2018-07-26: Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained
- Log: Nothing Ventured Nothing Gained
- Cast: Layna Manydays, Loren Voss
- Where: Meribia - Blue Dragon Way
- Date: July 26th 2018
- Summary: Following their deal, Layna reports back with what she's learned. Loren pays the piper.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna Manydays had been busy. She had given her word to Loren that she'd look into the things he'd asked of her, and she always kept her word.
...Well, usually, and sometimes without keeping to the spirit of it, but still.
Information, however, was...sparse. Still, she had found a few useful tidbits she was sure she could spin into something worthwhile. And, more importantly, spin into some cash for her. Therefore, she contacted Loren and let him know, and give him directions to a location.
The location itself is...not particularly easy to find. It's through a few alleyways and past a hidden doorway with a symbol marked on the front leading into a hallway. It's a little cramped, but it's far out of the Guard's eyesight - perfect for those who are looking to avoid unwanted attention.
There are no windows, but a magic-infused lamp provides plenty of light, and there's a few chairs and a table with a bottle and some empty glasses.
There's a full glass, too, but that's held in the hand of one Layna Manydays, who's currently drinking out of it. By this time, she's fully recovered from the injury he might've noticed on their previous encounter.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
Information being sparse was, unfortunately, a state of being Loren knew well. For as much as the Guard -- and the Church -- were present and active in this world, as much as their hand showed in the state of things, they managed to keep their cards close to their chest.
Even their major players were largely out of his reach, in a world like this.
...It was honestly just bad luck for him that he'd already run into Leo at all, and under those circumstances. It makes things difficult, to say the least; he's surprised they hadn't ordered him back to the landing site yet.
But reports had become more scattershot from their fielded operatives of late. Something's going on, but he'll be damned if he can figure out what it is, either. Maybe the tensions in the impending war have shifted. Maybe it's about to become official.
...It'll leave him trapped here, without backup.
So when word comes in from Layna, it's quite literally the best news he's had in some time. At least this could possibly save his career--
Well, as much as there is a career for a soldier stuck on the moon, without the knowledge of whether they ever could return home again.
It's not an easy place to find. No doubt, the young medic passes by the place more than once in error before correcting his path, making his way inside.
Back on Filgaia, he'd come into a place like this without a bit of fear.
Now, it feels like he's unarmored. There's no guarantee of anything is there...
In silence, he makes his way over to the table and sits down opposite to Layna, before tugging his glasses out of a pocket and sliding them onto his face. A single nudge sees them sit right.
"Tell me what you found," he says, his voice low.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna looks up from her glass with a slight, knowing smirk as Loren steps into the room. She nods toward him in acknowledgment.
"Good to see you found the place. Almost afraid you wouldn't show." Layna comments, taking another sip from her glass, then gesturing to the table. "How's about a drink, aye? You look like you could use it."
But, of course, he wanted the information. Layna nods and leans back.
"Aye, well...I did learn a few things. Weren't easy, though. The Church tends to keep things...well, in the Church, but I'm sure you've figured that out already." Layna comments. "Had to call in quite a few favors...I'm sure you're gonna understand that it's gonna be a little costly."
It wasn't as bad as she's insinuating, but she wouldn't be a pirate if she didn't try to get everything out of the situation that she could.
"I've got some info on goings-on with the Church, and about what some of the higher-ups are, well, up to. So, lad...what do you wanna hear about first?" She asks.
She knows a little bit more, too, but she's not ready to present that quite yet.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
He stiffens when Layna mentions a 'drink'. There's a barely suppressed shudder. "No, thank you." There's a pause. "Only if it's water."
Never. Again. He's never touching the stuff again, after that fiasco.
He shifts in his seat, casting a sidelong glance at the occupants of this room. Who in here is likely to be trouble? Who in here is listening?
He's always been the paranoid one, but it's as if the sensation has doubled, tripled even. He has to be careful.
There's no guarantees in this world, he's realized. He's been 'lucky' until now that someone's been there to stop the worst of it, but in the end... he needs to watch out for his own self. Stand on his own feet.
And sighs, as Layna says it's not been easy. "I figured as much. They keep their cards close to their chest, and if you aren't already among their number, then that's it." It's how it's been for him -- perhaps even worse, for being an unknown. An unknown with a price on his head, but still an unknown.
The corner of an eye twitches as she says it's going to be costly.
But he still needs the information, even if it costs him the last of the money he was able to requisition.
"Fine. Do your worst," he tells her.
Before she says she has not just one but two pieces of intelligence to pass along. One blond eyebrow lifts. "The Church or the 'higher-ups', is it? Alright. Tell me about the people in charge."
There are four, if he remembers.
He's met the Knight.
