A way to get him back.

[05:59] Anastasia ven Astor says, "Alexios."
[05:59] Anastasia ven Astor says, "Also, good morning, Sh'zar."
[05:59] Alexios asks, "Yeah?"
[06:01] A letter was held out to the High Lord. Anastasia's face set in a stern countenance.

"The demand for Philip." She said. "The letter was addressed to me first, and then for you. They're demanding fifty thousand coins for his safe release."
(Anastasia ven Astor)
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[06:09] Taking the letter from Anastasia, it was nothing but bad news. Someone had managed to get captured? Despite clear word of staying away from Barsburg. But what did he expect? People let curiosity get the better of them, and it put others in situations like this.

"Phillip." But when reading the letter, he can't help but look frustrated. "Their word? Means a lot?" A lie in itself, just to prove how little their word means.

"Barsburg has filled the empty shell of Osrona, and now that shell is filled with lies. Where once a city of the broken, was only a façade of those who truly were hurt by our actions. Tanya... Disgusting woman, to think she lied to my face-- Tried to debate me over their emotions?"

He lets out a breath, taking a moment to calm. "Hoh..." Frustrated, but there was something more important to deal with. "Fifty thousand coins is a lot, and I don't even have that much coin. Aeliana most certainly doesn't either, and I think you also can't pay... Amalia makes coin, but not enough for this."

So what could they do? Leaving him there wasn't wise, and they had to get him home. Even if he wasn't a soldier, he was important to Nysea.

"Seek out Elisha Ghede-- Or Tea... If I find them first, I will speak to them. As I don't have the coin, but I know they potentially do. Even Elizabeth could be a good person to ask. If you have another idea? I'd be willing to hear it."
(Alexios)
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[06:17] "They've had Philip. I had already sent word to Walter to find out what price he wanted - and he said the price would come soon enough." She gestured roughly at the letter she had received, before her hands reached up to rub themselves against her face roughly.

"... Alternatively if neither of them will provide the money, we could have a small strike team infiltrate to try and rescue Philip from prison." She said, through her hands. The words were muffled but the intent was clear. She had told Philip as much in her letter to hi, hadn't she?

Even if I must into Osrona myself and fight my way to the prison alone I will do so.

Her hands dropped away from her face tiredly before she shook her head. She'd hold her hand out for the letter once more.

"I'm not abandoning him in Osrona. I can't. I refuse." She stated simply. Her jaw set, teeth grinding in frustration. A decision, not one formed lightly at all but one that was necessary all the same, to her at the very least.

"I'll draw up plans. There's no point in us giving them our money which could be used instead to arm our troops and provide valuable resources. We have to attack back; they've already struck out at Alabastre. We could toss the money over their stupid walls but like you said - filled with lies.

I'm not taking that chance with my nephew."
(Anastasia ven Astor)
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[06:18] Yoshiko glanced at the letter over Alexios' arm and gave it a quick scan only to have her eyes change in size. It was a large sum and she had already knew Philip was captured but she never thought they'd do a ransom like this. It was merely too high for the kitsune to even think about.

"This is a predicament.. Philip doesn't deserve to be treated like he's some object," But then again, from what Yoshiko heard he willingly went with them instead fleeing for the better. She never understood why he would do that but maybe he had his reasons for doing so.

"This sum of money is a lot for us to handle. It'll certainly take a while to acquire unless we had someone to lend us the exact amount. But Alexios had mentioned names that do not have that kind of money at the moment...

But... there's a problem with that, dear." Yoshiko leans up and takes a bit of time to whisper into his ear before stepping back down and looking at him for a moment before switching her attention to Anastasia.

"Elizabeth might but that's a sum you're going to have recreate to pay her back.. I've heard of what she does as a debt collector. But there's also one thing that bothers me."

Yoshiko was silent for a single moment.

"Who would deliver the currency?"
(Yoshiko Taiyang)
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[06:19] Anastasia ven Astor says, "I'm not paying them a single coin."
[06:19] Anastasia ven Astor says, "WE are not paying them a single coin."
[06:26] Yoshiko Taiyang whispers: Tea doesn't like Anastasia...
[06:34] Anastasia didn't want to pay, while Yoshiko brainstormed some ways of getting the cash. Elizabeth was an odd one, with debts that she hoped to collect when taxing people. And Alexios honestly didn't feel like doing anything weird or having people try to kill him outside of Demons or Barsburg.

