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NORTH GATE - LATE MORNING
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Narrator: A caravan rolls into Respite, the latest to arrive from Bairnell's Foothold. Once the stop and check at the checkpoint is complete, one of the individuals as part of it absolutely insists that she wants to speak to a captain guard immediately, though she refuses to explain to the poor gate guards why.
Louma soars low over the rooftops on the relatively short hop from the barracks to the North gate, having received word that her presence was requested. Her mind is still firmly in the office at the moment, considering the reports of minor strange happenings since the generator was charged and Elizabeth was discharged. She shakes her head into the present as the gate comes into view, spreading her wings wide to land with a light scuffling and scanning the caravan for her summoner.
Narrator: The new arrival from the sky prompts said summoner to slither her way forward to intercept. A full snake lady she is, tipping her wide brimmed cowboy hat up so she may make eye-contact. "You're the captain?" She questions, optimistically.
Louma turns toward the voice, hesitating slightly when she notices they're a snake, but keeping her rather stiff, professional aires. "Yes, I am Captain Louma. I presume you are the one that sent for me? What can I do for you?"
Alexia: "Yes, I am. Thank you for coming. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Alexia." Alexia smiles. "To be frank, something of mine was stolen. This town is, at present, my only lead."
Louma hums, nodding at the introduction. "It must be something fairly important to come here yourself. How much help I can offer will depend on how much information you're willing to share, of course."
Alexia: "I am capable of sharing everything and anything, though only if we take this conversation somewhere more private."
Louma nods, turning to indicate the guardhouse that the caravan had pulled next to on entering Respite. "As you wish, if you would please follow me." She leads the way through the door, the main room home to multiple tables and chairs, a stairwell to a bunk room above, and a second door to an unoccupied room. There is only a sturdy, but rough looking desk along one wall, another low table in the corner and chairs for each, as well as a locked wardrobe next to the desk. Both rooms have small glassless windows, most of the light provided by magitech lighting instead. She holds the first door open for Alexia with the end of her tail, while holding the second door open for her by hand. "After you, Alexia, we can have privacy in here."
Alexia slithers along behind Louma. Once in the room, she curls herself up to rest atop her coils. "Thank you, Captain Louma." Alexia offers with a smile. Once in the comfort of privacy, Alexia speaks freely. "It is not a long tale. I was aboard a vessel known as The Artuna. It was travelling mostly along the coast, to Bairnell's Foothold."
Alexia: "A bit over a week ago, something of mine was stolen mid-transit by an individual in the dead of night. I managed catch barely a glimpse of a thief above deck with my possession in hand. I promptly attempted to stop them by opening fire, though they darted overboard into the water. I know for a fact at least hit them once. As evidenced by the blood found the next morning on the deck. The thing is, no one on the ship had vanished overnight. Everyone was accounted for and none had any wounds. Whoever did this boarded the vessel while it was at sea and vanished the same. Which brings us to where we are now. This is the closest land-based town to where the incident took place. As I am not capable of travelling underwater, the only logical chance for me to take is to hope that the thief both survived their injuries and chose to come here, for if they are at the bottom of the sea, my investigation cannot follow."
Louma follows Alexia into the room, similarly coiling her tail into a nest under herself and resting. She listens intently to Alexia's information, glancing across her body when she mentions firing at the thief, but otherwise keeping her eyes on Alexia's face. She hums to herself after the snake has finished, crossing her arms as she thinks. "So if someone were injured and came here, they may have gone to the clinic for assistance, that would be a logical place to start. That is an intriguing situation though, someone who could approach and scale a ship in the dead of night, and flee into the waters without drowning. Was it too dark for you to get a look for any other physical traits?"
Alexia: "Sadly so, it was much too dark. The only reason I noticed them at all was due to the magitech crystal my prototype uses glows in a very distinct manner. But as for anything else, they were but shadow." Alexia offers. "You should know. This. . .Prototype of mine. It was the only thing the thief took. Given the value and. . .danger it poses. I highly suspect an accomplice was involved."
Louma nods, not exactly reassured by this information. "Do you think someone on the ship might have helped them? Of course, we would have no authority over them in that case. But now you've raised my curiosity, what is this prototype of yours and why is it dangerous?"
Alexia: "Of course, I hardly expect you to have authority over them. More that whoever this is may not be alone." Alexia nods.