He didn't make a good impression.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"'Fraid it's not." Layna replies with an apologetic shrug. It was definitely some variety of alcohol, that much was obvious. But if he's not interested...well, there was more for her.
She takes note of the shifting and those sidelong glances, but doesn't comment on them.
"Aye. And those who are, well...they're not about to readily risk their position. Or what comes if they give away their secrets." Layna agrees.
Eventually, he decides he wants to hear about the higher-ups. Layna grins and nods.
"Alright, so...they call 'em the 'Four Heroes', named after the Four Heroes of old. The one you already know about is White Knight Leo, aye? He's kind of the face of the whole thing - he's always out there doin' somethin' or other. He might seem a little...well, y'know, but don't let that fool you. Guy knows what he's doing, aye?" Layna explains.
"Next, you've got Blue Master Lunn. He's a talented martial artist - really into cleaning up crime. Usually his time's spent teaching other people his ways these days...but there's word goin' around that he's putting a tournament together in Meribia, looking for skilled fighters. I'd recommend lookin' into that more, aye?" Layna explains.
"Then after that, you've got Black Wizard Borgan. He's the master of Neo-Vane, and pretty much never leaves it. ...If that name sounds familiar, you're probably thinking of old Vane. The two are nothin' alike - Neo-Vane's a floating city, where sorcerers hone their craft. ...And it's, well, new, aye? They say he lifted it into the air through his own power...but I dunno if I believe that." She shrugs.
"Lastly of the Four Heroes...there's Red Priestess Mauri. I don't know much about her, but I hear she's workin' on a construction project of some kind."
Layna shrugs.
"And that pretty much sums up the Four Heroes...but even above them, there's the Dragonmaster, Ghaleon, and of course Althena Herself. He's on a whole other level, but rumor says he never leaves the Goddess's side." Layna concludes.
"...So. What do you think?" She asks.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
"Not even water in a place like this. Hmph. I suppose if you're going to break the local law..." He shrugs, palms turned ceilingward.
"Generally, it doesn't do to betray your organization's values." From anyone else, it might have been a straight statement. From 'Thomas' it's no less than sarcastic.
The one he already knows about... A suspicious eye rests on her for a moment. Has she seen...
Well. Probably. She'd be blind if she hadn't, he thinks sourly, shoulders hunching at the thought of it. "So I've gathered," is about the long and short of his statement on White Knight Leo. "What a pain..."
This just means he'll run smack into Leo again at the worst possible time, he's sure of it.
"I've heard of him." This is on the topic of Blue Master Lunn. Of course, anyone in Meribia has probably heard a thing or two about Lunn. ...And the upcoming tournament. But while he'd just filed it away as a piece of information, it...
"Looking for skilled fighters, is he?"
Obviously, even at a glance, Loren doesn't fit the bill.
"Hmm."
But there's bound to be chaos. Maybe there's something he can do with that.
"Well, I am expecting to be in the area for a while. I suppose I should make the best of it."
Black Wizard Borgan. This one is little more than a name he's heard. It's the town he rules that comes as more familiar--
His expression darkens. Neo-Vane, is it...
She might be telling him about Borgan, but all he can really think about is Margaret. Maybe it's better for him to keep his nose out of their business if possible. Somehow he doesn't quite think he's made a friend, he thinks a little dryly.
"I've heard of it," is what he tells her. "I'd prefer to leave a bunch of sorcerors alone, if I'm being honest. Besides, I don't know how I would begin to look into the business of a floating city," he says, without trace of irony.
"And the Red Priestess. I think that was out where we were investigating. The quarry, at least. I suppose if Lunn's side of things doesn't work out she might be a good second-best."
She's local, after all, and not likely to arrest him on sight.
...Less likely to arrest him on sight.
"Ghaleon?"
He pauses, silent for a moment.
"Good to know." Probably not worth following up, unless he pays a visit to Meribia, as unlikely as that is.
"...Useful. It's worth considering," he assesses at last. "You had said something about information regarding the Church?"
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna smirks, but doesn't comment on that. She doesn't comment on that suspicious look, either. She had, in fact, seen them. It was one of the first thing she looked into after their meeting. She noticed something else interesting there too.
She doesn't blame him for not wanting to get involved with Neo-Vane. She didn't want to get involved, either. ...Not that she could even if she wanted to - she didn't exactly have a way to get there.
"Azado, aye." Layna confirms with a nod, in regards to the quarry.
"...Aye, I do. Mostly, in regards to their activity in Glenwood." Layna replies. She lets that sit in a bit before continuing.
"...From the sounds of it, they've been actively avoiding getting involved. Pretty much the only ones who still go over there are Leo and the bunch under him. They're more focused on bolstering their ranks aye?" Layna explains. "Word says that the higher-ups of the Glenwood branch of the church have been asking for the Dragonmaster to intervene in the war, but...well, as you can tell by the fact that it's still goin', it hasn't happened yet, aye?"
