if you desire the world, then come and take it

[emberserker]

[Discordia]

@ wolfsbane
Enough is enough. Who knows how long it's been in that place without a proper meeting. I propose we convene back at the base in Invidia. That'll keep the migraines and getting lost to a minimum, plus whoever the Authority is won't cotton on, I should hope.

[Invidia - Authority's Mansion]

[Wolfsbane is entirely fed up. After a few days in Avaritia (it's longer, but who knows in that place), she sends out the notification and sets up shop in the mansion back in Invidia; not too far a commute for anyone no matter where they are, and plenty of room besides. When the others arrive, she's sitting at the table, eating a plate of steak and lima bean salad. No, she didn't make any for you. Okay, those with good senses can probably smell that there's more in the kitchen, but given where they are, it seemed tacky to offer to share.]

I'm sure we've all at least come up with something by now investigating that tacky tourist trap. Share, will you?

(This is an open mingle log for everyone to share the fruits of their investigations! Have fun... or at least vent your frustrations at Avaritia's economy.)

Comments

[emberserker]

As for myself, I found one of those butterflies that belong to Rei, sitting atop a slot machine. Unfortunately, I couldn't get the dim thing to come to me by force or enticement. What do they respond to? Or are we simply going to have to drag Rei everywhere we find one?

[mementomoritz]

Ooh, I wonder if it's still there! [Fortunately, Medic has just enough self-control to not immediately dash off towards the butterfly's last known location in search of Possible Secrets.]

When I found one in the library, it flew away from me when I tried to reach for it at first, but it came over and landed on my hand when I said that I could heal it if I touched it.

[emberserker]

So they'll escape if you try to grab them, and they won't respond to the things ordinary butterflies do, but they can be reasoned with like people. Is that what you're saying?

[mementomoritz]

As far as I know, yep! I've only met the one, so this one could be different in some way, but talking to it would probably be worth a try. Especially if we have at least one healer when we find it again!

[SHE VOLUNTEERS, PLEASE give her the knowledge.]

Did it look kind of... damaged, when you saw it? All ragged around the edges?

[alcahest]

Does anyone have any ideas about who the Authority might be...?

If they're connected to the place they rule, like with Esme being famous, I was thinking maybe they're someone who wins a lot at the casinos... or maybe the owner. In which case, we might have to go undercover and win big to get their attention. Or a theft? We could send out a heist notice...

[ uhh. does Mona... seem to have some knowledge of this kind of thing??? ]

Oh, I investigated the vault, too. I, um... set a trap when I was there. So if we need a way in, or we want to try and get more information, we might have some leverage...

[ the way she talks and behaves is still the same old Mona — though there is a liveliness in her eyes that used to only appear sporadically — but judging by the initiative she took and what she did with it, her memories have definitely changed something about her. ]

[mementomoritz]

Ooh, what kind of trap?

[Is it explosives?]

[alcahest]

I registered for a vault, and had to leave something inside... so I left my Executor weapon. When I summon it again, it will disappear from the vault, and we can call their security into question to get an advantage.

[ so, not explosives. she seems a little embarrassed about how underhanded her idea is. ]

I know it's not the most useful thing... but I think it would be a starting point for an infiltration.

[mementomoritz]

Oh! I see, that's very clever. If it turns out the bank is the Authority holder's domain, we might also be able to use it to discredit them at some point, if we claim they can't really protect their vaults.

[heir_to_ruin]

[Ruin had established some habits early on in Avaritia and the last two or three days have completely destroyed his routine. He hasn't been back to Limbo in days and there's something decidedly hollow about his expressions. Never mind that he's generally very particular about his appearance and now he's a bit disheveled. Or maybe it's intentional to match the roguish grin, the way his shirt seems to be even less buttoned, a dark mark or three on his throat.

Surely it's fine. But even though he comes to the meeting he's quiet for a long time, just leaning casually against a wall, out of the way. Last thing he wants to do is piss Wolfsbane off again.

Eventually, once others have made their suggestions and only after someone else has brought up the idea of the Authority being a possible gambler, he'll mention the information he got from the bartender.]

It probably doesn't actually mean anything, just the luck of the draw or something. But I did hear about a lady that... well no one's ever seen her lose. The bartender flat out said there's something supernatural going on with her but no one can figure out what. She doesn't come in that often, especially not any more. But the higher ups have given up even trying to stop her. Seems like seeing the big money paid out makes everyone else that much more eager to blow their savings y'know?

