Legion (Episode 2)

"Ah. There you are then." Captain Drake smirks. "Vannacosta Drake, Captain of the BellaHarpy." She gives the cybermonk a slight martial bow, keeping her eyes fixed on his. "Veritas? Truth? And..what may the truth be captain or should I say, Champion? What may be my truth and yours perhaps aren't the same reality."


Syrena serves up two drinks in silver-chaised glass chalices. "Here you are Drake. Blood Reign and Dark Harvest, as ordered."

One is the color of blood. The other, nearly black.

"That’s a puzzle I’m still trying to figure out." says Keltos between sips, "I will tell you this though. When you can no longer ask "Why" that is when you have arrived at the truth."

"As for this talk of Champions, I’ll admit I find the title weighty like an anchor. No…more like a hidden shoal that no longer hidden. Please just call me Keltos and tell me what in the realms you are drinking!"

Vannacosta takes up the chalice, swirls it around for effect. and then takes a swallow of the contents. "I call it Blood Reign." She informs Keltos. "Syrena came up with the current version on a challenge from me. It has quite a few ingredients, including scotch, cherry and chocolate liqueur, kaff, orange juice, and a rinse of blood."

"Blood? says Keltos looking at the Syrena, "And who exactly was judging your creation, Sanguinor?"
"One for me, and if you could make it slowly I want to see how this is done."

Syrena grins. "Sure thing, Captain Keltos."

She pulls another of the ornate chalices from a place under the bar, wipes it clean, and gathers up some of the ingredients for the drink requested, including an orange: A blood orange as its turns out, as she cuts it in twain and squeezes the juice into a shaker.


Porcelaynne reaches in and picks up the darker drink. Then, finds a space at the bar to watch.

"The Procurer had no hand in our challenge." Vannacosta tells Keltos. "The Dalliance wanted something special on my runs outside. I agreed, but only if Syrena could come up with a drink using blood in the mixture..that was pleasing to my tastes."

...And why blood..." Ask's Keltos, his keen senses and intuition searching...

Is Vannacosta Human?

"Blood is life, Keltos." Vannacosta replies to his question. "And...I enjoy a good drink. Don't you?"

"Indeed" Says Keltos taking an experimental sip "So, you have my attention. What did you want to discuss"

"My Mate..." She hooks a thumb toward Porcelaynne. "..Observed the Veritas earlier making a circle of the harbor. Does this mean you've not had her fitted with the gatestone?" She says, with a side eye to the Harbormaster. "Are you planning to?...And are you going to be making supply runs regular? If so, what goods will the Veritas be porting in?"

"I’ve been here barely a day so I have not had time to consider any new fittings." (Without a key It could be a pain in the ass if I need to rip a hole in somebody's reality) "More than likely however I will release the Veritas for one of her more flexible sisters." (The Veritas, is fast, but I have a feeling I’m gonna need more than sheer speed). "What I do, can become quite expensive, so to answer your question. Yes" (Yup, gotta pay salaries, and experiments and such are not cheap). "As far as trade goods, I will trade in most things as long as it profitable." (For the sake of science sometimes you gotta crack a few eggs)"

"Typically I trade in common non-perishable goods, and fancy spirits. You know things that are welcome in most ports. If however my port of call will be an extended one, then I will look for a profitable niche route." (If I'm gonna be here a while, lets find out whats in demand)

"What is your interest, are you concerned about competition, or something else?" (What are you really getting at bloodsucker? Nope don’t trust you a bit. Your kind is dangerously ambitious.)

"So, your vessel is fast? Is she waterbound? A virtue then? Are you also considering additions to her armaments?" Vannacosta asks in rapid succession as she gleans details from Keltos' answers to her questions. She takes a large swallow of her drink and continues. "Our loads are often exotic goods to spice up the offerings available in the city and tease the palettes of the Higher Ups. I suppose an overlap in libations and liquid spirits will happen."

"Is there anything you wouldn't transport?" She adds with a grin.

Keltos isn’t sure how alcohol…blood infused alcohol affects vampires or the like but judging by Vannacosta enthusiasm it might do something. From the old tongue, In Vino Veritas. In wine there is truth.

Making eye contact with Syrena he then glances at Vannacosta’s empty chalice and subtly gestures for a refill.

Slowly sipping his own Keltos continues, "So many questions! You’re a little late to the party and you have a bit of catching up to do first!"

Keltos points at Marsh and each of the interesting personalities in turn, "How many you have had? And you? How about you? Look Even the Harbormaster has had more than you!"

"Now drink up! What kind of person would I be to let a fellow captain fall behind!"

(Lets see if she has a limit, Keltos is both curious and knows that people get pretty talkative when they are hammered. Drink lots, drinkem fast. Keltos does not ever intend on letting her "catch up" pointing to Charlie and asking him how many he has had whenever she thinks she has caught up.)

Vannacosta nods to Syrena after Keltos gestures for a refill of her chalice. "My thanks, Captain. And..what do you think of the Blood Reign?"

"I think it’s a taste that can be acquired." Says Keltos putting the glass down. "Without boring you with details, what I will say is The Veritas and her crew are more than capable of dealing with threats and hauling a few things when it aligns with our objectives."

"If however you are looking for warship or a vast cargo hold that’s not us. We have no real interest in fighting or hauling. We are primarily interested in exploration and research."

"I have no immediate need for a warship or a freighter. The BellaHarpy has all that we need for what we do." Vannacosta comments in return.

She finishes up her second drink and places the empty chalice on the bar. "Pleasure meeting you, Keltos. I am sure we will see each other again in the near future. Porcelaynne and myself have business to attend. If you will excuse us?"

Marsh watches Vannacosta and her first mate go and tosses back the last of his drink. "I should go as well and relieve Jack. My brother is a able, but sometimes his mind wanders if left on task for too long. Thanks again for the drinks and your company, Captain Keltos." With that, the warehouse owner starts for the doors. His step is a bit dodgy from his consumption.


"Wait up, Marsh." The Harbormaster calls out and steps away from the bar. He nods to Keltos and Marcus. "Pay me a visit at the lighthouse when you're ready for that fitting, Captain." He trudges after Marsh and takes him by the arm to support him and they leave the Dalliance.

End Scene

Scene 16: A Face from the Past

Kris discreetly gestures with one hand for Em to draw closer to her across the bar. "Not to seem too nosy or naive, but those two women over at the other side of the bar: Are they—well, prostitutes?" She is very careful not look over or make movements as a tell to anyone who may be looking her way at the moment. "No judgement. I am simply looking for validation that my intuition is correct."

Tajuri takes a drink of her ale and looks toward the opening into the dining and fighting pit area. In the distance she sees the vaguely familiar figure of Sanguinor seated at a table. As her eyes continue to search the spacious area, they meet that of the closer of the two females at the bar briefly, before moving back to focus on her lover, Jael. She smiles and casually leans over to place a light kiss on the demoness' perfect lips.

Em leans in across the bar and takes Kris' hand lightly in her own. She whispers into the young Champion's ear, "Nothing wrong with your intuition, Miss. Those two are Almondynne and Nym. They're Master Kleg's girls. He runs the flesh trade within the establishment. Both are high coin mistresses and willing blood dolls as well."

As Em withdraws her hand and straighten up again across the bar, the air over the whole area is suddenly immersed with the sound of a violin. The tune is familiar to Kris and immediately floods her mind with fond memories of her days at the academy.

Taj perks up and grabs her drink off the bar. "Let's move into the other room closer to the music. Jael and I heard this violinist practicing earlier. She is amazing."