npc inbox: taravast

[groundrules]

NPC INBOX: TARAVAST

Reach out to your (not-so-)favourite NPC here, putting their name in the comment header. Try to keep it to just quick text/audio/written exchanges or inquiries that can accept summarised answers, please!

PREVIOUS NPC INBOX FOR ARC I: SA-HARETH & STAIRS OF SIGHS

	MACALUSO Earnest and moderate nephew of Bonaccorso, seeking to succeed his grandfather. A pursuer of astronomy, accountancy, diplomacy and elemental magic, with a long history of supporting the witches of Bessis. Champions firmer ties with foreign citadels to improve Taravast's access to armies and resources. Looking to choose a bride.
	VANNOZZA Beautiful and fierce niece of Bonaccorso, contending to become the next Ilia Doxe. Mind of a scientist and a lady of the hunt. A practitioner and frequent visitor of the necromantic and healing sectors. Has entertained and turned away more lovers than the heroine of a particularly sappy romance novel. Often indisposed.
	RIGARDA Lively, charismatic and gossip-prone lady of the highest echelons, received at every gathering. Can slaughter half a dozen reputations with the right twitch of her brows before breakfast. An associate of the Merchant's and old friend of the current Ilia Doxe of Taravast, Bonaccorso. Indifferent in the game of succession. Loathes crumpets and witches.
	THE LAVISH LOCALS From the witches of Bessis or Attaryl to academicians, politicians, nobles, servant folk, artists or protestors — if you’ve got a question, someone can surely supply an answer.
	THE MERCHANT The patron saint of etiquette and the eastbound getaway expedition. Seems to largely trade information alongside wares. Appreciates spices, strategy and collaboration. Has an eerie and overly cautious manner. Committed. Defends the benefit of the many, to the detriment of the few.
	KARSA Sorceress, young (?). Employed by the Merchant and deferential to him. Talented but fiery and frequently impatient, intolerant of fools. She will get today's job done yesterday. Struggles to sympathise with men, objections and those who cannot absorb information quickly. Enchanted the group's translation devices. Only available until 28/12.
	ASGEIRR The ghost of a scholar monk. Haunts the tattered execution cloak that the party stole from the La Rea bank in Sa-Hareth. Once a champion of equality and freedom, he faced ire for converting his followers against the regionally profitable trade of slavery. Soft-spoken but wise and just, slow to regain his strength. Will speak to those who visit his cloak in brief interludes. Favours necromancers.

SA-HARETH

"HALTHAM" | ANURR The undead warlord Anurr, previously posing as gentle-mannered giant Haltham. An embodiment of Sa-Hareth's cold storms and wind, who regained his territory from contender Unhalad with the inadvertent help of the party in Arc I. Frostily rational and amenable to some negotiation.

Comments

un: qishan - to Lady Vannozza

[silverneedles]

My Lady, with your permission, I would like to join you the next time you visit the Spina hunting grounds.

[aprescoup]

Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to extend the mantle of our hospitality. But, to what purpose, my beauty?

I anticipated the only quarry you hunted walked the fete halls.

un: team zero; audio; Lady Vannozza

[gladiokinesis]

Lady Vannozza, right? I think I could be of value to you.

[aprescoup]

Certainly, my pet. And how?

BONACCORSO | SEPTEMBER AUDIENCES

[aprescoup]

Health has ill favoured don Bonaccorso in his sunset years. The man presides over a room like a spider, half draped on his chair, half collapsed. He has requested his audiences, and, yet, by the time his summoned answer, he is — adrift. Nearly maudlin.

He asks, with a hand's waved flourish, for the recipient of his audience favour to sit, sooner than bend the knee.

"No need, no need. Speak, then. What do you make of our fine Taravast?"

ELEVEN

[aprescoup]

JIN GUANGYAO

[aprescoup]

attention Merchant

[weifinder]

Word has it the Bessis were looking for funds and information to the North and South of here, running into the dead rising and wandering and swallowing each notable city they encountered, aside from here. What I'm having to wonder is: what, if anything, do you want done about the man who sold everywhere else into Undead Lord hands?

How much is Lady Vannozza going to do to keep Taravast from falling like the rest, to have us aimed her way, instead of to her cousin?

[pulvisetumbra]

And what disposes you to the belief that Bonaccorso achieved this?

in a lovely written missive delivered to the lady vannozza

[weifinder]

To the Esteemed Lady Vannozza,

Respectfully and Earnestly Requesting your grace for Tea and Conversation, if at any time in your Busy Schedule you have Wish for a moment of Repast and Consideration.

