Horizon Odyssey, Chapter 1, A hopeful fresh start

[FrankerZ]

Nodding, he said: "That is quite alright Reo. I can respect that... I for one am glad to hear I am not the only one who came prepared with extra medicine." He didn't like this ronin. Just from her rigid posture, Victor could tell Reo was exceedingly tense. It was almost as if she thought everyone in the room to be a potential enemy, and she was ready to act on an instant. Could it be that the ronin was perpetually on-guard and prepared for self defense? 'No' he thought. 'It has to be something more instinctual... perhaps even animalistic? Blood lust. That thought sent shivers down his spine. 'As if this child weren't frighting enough...' If blood lust truly were the case, then the ronin was an enemy he could not afford to make yet. He didn't want to think about that idea anymore.


Trying to find something else to occupy his thoughts, he pulled out a small pocketwatch. "Well, are we going to stand here all day? C'mon Aaron, splitting the Ental was your idea. Let's get to it!" He said enthusiastically.

[Curry-Kohai]

Ihsan clapped her hands enthusiastically.
"Yes yes! Of course! I volunteer for buying more medica!"
She was eager to leave, if only because of the ronin, though. Her presence alone was enough to convince Ihsan that either Reo or her ancestors had infernal blood running through them. The spiritual world was something Ihsan preferred to avoid, and that wasn't going to end now. Besides, she'd be doing the party a favor if she could find medica at a "discount" price.

It's only a matter of where you look.

thought Ihsan, looking about the party for their confirmation of her share of the duty.

[CD-Man2021]

Aaron just managed to catch the bag Victor tossed at him without dropping it, his book, or his pen. A few members already had their own supplies, so getting medica wasn't the top concern. Still, it didn't hurt to be overly prepared, especially for the labyrinth. 300 total. A warp stone most likely cost at least a third of this. So another third into medicas, or even just half of that, and we’ll be all set. I’ll use my own money to buy that wand, and we’ll still have at least 100 left. He took a quick glance at his gauntlet. He had read that alchemists could learn to use the same warping properties as warp stones. If only he could find the right figures he’d be able to replicate it and not have to have the guild waste money on warp stones.

But that was for later. Victor reminded him that time was not infinite, and that it was time to get moving. Ishan also seemed more than happy to buy the medica, which he was thankful for. She obviously knew how to handle money, whereas the alchemist might spend more than he meant.
“Right.” Aaron said, opening the pouch and splitting the pile into two uneven stacks. “Ishan, we’ll entrust you with the medica, 100 en should be more than enough. Get as much as you can. The rest will be spent on a warp stone, either Reo or Victor can take charge of that. And while that’s happening I’ll use my own money to try and bargain a wand or staff or something. I’d hate to already bring the guild down at the front door of the labyrinth.” He stopped for a second. This seemed like a good idea…well, to him at least, but he was also the one who thought it up. “Do the rest of you agree with the split up, or would you rather do it another way?”

[FrankerZ]

As he stowed his watch away, he felt something in his pocket. It was the 'borrowed' map Tobias had given him when he arrived. 'a map!' he thought. How could he have forgotten to bring map supplies of his own! Who knows how hard it would be to find the necessary instruments for map making here? Promptly recalling what the guild master had said moments before about another crucial item he didn't mention. It had to be the tools required to properly make and use a map. 'Clever, very clever...' Victor had the feeling that this was a test, and he'll be damned if he didn't pass it.

"Hold on a minute... I get the feeling there's something else Robin wishes us to obtain. I believe this to be a trial set by our guild master here." He said gesturing towards Robin. "We're forgetting something painfully obvious; A map, and the required tools to chart and read one. Now, unless any of us or Robin here have at least a compass and a technical ruler, we will need to go purchase them. No doubt they'll likely be in short supply and high demand with all of the explorers flooding into town. But, believe me when I say this; there are two things we cannot afford to be stingy on. Those are a map and medicine." He spoke from experience." Looking at Ishan. If anybody were going to beable to get the map supplies at a reasonable price, it would be her. "In my opinion, I think Ishan should go and find the mapping items. As I have said, at minimum we need a compass and a ruler with various units of measurement. Different colored inks would be nice as well, but we need to put a priority on the compass and ruler..." With a small chuckle he looked at her and said "If she is half as 'thrifty' as I make her out to be, I feel she will have little difficulty obtaining said items."