Alexia: "It is a new type of firearm. One I was intending to use to negotiate a contract with the navy. It uses magitech and steam instead of gunpowder. As deadly as the common flintlock, with a much more capable rate of fire. It alone can do the job of ten men. A force multiplier intended to give our men the edge over the pirates of the high seas."
Alexia: "Needless to say, in the hands of a common pirate I would expect it to claim innocent lives. But if I were to assume the worst case scenario, and it is not in the hands of a common bandit. . .I shudder to think of the damage this might inflict if it were allowed to be sold on the black market to the highest bidder, reverse engineered, sold to pirates and used against the very men I sought to embolden."
Louma shakes her head slightly, sighing. "Your intentions are certainly well placed, but pirates and bandits would get their hands on such a weapon eventually. Trust me, the navy, particularly that of Orela, is not a pinnacle of good soldiers. You are right in that letting the villains get it first is certainly not good for anyone." She thinks for a few moments, nodding. "We do not have dedicated investigators in Respite's ranks, unfortunately, but I will set as many guards as can be spared to searching for this weapon and it's thief. I also have some other contacts I can convince to help out as well."
Alexia is well aware of the irony in producing such a weapon for peace when it will merely escalate conflict, though she is hardly the only one advancing the field of firearms. She has a chance to live comfortably for the rest of her life, she's taking it. Is that so selfish? Maybe.
Alexia: "I am ex-navy." Alexia drops a bombshell. Her expression and tone are enough to indicate that she does not appreciate Louma's negative opinion. Alexia simply moves on, rather than dwelling on the point. She's not here to make enemies, after all. She just doesn't want another insult. "Thank you, Captain. I will leave with you a full description of the prototype, though please hand it out sparingly. Should you find yourself short-staffed, I would be happy to assist you and your guard as a form of payment?" Alexia suggests. "Until such time that my investigation brings me to leave Respite, of course."
Louma nods, taking note of Alexia's expression, though she knows her particular line of thought for her comment is not exactly common knowledge. Something she appreciates. "No payment necessary, it is the duty of the Guard to stop criminals after all. I don't want something that you say is so dangerous just floating around this town any more than you do."
Alexia: "Of course. The offer is there, should the need arise." Alexia uncurls herself. "Thank you for your time, Captain."
Louma gives a slight bow to Alexia, turning towards the door. "Of course. Feel free to contact me again if you need anything else or find any leads, we will keep you updated on anything we uncover." She opens the door, holding it for Alexia. "Where will you be staying, so I know where to contact you?"
Alexia offers a curt bow in response. "I'll be making arrangements to stay at The Thirsty Minnow, at least for the short term." As Alexia doesn't intend to stay for long. If her thief was here, it's unlikely that they're still here. Once she has a lead, she's gone. Speaking of gone, she begins to slither from the room.
Louma nods, following Alexia out of the room, then the building and back into the welcoming morning sunlight. "Good, hopefully something comes up soon. Take care, Alexia." She moves toward the clearest section of road, her wings unfolding as she prepares to take off and return to the barracks with a whole new set of problems to take care of now.
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THE THIRSTY MINNOW - EVENING
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Rhask sits at the bar counter, having settled the payment for a room for the next couple of weeks to start. She picks at a plate of food she'd ordered a little while ago, a simple meat plate that she'd never heard about back home in Vamas. She's still wearing most of her traveling clothes, though she's opted to swap her fur-lined gloves and boots for something lighter and less obstructing for the time being.
Emmeline walks into the bar from outside, wanting to take a break from all the busy work of setting up the small apartment that she and Jennica had rented, as well as working on the details of getting a market stall rented out, and so on. She's dressed in a cream-colored cotton sundress with pink embroidery and wears a pale straw hat. She walks up to the bar and starts perusing the menu, deciding to order a salad and some bread for the moment.
Rhask curiously looks to the side as Emmeline enters, but doesn't do much more than offer a cheerful little smile and a nod before she turns back to her plate. She takes a bite of the food, then starts wishing she'd chosen something a little more flavorful. Unfortunately, her first choice of "foreign" food is quite bland...
Emmeline nods back to the lizard as she waits for her food, looking at the unusual clothing for such a warm climate. "Can't imagine that anyone would be cold here..."
Rhask hums thoughtfully as she looks over at Emmeline again for a moment, then looks down at her clothing. "Hmm? Oh... it's really not that cold, but it's cozy and comfy. I'd feel weird not wearing most of these, even though it's hot in town."