'Cept one time, I couldn't get an exact time frame or confirm if Lady Luck's been in since then. This gal was on the worst losing streak anyone had ever seen. Just pouring money down the drain, owed the house a ton of novas, just burying herself in debt. Biggest losses the casino had ever seen. And in one miraculous hand of poker... she doubled down and won. Biggest single payout the casino's ever done.

Big news, lots of talk. The most interesting part that no one seems to have considered the implications of? Lady Luck was at the table. Which means this girl won and Lady Luck lost. Could be a coincidence, could be Fate.

Could be Authority changing hands. Hell if I know.

[He made one plan and it royally fucked a ton of stuff up. He's not sticking his neck out again. He won't, can't be responsible if things going wrong ends up getting people other than himself hurt or in trouble. It doesn't really matter anyway because he's 98% sure the info's useless but just on that 2% chance it's not? He can't just say nothing.]

[crypddyd]

Lady Luck, was she a woman in her 30s? And the girl younger? Because at the theatre I often see a small group of people visit regularly, and be treated like nobility- those two, and an older man with a young boy. Likely his grandson or child, or as much as anyone has relations here.

[heir_to_ruin]

The uh... girl that won the hand of fate was younger than Lady Luck but I didn't really get an age for the Lady herself y'know?

[Lion making connections makes him, honestly, feel even more stupid for bringing it up but... well nothing to do now but forge ahead. He'll... definitely have to give him shit later for latching onto something he said like there was anything of value there. Idiot.]

There's a guy that wipes out the claw machines every time he comes in? Like... uncanny good, thousands in prizes. I guess the management's tried to reprogram the machines to stop him but it never does any good. It'd make sense if he had a kid cause like... what is a grown man gonna do with all those toys?

[crypddyd]

[He nods along, seeming pleased]

It's not enough information to make a move with yet, but it gives us some leads to follow. Good work, Ruin.

[mementomoritz]

Hm! It almost sounds like there's multiple people vying for the Layer Authority, but...

The layer of Greed doesn't sound like the kind of place where anyone willing to share would end up, does it?

[heir_to_ruin]

No that doesn't make sense. Unless maybe they're all family?

[Lion's apparently seen them so he looks over to him.]

D'you think?

[daughterofthemark]

What do you suppose that would mean for us? Would we have to out-maneuver all of them?

[daughterofthemark]

I have an opportunity to get a job working in one of the towers! I only need appropriate attire, and something known as a "bank account."

[She's very proud of herself.]

[mementomoritz]

Congratulations on your employment opportunities! [Medic is sincerely happy for her.]

[daughterofthemark]

Thank you! Though I'm not certain yet whether I'll be successful. Do you know what a bank account is?

[ourtomorrow]

You heard about the open positions too, Veil-san?

[ That's quite the hiring spree. In a place people don't usually like to spread their money around....

Everyone else's leads sound so potentially connected, though. Is this unrelated? ]

[daughterofthemark]

Oh, you did as well? I'll look forward to working together again!

[Connected? What's connected? That sounds like something someone who isn't Veil would pick up on.]

later

[crypddyd]

[Lion ponders all of this, his brain slowly organizing things]

So it seems we have a few options going forward. If Greed truly is what fuels this layer, then like with Esme we likely can take the Authority by being the most wealthy. But we must be aware in doing so we may force the Authority into a... kind of shock, like Esme. Snatching away the power aggressively will almost certainly make them regress into the sin that brought them here, and we will have to fight them.

I feel... if that can be avoided, we should.

Taking the money outright would be the fastest, but also riskiest. We could also attempt winning it legitimately like Ruin described possibly happening before? Or... hmm... I wonder if spreading the wealth out might destroy the source of the Greed? Counter it with Charity? I am not sure. We are still largely working blind here.

[emberserker]

If we're to work through the sins, then that would probably topple the Authority, but if everyone's got an equal share, who would be the new Authority? Would there simply not be one? I doubt it, with how this place loves its systems.

[crypddyd]

That is the question... the ideal would be to have an Authority that would simply allow us to pass.

[heir_to_ruin]

Hey Lion? How often do they come to the theater? Maybe we can... I dunno, schmooze. Try to get more info that way?

[Ah... but if they are the authority they'll know they're executors right away, like Esme did. And... it's not like it worked with Esme either. Y'know what? He's overestimating their social skills, his own skills, hah-]

Actually, never mind that's a terrible idea. We'd just out ourselves. Wait, haven't they noticed you?

[crypddyd]

They have not- though I have not spoken to them directly I haven't hidden myself either.

[He jerks, as if realizing something. Oh, right-!]

Ah, speaking of Esme- based on my battle against her I can safely say that her outting us at the stage was likely because I spoke to you after. She didn't warp away- she was invisible. She was likely watching us the entire time.