As much as he wanted to get away from the ronin, he didn't want to give her any more reason to suspect him of anything. If he were to go off on his own, who knows what she may think. Trying desperately to convince himself sticking with her would be the smartest move, he begun to think that this my be an opportune time to learn a bit about her. Looking at her again, he tried to say something; but his tongue was stilled by the sight of her blade. -Did she have any intention on leaving it in the guild hall? Looking at his own weapons on the table, Victor was already committed to leaving his. He had little confidence he could convince her to go unarmed and even attempting to would probably put her even more on edge. He wasn't anywhere near comfortable being unarmed in the ronin's bladed presence; but perhaps in this scenario there may be a chance that she may lower her guard enough for him to approach her...

Feigning confidence and authority, he said "I believe Reo should accompany me in getting the warpstone. In Lagaard, I only ever got to use a warpwire and all honesty I am rather... unfamiliar with these warpstones. I trust you have no objections with this Reo? After we get that, I suppose it would be wise to begin making lodging arrangements at any of the inns."

[Rothene]

"Storing fees is a hundred En a piece," Robin chuckled as he picked up the guns, "Just kidding, it's free until you hit ten items or more."

And then a very minor tremor was felt through out the building as one of Horizon's minor quakes went into action. Nothing fell or broke, Robin looked out of the window and Yggdrasil's leaves were not visible beyond the clouds, hence he could not see if it was flashing any odd colours or not. "Hm...it seems the land is awfully impatient."

Placing the two guns on his desk to remind him to store them, Robin said, "For the map making materials, I recommend you best hurry in buying it, stocks tend not to last long with how often explorers burn through them." He had a back up supply in the advent of the group actually failing to have the tools at any point in the guild's existence but they were back up supply and meant to be saved for emergencies.

***

Chen twiddled his thumbs as explorers entered his humble shop. The various goods he sold were aimed mainly at explorers, and now he was considering adding medical supplies to his list of wares. The clinic seemed to make a lot of En with their sales of recovery items and the shop owner refused to be left out of such lucrative business.

"Sir! Do you have any map making set? I can't find any!" an explorer asked after searching the shop. One of Chen's shop assistant, Joanna rushed to the explorer's side and said, "Oh yes we do have a limited number of sets just for new explorers such as yourself. It would cost you a hundred and thirty for the entire set with map, inks, instruments and all. Better buy now before they all get sold out!"

[Curry-Kohai]

(Might wanna check that post, Rothene.)

Ihsan made a playful salute towards Victor. "Yessir!" she said, walking out the door. She stopped herself at the doorway, grinning back at the party.
"Does anyone want me to pick up any snacks too?"
She joked, but she was really stalling for time. Art supplies weren't something commonly found on the blackmarket, not as much as homemade drugs that function like medica, or stolen warpstones for cheaper prices. Of course, art dealers normally were the desperate type, and were prone to smart haggling.

Of course, she considered the fact she may be too late soon, but a quick slip of 10 en, a wink, and "I'm sure there's something in the back." was all that was needed to remedy that most of the time. Not only that, but would her party notice or care as to the quality of these goods? She grinned as she came up with a myriad of ways to save, and pocket the rest. Embezzlement wasn't her favorite trick, but it certainly was easy.