"Uhm… Hmm."

It meant he had to think, as striking to provoke them wouldn't be pretty. Barsburg's raid on Alabaster was awful, and it displayed just how strong that city has become. So what could they do? Poke the beehive?

"We should discuss that with Aeliana first. Getting the money, and tossing it at them-- Even if they use it for bad? Is better than provoking an early conflict, one that will end more bloody than that of the demons."

Taking Yoshiko's hand, he squeezes it while whispering to her in return. Once that was done, emeralds gaze back up at Anastasia again.

"We'll discuss this with Aeliana, Phillip is one of Nysea's people and their decision should be final. I will support it too, whatever she decides."
(Alexios)
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[06:34] Alexios whispers to Yoshiko Taiyang: Tea hates Anastasia... I am not surprised.
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[06:34] Alexios whispers to Yoshiko Taiyang: Tea has a problem with them all, sadly.
[06:34] Alexios whispers to Yoshiko Taiyang: But I think she wouldn't leave a kid to rot, even if it is from Nysea.
[06:34] Yoshiko Taiyang whispers: Well.. Philip was her friend for a long time.
[06:35] Yoshiko Taiyang whispers to Alexios: She might do it for him..
[06:35] Yoshiko Taiyang whispers to Alexios: Luckily there's no time limit..
[06:36] She frowned, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Back before Osrona fell, my brother Odin was kidnapped by the Family and held for ransom just the same way. Alexander refused to pay - he stormed their hideout, and killed one of their own. But they rescued Odin, in the end." She said. It was a solid point, and one she was hedging her entire argument on.

"I know it's not precisely the same but if we kowtow and give them the money we'll look weak. They'll take advantage of us giving in this one time to ask for more and more, Alexios. And by that way we'll have given up everything we have." She sighed.

It was a touchy subject for her, admittedly - but one she was passionate about all the same.

"I -... Just. Can't. Abandon him there."
(Anastasia ven Astor)
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[06:39] Alexios whispers to Yoshiko Taiyang: That is lucky, I don't see one.
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[06:47] Yoshiko shook her head. Despite Anastasia's choice in wanting to rescue Philip, she would have to disagree on it.

"No.. That does not compare to this.. They have technology that we know nothing about and with going in blind without information we could possibly need they could cause for worse conflict than we can bargain for," she states. Yoshiko was trying to make a valid argument without sounding too harsh. Not like she did in the first place.

"Why waste our time.. doing that when there is a much safer option. There will be little to no bloodshed and no casualties as well.

It's such... pessimistic thinking. Yes, I can understand you don't want to give them anything that could help aide in their endeavors but sacrificing a life over that sum of money is not smart. But I agree, we should wait for Aeliana so we can discuss it as a group..."
(Yoshiko Taiyang)
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[06:56] Anastasia expresses her want... And need to strike at them. And he didn't like the idea at all, as it meant they could be in a world of trouble. It leads them down a rocky path, one they might not recover from. And to risk more lives, to rescue one? Giving up coin was much safer, and easier.

"We aren't abandoning him, but I am sure he can wait. Gathering the coin will be easy if we just put our minds to it. And who cares if they try to take advantage of that? It's a life... Coin means little to that, and I hope it teaches out people to be a lot more careful."

In the end, as he mentioned before and Yoshiko had agreed with it. Aeliana would have the final say, so what could he even tell Anastasia? It causes him to huff, as he wishes he could go in sword swinging too. But that risked himself, and those that cared for him too-- And the people of Myllenoris, that relied on him.

"Again, Aeliana has the final say. There is no limit to this decision, so we have a lot of time to think about this. Make sure you consider what the right thing to do is as well, Lightbringer… And if you find Aeliana before me? Please forward it to her."

You know it was serious because he said Lightbringer like he was your mom using your full name.
(Alexios)
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[06:58] There's a tired gaze that's offered to the both of them before eventually a dissatisfied huff escapes her lips.

"Fine. I'll speak with her and see what she says, then." She explained it. "I'm going to go retire for now, as I haven't slept yet. Have a nice--" She paused, looking skyward.

"Afternoon."
(Anastasia ven Astor)
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