She shrugs.
"...And that's all I got." She concludes...and then smirks. "...Although, I did hear a pretty juicy rumor. Apparently, the Guard's been trying to pressgang anyone who knows their way around a ship. Now, I wonder why that'd be, aye?"
She didn't know, herself, but it was definitely something to think about it. ...She should probably be careful, too.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
"Glenwood. That's what I want to know about -- I heard they're on the brink down there." To the point where even official communications have slowed to a trickle -- perhaps out of concern that their own position could be uncovered.
"...So that's the official stance?"
He's... morbidly interested, now. These people know how the war is going to go, don't they?
"And he won't intervene, or won't answer? ...In either case, that's interesting. One would think it would be in a goddess' interest to ease the suffering of her people." Maybe he's been hanging around deVriese too long, she might just be rubbing off a touch.
A touch.
"I wonder if they're planning to let this whole business with the war play itself out on their own," he says, lowering his voice and leaning in across the table, "or if they have some other trick up their sleeve."
For him, it's paranoia -- the Guard had meddled in business in Adlehyde and beyond, despite Filgaia being none of their business. And now here they were.
He's long forgotten that Elly had wondered whether they would have ended up with their positions reversed, now that they were the strangers in a strange land.
That, or he possibly doesn't care.
They're Solarian. It's their right.
"So that's it--"
He cuts himself off. No, it's not ENTIRELY it.
She tells him about a rumor.
"Anyone who can sail, is it? I don't suppose you'd happen to know the reason why?"
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
Layna remains back as Loren considers the information she presented to him. He's definitely thinking it over, but she doesn't offer any personal input. She just shrugs and smirks, at least until he asks her whether she knows anything more about that rumor.
"Nope! No idea. They're keepin' quiet as usual, aye?" She replies with a shrug. She had a few guesses, but nothing concrete, and the details themselves were shrouded in mystery...
...And besides, guesses weren't part of the deal.
"So that's that, then. So now it's time for your part of the deal, lad." Layna says, leaning forward and watching him expectantly.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
He just stares back at her, flatly.
"Oh. Of course you don't," he says, long-sufferingly. "I suppose that's something else to look into."
Then, of course, she asks what she's owed.
In the end, she might just be little better than an animal to his view of the world, but it still doesn't make it any better to 'stiff' her what they agreed upon.
He also has enough self-awareness and -- coupled with what he's learned the hard way over recent months (weeks) (days) -- also understands that he probably wouldn't live long enough to make it out the door, let alone the city.
Natural superiority, as it happens, doesn't prevent you from dying when someone stabs you through the heart.
So while he sighs and grimaces, he still reaches into his bag.
Still hands over almost all of what remains of his recent allotment.
Which is also likely to be his last, if his read of the situation in Glenwood is right.
Well, fine. So be it.
"That's the amount we agreed on. Take it or leave it."
...Recent lessons have done little for his attitude, sadly.
<Pose Tracker> Layna Manydays has posed.
"Think of it as homework, lad." Layna remarks with a shrug, and watches him. His internal thoughts aren't too far off. Layna might be on the nicer side compared to most pirates, but it was still never a good idea to be in debt to one.
That was the cost of dipping your toes into the criminal element, after all.
Gratefully she accepts the bag, looks through it to get a mental count, and then stows it away.
"Aye, I'll take it. I kept my word, you kept yours, so I consider us square." She says, then stands up from her chair.
"Pleasure doin' business with you, Blackwell." She says...then pauses, and reconsiders. "...Or is it 'Voss'?"
...Yeah, there's no way she didn't see the posters. He should probably be happy that she at least didn't call him 'The Secret Rainmaker' instead.
<Pose Tracker> Loren Voss has posed.
What can he do but sigh, grimacing as she says she's leaving him a little work to do? "Ugh. Fine, I suppose that's fair enough." Maybe he'll get lucky and find someone willing to answer some questions.
Or maybe it's time for him to do a little exploration, himself. If they're looking for sailors, there's probably somewhere they're trying to go.
Now there's the question: where's unexplored in this world?
It might be time to look at some maps, assuming he can get access to one without raising any eyebrows.
Whatever Loren's flaws might be -- there are at last count a number of them -- he at least doesn't seem to have cheated her any: they look like they're real silver, and there are at a glance the agreed-upon amount.
One would hope he wouldn't be so foolish as to cheat a pirate, anyway.
"Great."
It's something, at least. He can work with that.
He stands after a moment himself, glancing back over his shoulder even as she addresses him as...
Voss.
When he looks back at her, he's staring.
Before even shock gives way to weary resignation.
"Saw the poster, did you? ...Those charges are lies."
They aren't, but, well he's not... going to admit to that one.