[Riseatrance]

Reo shook his head. "No objection... I'll go with you then, on your insistence," he said, weakly smiling. "But you aren't going to get me to leave my only weapon behind, even if you yourself were to leave yours. I apologize." he fidgeted and looked at the doorway, to which Ihsan was already making her way out of, presumably to get some other necessities. Reo thought to himself that maybe he should be careful. It seemed a bit innocent to bring someone else, but Victor seemed capable enough that he would be perfectly fine getting the stuff on his own, so there must have been a reason for this. Either way, Reo hoped that it was for a good and virtuous reason, and not anything that he had been initially suspecting of Victor, being a suspicious character to begin with.

[FrankerZ]

There was a small tremor. At first Victor was rather worried, but looking at how Robin didn't seem phased it was probably just a common occurrence.


Turning back to Reo, he chuckled saying: "I wouldn't dream of it. If you have your reasons to keep your weapon, who am I to stop you? I merely left mine as to no make a bad impression with the locals on the first day." That was true, he didn't want to make a bad impression on anybody. The more people without reasons to doubt him the better.

"Ah damn. Ishan left too quickly... Aaron, let's meet back here in two hours. If you happen to bump into Ishan while you're out, let her know." He took the money and started heading for the door. "Come Reo. There's a matter I wish to discuss, we'll talk on the way." He said as he left.

[Rothene]

North Wing:

The North Wing was full of bustling activity, mainly those of explorers seeking new equipment or forging better ones. There were some in strange armour made of materials not known to many, no doubt forged by the parts of monsters in the labyrinth.

And then there were the newbie explorers, obvious due to their 'normal' attire. Various merchants, a good deal of them members of some guilds were plying their wares, ranging from bits of monster parts to old equipment at much cheaper prices than the ones sold in shops.

Some desperate ones could even be seen selling off all their adventuring gear and recovery items of dubious quality in attempt to retire from what they perceive as failed ventures.

The various buildings in the area housed most of the established shops, although quite a few were boarded up due to the exodus of its population when the quakes started happening frequently. Despite the lower population, the roads were quite dirty and poorly kept due to the population largely being represented by fluctuating explorers and too few locals to keep the city clean.

Then there were the dark alleys that clung closer to the walls next to Yggdrasil were it was best to venture when armed as the soldiers avoided the region like a plague. It is said there was a hole in the walls there and monsters occasionally slip through but never venture far. Sightings were met with quick extermination on the explorers part for some En, but as a whole, the area was kept unchecked and all sorts of shady business go on there.

OOC: Feel free to create random NPCs to represent the shadier side of the business or the explorers selling their wares cheaply. I'll still handle the ones I've named if you have your characters enter their places

[Riseatrance]

A matter? Whatever, it was probably a mere trifle. Reo shrugged and nodded. "Well, alright. We can talk on the way." The ronin followed Victor and kept his weapon held tightly, along with the pouch. He had already encountered unsavory figures on the way here so he had best keep his weapo in order to dissuade assailants. Furthermore, he had his cloak off, so his body was in plain sight.

"What do we need to discuss?"

[FrankerZ]

There was silence for a short while as the two walked. Victor was two paces ahead of Reo. Once they had gone a fair deal from the guild hall, victor turned to her and spoke.

"Always trust your gut." he said plainly. He was taking a chance; a chance that Reo was not expecting a direct confrontation. "That knot feeling in the pit of your stomach... I was always told it was one part reason and one part instinct. Some people, such as myself, lean mostly to the logical side and others are more instinctive. I learned that in my travels..." He took a deep breath. Clasping both his hands, he steeled his nerves as he looked Reo squarely in the eye.

"My gut tells me you're wise beyond your years. You're clearly not daft, I won't act like you are and I won't pretend that you are. I mean you no disrespect when I say this, but I also have this gut feeling that you don't trust me. And I'd like to know why. I feel that if we do not sort this out soon, this problem will only escalate. If I am correct in saying this, then you no doubt have your reasons to not trust me, whether that be a 'gut feeling' or otherwise... I won't force you to do anything. It would certainly make me feel more at ease if I knew why." Feeling as if he thoroughly got that part of his message through, he turned around and continued to walk.

