The Vengeance of the Bitten Hand | Events of the Ages

  Per their longstanding agreement with the city of Anvillon, the Noinette clan are required to send an annual tribute of nanocomponents, their most valuable export, equal to no less than five-percent of their total ouput for that year. In return, they bear the favour of Anvillon whose mark of approval has established them as the provider of choice across much of the continent and their goods a standard worth paying for.
  It was on one such year that a horde of ironbeasts began to rampage across a section of the southern tradeway, which forced many merchants and suppliers to take the long diversion to reach the safer western route to the city. The leaders of Noinette chose otherwise, for they saw no point in spending additional time and expense on a act they were already providing for free. The terms of their contract only required that tribute be sent, not received: if the rulers of Anvillon wanted their tribute so badly, then they could expend the effort themselves.

  When the report of the caravan's course was received by the ruling council, it was met with unbridled derision: was this to be the treatment that their favour had earned? The more militant voices demanded that a punitive detachment be sent to demonstrate that such provocation would not go unpunished. These calls were quickly dissuaded by the evaluation that all the act would earn them was the loss of any future tributes and the costs of contracting such a force on short notice. Furthermore, it was argued, the mark that they had bestowed upon the Noinette clan would be forever tarnished, and cost them opportunities with a number of other clans who sought to earn its privilege. As such, with no other suggestions forthcoming, the meeting was adjourned until the following day.

  Outside the city walls, there was another group left unpleased by the course of action chosen by the Noinette: the crew of their own tribute ships. Having fallen out of favour with the clan's leaders, the group had been set to face exile and the loss of their clan names - this mission was now their last chance left at redemption, regardless of the risk it entailed. From the viewdeck, a cloud beneath a cloud could be seen on the horizon. A swirling, grey, airborne mass whose composite particulates gave the impression of a recorded video viewed in poor quality.