Emmeline smiles. "Fair enough, just that you look ready for an expedition up to Glacier Bay..." She gratefully accepts her food and a mug of ale from the barkeep and decides to take a seat where she is. "Not that I'm really one to talk. I'm just happy to have some warmer weather here. Westport was always a bit chilly for me except in high summer."
Rhask giggles quietly. "Well, you'd be right, miss. I'm from around that area, one of the smaller towns nearby, in fact." She shrugs, her shoulder wrap rising and dropping, "The cold never really bothered me, since the snow and ice was always a thing since when I was born. The warmth is nice, though, yes."
Emmeline laughs. "Ah, I never really got farther north than Goose Lake... but it's nice to meet more folk from Vamas here, I suppose." She offers a hand. "I'm Emmeline. And you?"
Rhask sets her fork down and reaches over, grasping lightly onto Emmeline's hand in a handshake. "I'm Rhask, and it's nice knowing I'm not the only one from Vamas. Good to meet you, Miss Emmeline." She smiles again, "I think my town's a little further north than Glacier Bay, but I'm not the greatest at reading maps."
Emmeline pulls her hand back and takes a sip of ale. "Yes, well, seems like there are folks from everywhere around here. I even heard that the town doctor is from Vamas too..."
Rhask blinks and tilts her head. "Really? I didn't think there would be so many Vamese folks here so quickly... but I guess Mister Bracvar did say the town has been around for a while."
Emmeline starts nibbling at her salad. "Well, it's the new frontier, right? Exciting opportunities for everyone..."
Rhask takes a moment to eat another bite of her meal, knowing better than to waste any food even if it's not exactly palatable. "True... I wonder what kind of, uh... exciting opportunities await me here...?"
Emmeline eats more of her salad, chewing it for a long while before speaking again. "What brings you here? Sounds like you didn't come for the adventure."
Rhask shakes her head a bit as she slowly eats her way through the food on her plate. "Mostly just traveling... I wanted to see the other continents aside from Vamas, and I'd heard that Aephix was an interesting place nothing like Sarn or Orela." She tilts her head curiously as she looks over at Emmeline, "How about you, Miss?"
Emmeline smiles. "Oh, business opportunities... me and my friend came here to sell our trinkets. We both decided that a change of scenery would suit us and our business."
Rhask perks up a little. "Ooh, you own a business? That must be pretty exciting, especially starting anew so far from Vamas."
Emmeline laughs a bit. "Well, I'm just the brains of the operation. I couldn't do it without Jennica's talent..."
Rhask chuckles. "Still, you and your friend make it work together. What kind of trinkets do you two sell?"
Emmeline smiles a bit. "It's a bit hard to explain. Let's just call them lucky charms. Little things to make life a bit easier for folks. Jennica is the one that makes them work. I just make them look nice."
Rhask hums quietly. "Huh... interesting... Have you two set up a stall in the marketplace yet? I haven't had a chance to look through the area yet, but I'll stop by to see what you two make."
Emmeline shakes her head. "Not just yet, but soon. Signing all the paperwork on Monday, I think."
Rhask blinks, then nods, smiling again. "Oh, well good luck with all of that, then. I'll be around town for a little while, so I'll keep my eyes open for your stall once it opens up."
Emmeline laughs. "Well, luck is sort of our business, so thanks. And what will you do in town to pay your way?"
Rhask shakes her head a bit, her smile fading just a touch. "I don't know. I never really did learn any trades back in my hometown, other than... well, keeping the house clean, I guess."
Emmeline cocks her head. "Ah.. so someone else paid your way, then?"
Rhask shrugs noncommittally. "I... guess you could put it that way."
Emmeline focuses on her salad for a while before speaking again. "Ah, interesting... well I hope you find something to suit your talents here."
Rhask finds her smile again after a short pause, during which she finishes up her meal. "Thank you, Miss Emmeline. If money ends up short, I just hope someone's willing to hire a Lizard that might not be sticking around for very long."
Emmeline smiles. "Well, if Jenn and I get swamped with business, I'll keep you in mind."
Rhask dips her head gratefully. "Hopefully I don't disappoint if I do end up helping you out." She yawns a bit, a hand coming up to cover her mouth somewhat, "But... for now, I should probably be getting to bed... Traveling was fun, but exhausting."
Emmeline waves a hand to Rhask. "Take care. Nice meeting you." She then resumes eating her salad, seemingly more tired than she had let on to Rhask.