"Please, don't get me wrong; I won't beg for your trust nor will I ask you to blindly follow me; If your trust is something which I must earn then so be it. I just ask that you give me that chance. Can you do that for me?" There was still a fair deal to walk to get to the North wing. Victor plodded on as he awaited Reo's answer.

[Riseatrance]

Victor was right to assume Reo was not expecting a direct confrontation. At the same time, he was talking to Reo. Reo shrugged before smiling again, flashing a fang that seemed to exude naught but an aura of strange terror. Reo did not know if Victor was very brave, or just an idiot. The ronin certainly did understand what Victor was asking. At the same time, he knew he would endanger himself somewhat if he told him the root of his suspicions. Then again, the swordsman was used to such treacherous danger. It was not uncommon back in the jobs he had to take. Then again, Victor did catch on quickly. Reo hoped Victor would think about things once he told him.

"You catch on quickly," Reo said. "I have been suspicious of you since the moment I saw you. I know your kind of folk. It comes with being a mercenary; you meet all kinds of personalities. I don't want to be presumptuous or anything, but..."

Reo sighed wistfully as he continued walking and following on. The tension seemed to rise.

"You... have an ulterior motive, don't you?"

[FrankerZ]

There was a heavy sigh following silence from Victor. "An ulterior motive you say...?" It was clear she was on to something, but did she herself know yet? If that were the case it would be easiest to misdirect her suspicions. "Well, I can't say I know exactly what you mean by that... but I can tell you that I'm not exactly the most... 'pure' person in the world. If there's a goal I have in sight, I don't mind bending a few rules so to speak, hopefully you can understand that at least but... If you could elaborate on what you mean by th-" A voice from a few paces behind cut him off.

"HOY! VIC!" The voice called out. Wearing a patched up old survivalist's cloak, a longbow with quiver, and a hat that one could only describe as "funny", a figure was rushing towards Victor. There was no mistaking it, the figure was Tobais. For a brief moment, Victor's heart sank.


"Ha. There you are Vic! Sorry about that, there was guild meeting I was neglecting." The man promptly spotted the badge on Victor's coat as he moved between him and Reo. "Ah ha! you have a badge! Ha Ha! You've joined a guild!" He declared as if he had solved some great mystery. Victor glared at Tobias with serious eyes. "Tobias, meet Reo. She's in the guild with me. Reo, this is my friend To-" "UP PUP PUP VIC! I think I can take care of my own introductions thank you very much!. Spinning around on one heel, Tobias turned to Reo with an illuminatingly cheerful smile. With an over-exaggerated cartoon-like stage bow, Tobias began: "I am Tobias. Tobias A. Stokes; Survivalist, performer, actor-slash-director, hero, veteran, bowman -and- showman, writer and horse whisperer. At your service." As he rose up from his bow, his cheerful expression remained whilst making eye contact with the ronin.

Now that he could see Reo, he could feel the tension between the two. "Tobias, this isn't the time for jokes." Tobias was fast on his feet and every bit as witty as a rapier, maybe he could turn this in his favor? Certainly anything would be better than letting Tobias take his leave without explaining something to Reo.

"Oh-ho-ho, righty you are. I think I'll be on my way now." Tobias tried to slip out as smoothly as he could, as he tried to pass Victor he felt a hand grab his coat's hood.

"What's the rush Tobias? Don't you want to here what we're talking about? My friend here is very sharp." Victor said to his friend. Giving Reo unanswered questions was exactly what Victor didn't need. He was about to take a big risk, he didn't know how either Tobias or Reo would react. Trying to sound as confident as he could Victor said: "I haven't even known her for for more than a few hours, and she's asking if I have an 'ulterior motive'." Just like that Tobias froze in his tracks.

"Does she...? Tell me, what exactly you think my friend here is up to." He said, his back still turned to the two of them.

'C'mon Tobi. I placed it all on you. Don't let me down.' Victor thought in the back of his head.

ooc: I'll write up some mini character sheets for Victor's friends tomorrow, I assure you they'll only be supporting characters though.

