar carrot, but armed with a big lance — this summarizes my evaluation of Avywenna. If she intends to get something done, she would do so with the most honeyed approach and most merciless of measures. Of course, if Avy was found out she had indulged in the latter, she would treat it as a lapse in performance. Avy has confessed to us: "To get things done in the wildlands, even the kindest soul must put on the most vicious mask." She has exhibited child-like innocence, acted like a mercenary, and negotiated like a professional fraud — We do not know which of these best represents the true profile of Avywenna. Perhaps this might be the reason for her excellent mission performance.

— Martin Marvin Malen, Assistant, HR Division, Endfield Industries

While serving as a messenger in our Specialist Tech Division, Operator Avywenna could not give a more different vibe than Operator Gilberta. The latter is known throughout Endfield for her uninhibited sweetness and geniality. Avywenna, on the other hand, approaches socializing like a professional and manages relationships accordingly.

One has to work with Operator Avywenna for extended periods of time before noticing her peculiar quirks. For example, despite being extremely loquacious during small gatherings or in private, everyone who recalled the exchanges would realize that they hardly got any truth from Avywenna — especially about herself. Nevertheless, people tend to find themselves spilling their beans with Avywenna as she proved to be an excellent listener. She is always capable of asking friendly questions, leading on discussions along the direction she has planned, and concluding dialogs at just the perfect moments.

Avywenna personally explained such skills with her background. She was born to a huge Cautus family living in the Free City of Alloycarrot. Patience easily becomes the most important virtue when living with a huge number of kin. This claim has been verified. Querying "Avywenna" in the population database of Alloycarrot gives you over 80 individuals with the same name.

Whenever Avywenna casually drops a morsel of info about herself, it's always a subtle bait to get her conversational partner to lay everything out. A short dialog is all she needs to acquire background information and contacts about everyone she is chatting with. Avywenna would also argue, with great cunning, that she did so out of professional habit that carried over from her messenger career, where one must constantly deal with people.

One thing to note: no one resents Avywenna's air of mystery. Instead, it only got more people interested in chatting her up. Her presence has greatly enhanced Endfield's ability to navigate the local affairs that are often tangled and delicate. Avywenna is a master at resolving conflicts and diffusing tension, walking away without a scratch. She is like a miner navigating the criss-crossing mines and tunnels of Alloycarrot. The one directing the situation will never feel lost.

DOCUMENT: HR recruitment log from the Shaynwood mail distribution station

When that Cautus woman stepped through the door, I noticed that big red patch on her clothing. It looked about two or three days old, already starting to turn black. I asked if she needed any help, but she just said she wanted a job. She probably saw that hiring notice outside and got interested.

"It's just ketchup," she said, "Nothing to worry about."

"You sure are one helluva messy eater, young miss." I responded with an awkward smile.

I'm not used to talking with pretty-looking people, and the town of Shaynwood did not give me much practice. The closest TGCC city is 368 klicks away, and the nearest frontier mail depot is about 110 klicks down the road. It was three in the afternoon. The most comely female usually frequenting my place would be the burdenbeast looking for grass outside the door. I assumed this Cautus had started her trip from the city 368 klicks away, with her next stop 110 klicks down the road. Her direction was interesting. Most people would travel in the opposite direction.

Just last night, I heard about some Landbreaker-related altercation 23 klicks away. Armed battery involving six individuals. Five were injured and one escaped. The UWST Security Bureau operating in the frontiers messaged me to look out for individuals traveling alone. Might just be the fugitive.

"The notice posted outside says you're looking for a mail courier," the Cautus said, pointing behind her with her thumb.

"Ah, yeah. That's right. Your predecessor resigned just two months ago."

"My predecessor? Are you saying that I'm already hired?"

"Well, know how to drive? What type of vehicles? We don't care about licenses here. Count all the vehicles you know how to ride."

"Six, including trucks, I think."

"Awesome!" I said, "You nabbed the post. Start working tomorrow! I'll also need you to show me your ID and complete this form. Just for the records."

I pushed her the form and a pen through the tiny window. She completed the form without much of a thought and pushed it back to me. She also gave me a big, glowing smile. What an understanding, kind, and cooperative lady!

Then she started unloading her questions to me, as though she asked them a million times before. She also started arranging her accommodations as though she owns the place, "Can I park my car at the back? I'm talking about that overgrown plot behind the iron gate. Yes. Mmhmm? No problem. So, got any Originium power pylons here? I gotta fix my ride. It's down. And what's the network password? Got enough bandwidth on the thing? Yes. For movies. Wooo. Not bad... You don't say, you're inviting me ... to your place? Ooh. A dinner date? That's not what you meant? With your gramps, Postmaster Laine? Say, aren't you way too young for this, kiddo? Much appreciated, but I'll just sleep in my car. Don't worry. I'm used to it."

She gave me a few winks before slowly swaggering her way through the door.

I suddenly remembered that I had to check her form. Lo and behold!

NAME: Secret, but yours for 60000 T-Creds.

AGE: Forget it, kiddo

ADDRESS: People will pay for this, you know

RELATIONSHIPS: It's complicated

EXPERIENCE: Professional traveler

HEALTH INFORMATION: Essentially safe and hazard-free

DOCUMENT: Letter of recommendation from Postmaster Laine

Ma-Ma-Ma:

If you read this letter of recommendation, I implore you to help an old friend out. Get that woman seated before you OUT of my mail depot. There's a reason why I chose Shaynwood, a place where the fowlbeasts don't ever roost, to enjoy my peace, quiet, and retirement. I do not intend to contend with cartel agents or corpo-rats who keep showing up armed and eager to settle some debt or score or whatever they call it. That's right. My peaceful retirement home of Shaynwood has turned into a carnival in less than a year! A bunch of ambulances came through, and the Originium charging post in town actually made a decent pile of creds. I don't know what Avy did to them, but from the looks of it, it's probably nothing good.