[Riseatrance]

Reo glared back at this man, who called himself Tobias, and had his back turned on him and Victor. Is he challenging me...? Very well. I will take him up on the offer. Rule five of the Sakurakouji clan - never turn your back on a potential enemy, no matter how confident you might be of your skills or wit... or even both. "Sirrah Tobias, your friend here just told me he was willing to... 'bend' a few rules. Considering how the two of you already know each other, I'm afraid I wouldn't be out of line to think the two of you are just going to use other guilds for your own fame and fortune. Of course, you could bluff your way out of it, and I could foolishly believe it, but... Depending on how you phrase your answers to me, we may be able to come to an agreement."

Reo spun his sheathed blade in place, letting out a shrill clanging sound that was enough to make anyone nearby cringe in disgust from how abhorrently ear-piercing it was. On his face was a smile, a smile so devilish it was what made the Sakurakouji clan somewhat... infamous around certain parts of the world - their incredible sense of controlled bloodlust and anger.

[FrankerZ]

"I see... Victor, what do you propose we do?"

"Well, I was about to tell her everything before you showed up."

"everything? I take it you're aware of the risks on that? Can we trust her?"

"Tobi, if I attempt to decieve her any longer then I'd risk her running me through with her blade..."

"Ah... well then I guess it can't be helped... I'll let you start Vic." Tobias spun around merrily as he listened intent-fully to his friend. He needed to know what Victor wanted to say; surely he didn't mean everything.

"Yes. You're right on the money saying that everything I do here is for fame and fortune, and yes, I shall bend the rules to a degree to obtain that. You don't see it yet, but we are good people. Our hearts are in the right plac-"

"Vic, you're talking in circles. Remember what I said Vic, if you talk in circles than your words are without point. Allow me to make one thing clear; there's a fine line between what we were to do and being downright criminal." Tobias interjected coldly.

Victor took another pace and a half toward Reo, put himself well within Reo's striking range. It was abundantly clear he was nervous, but he was desparate, if he didn't get through to her now the entire operation would be ruined.

"Yes yes. I'll get right to the point then... Have you ever been into a labyrinth Reo? They are very... unforgiving; the odds are stacked infinitely against us. Me and my friend had planned to exchange information about the labyrinth with each other. Now before you jump to any conclusions, you must understand that we were only to share information that could be applied to survival situations; anything either guild finds that could be used exclusively for monetary gain we had agreed remain strictly in-guild. If it can't be used to speed up progress through the labyrinth or turn the odds in our favor, we won't share. Think of it like this: imagine that some one you know has information that will save your life or the life of some one you know. But, the rules dictate that the information can't be shared. What do you do?" He inquired, trying his best to exude confidence.

Fairly certain he understood what Victor wanted to say, Tobias started: "You're old enough to know this Reo: know thy enemy. In this case the enemy is the labyrinth, and not Victor. In the labyrinth, information is your most powerful weapon. You wouldn't possibly know this unless you had labyrinth experience... but knowing how to avoid or FOEs, knowing where a shortcut is located or a safe place to rest. It's all crucial to surviving whatever ordeal the labyrinth may throw at you... This knowledge, while it may not be technically legal to share, think for a second, does that really matter if knowing something could save lives? Vic and I don't think that rules should bar the flow of life saving knowledge... If that makes us criminals, then so be it." Tobias still smiled as he spoke. He still seemed jolly, as if he were ready to tell a joke or burst out laughing at any time.


Victor on the other hand, was very concerned. He was trying to mask his worry by feigning confidence and it showing. "In short, our methods may be slightly soiled, but our intentions are anything but dubious. What we have just told you is the truth. Enemies are something we aren't keen on making... With someone like you being able to see the unseen signs of a potential enemy, I feel we could be great allies, at least in the labyrinth if nowhere else... That is if we can reach an understanding. Before any of that, I must ask: now that you know... what do you plan on doing?"