And I got pretty simple reasons for sending her your way. This tunnel-crawling Rim Billygal knows nothing about milking cystybeasts. In fact, my cysty-herd is now morbidly afraid of her because she keeps squeezing too hard with those miner hands of hers. Also, she sorted out the mailing system and got it working like an oiled machine. Now all the lucky bastards in Shaynwood are going to receive their presents ahead of holiday season! Just to let you know, I have been paying her peanuts! But judging from the way she eats, dresses, and acts, and that bespoke customized outdoor rig, she probably worked in a private security detail in the Band. My money's on Sloan Security, and that's one of the biggest family business in the Free City of Alloycarrot. Which means she was getting one helluva paycheck. And since she chose Shaynwood as her hideout, I'm fully convinced that she has a serious mental issue.

Oh, and there's one more thing. She's super interested in our Endministrator. After she found my cert of resignation I've kept hidden in my drawers, she started making dinner for us, hoping that I could share something about the Endmin. This is incredibly unsettling. Truth be told, a generation had already passed since I worked with the Endmin. Let's keep these words between us (and I'm trying to be nice and positive here): It takes a nutcase to handle another.

Best wishes,

Laine

DOCUMENT: A reply to another letter

Laine:

Candidate Avywenna has successfully passed a series of tests and is now formally working at Endfield as an operator. Thank you for your recommendation. We shall mail to you one Endfield Rewards Supply Crate as a token of our appreciation.

Given our safety considerations, I wonder if you can share with us the origins of the polearm that Miss Avywenna carries around with her. She seems very attached to this weapon, but the only thing she told us about it was that the lance was something from her grandmother. Miss Avywenna is armed with far more weapons than we expected. It would take her five to six minutes to fully disarm herself to pass security checkpoints. She even has razor blades hidden in the soles of her shoes. And those two long straps dangling behind her were not merely cosmetic. We learned what they actually do during security training. Sweet as a sugar carrot, but armed with a big lance — this is one unique combo.

Miss Avywenna, an operator hailing from the residential zones of Rim Billiton, has demonstrated that powerful offensive capabilities also come in a slim and lithe package. We now have positive views regarding the retention of certain cultural traditions and ecology amongst the residents in this section of the Band.

Martin Marvin Malen

DOCUMENT: A private letter

Lamp:

Where are you, darling babe? Your great granny, grand aunt, aunt, and sister heard (from me) that you quit your job and left home. They've got a ton of questions, and they are relentless. Even the best-fabricated story would breach under their endless drilling. Anyway, the family exploded when they learned you really left home, just as we expected. Looking on the bright side, I kept it a secret for 3 weeks. But Mama's gotta know where you've been all this time.

I know our argument at Arlirye left quite a bad taste in the mouth. Mama still doesn't support your choice but when I got back home and sat down, I suddenly remembered that trip I had planned when I was a young gal like you. My bag was already packed and leaning right against the wall. I was that close to picking it up and marching through the door to get somewhere far away when I heard you. You were in your baby feeding chair and smiling at me with a baby knife and fork in your hands. And I stayed. I'm sharing this story with you because I wish to tell you that your hope of leaving home might be an inherited habit.

Though your great granny likes to talk about it, the scenes that our pioneering ancestors witnessed after crossing the Cosmic Gate had already faded away into patches of mold on the wall. They were part of the gigantic convoy column, a great wall of vehicles that stretched all the way to the edge of the horizon. The truckers kept driving, up till the very eve of Severance. That was how we found our first pot of gold, the starting capital upon which we built our logistics business in Alloycarrot. However, as we spent longer and longer time chasing after mineral veins, our kin no longer felt at home when placed behind the wheel.

Watch out for enemies on the road. Your TGCC job wasn't exactly low profile and we had a share of visitors. Rest assured, no one's going to hurt my darling baby doll.

I'll handle the rest of our family for you. Don't forget to send us pictures from your traveling.

Mama

DOCUMENT: A private letter

Mama:

Finding network connection in the wildlands is no easy task. But a solo journey is everything I dreamed of. Sweet and beautiful.

I stopped by New Wrankwood right after leaving home. They tried to recreate the scene to heal trauma, but it ended up quite disappointing, since no one was interested in the horror genre. And the place just wouldn't stop raining. I didn't like it.

The Northern Corridor is my next destination, and I'll soon be reaching the edge of the Band. Just yesterday, a painter at the motel told me about the breathtaking natural landscapes waiting for me once I leave the Band cities. I intend to explore the old frontiers of the north. People say there are ruins that date back before the collapse of the Cosmic Gate. They're the things that great granny kept talking about, right? Don't worry about me getting into dangerous situations. I've been traveling with a group of Hannabit Circuit Songseekers. Once I find decent connection, I'll send you photos of me riding a burdenbeast.

FYI, someone just piqued my interest. Whenever I found a place to rest my legs and talk to the locals, I would hear a name called the "Endministrator". Coincidentally, my itinerary basically matched this "Endministrator's" northward expedition. Is it possible that I've found my match in Talos-II in the field of professional traveling?

Lamp