May your efforts prove as Fertile as well-turned fields,
Wei Wuxian

[aprescoup]

To Wei Wuxian,

I have every breath and moment to spare for my creatures, so long as they do not turn their fangs upon my hand.

Please. Come sundown. I only beg you, on this occasion, to neglect bringing the company of your various petitioners. They are of an especial sort.

May your day part from your difficulties as swiftly as do the legs of your chosen.

Vannozza

lady vannozza

[inferus]

( the message will be delivered by one of his disciples to be given to lady vanozza. he keeps it vague enough, but it is generally seen as polite to send word first instead of simply showing up uninvited, and he doesn't entirely trust the amulets still for privacy purposes. it is strange to be in this position. in hell, it is others requesting an audience with him. he hopes to find out information at the very least even if he doesn't know if he can help or if he wants to help. it depends on what is being summoned, why it is being summoned. )

Lady Vannozza,

I humbly request an audience at your convenience. I may be able to be of assistance.

-Wrath

[aprescoup]

( A note in kind: )


Greetings,

I do not often endeavour to speak to my cousin's champions. I find their interests boringly misplaced.

Stare first your reasons.

With grace,

Vannozza Spina

to the lady vannozza

[silverneedles]

[ Written in a fair hand, although somewhat hurried. ]

My dear Lady Vannozza,

I have been informed you wish for an exorcism or summoning. If this is related to your condition, I beseech you, allow me to attend you during this. If this has occurred, allow me a full examination, and some questions of your health.

[aprescoup]

My sweet dove,

How precious of you to trouble yourself. Have I worried your heart?

With kindness,

Vannozza

a letter to the lady vannozza, sent a day after the dragon drama like a good little decoy

[lancifolium]

Esteemed Vannozza Spina,

After the unfortunate situation in the tower, I wanted to write to you and ensure that you are doing well. It was my honor to convey you safely away from the skirmish and I hope you remain safe.

Should you require it, I hope you will not hesitate to requisition my aid again.

In service,
Lily Evans

[aprescoup]

Dear sweet girl,

I should have written you first. Your care was utmost and critical. I have emerged little scathed, with only you to thank. And I do.

Speak your mind, whenever a fresh thought passes it. Whatever you require, I shall facilitate a boon.

I always pay my debts.

With an embrace,

Vannozza

lily + wuxian for asgeirr

[weifinder]

Wei Wuxian pats Asgeirr's cloak fondly.

"Looks like this can use a little more mending. Master Asgeirr, would you mind? I can work on it while myself and my friend Lily here chat with you for a while."

Ignore the slight congestion he definitely has going on. He can smile regardless!

[aprescoup]

Asgeirr has never minded, not a day in his sad second life. The mist that so often darkens his eyes seems to have lightly dispelled — he looks at Wei Wuxian and briefly knows him.

"Please, cut my frayed ends." A literal request, sooner than a metaphor. That cloak's seen finer days.

missive from Anonymous Benefactor to macaluso from the sickbed that follows the tower fiasco

[weifinder]

Lord Macaluso,

One hopes you've retained your health following this terrible tragedy, and have some sense of what you must look inward to find, and outward to solve, come the time of your esteemed Uncle's stepping down as the hand that guides Taravast.

Signed,
The White Mask

[aprescoup]

( There is no way to answer an anonymous missive, but Macaluso gives it a fair try, leaving a message to the public in the submission box of the piazza. Should Wei Wuxian ever check, it will say: )



May fate shine further on don Bonaccorso, who guides and protects as fiercely in his sunset years as he did, a rising lord.

Anurr

[scrapgege]

[Xie Lian isn't even sure that whatever he's doing is going to work, but you know, you can't know until you try. So he holds his crystal in one hand and the braid from Anurr's head in the other.]

Hello? I don't know if you can hear me, but you can't actually go and do that, you know? You can't just go and take over people to speak as if you have no mouth of your own, and I know you do, I've spoken with you before. And you can't just ask for people to be given to you. They may have been dead for a long time, but they're still people. You can't just go and decide you want them and take them without asking them what they want.

[Think of his tone as 'Kindergarten teacher scolding a two-year-old who pilfered a cookie from a classmate'.]

audio

[aprescoup]

( He has a mouth — a multitude, speaking as collective: )

T HE y WoU L d Be FRE e.

for the hatisse chat! we'll be taking turns

[lancifolium]

[ Looking at the possessed body of Lady Vannozza in the moonlight, stunned when she begins to speak as Hatisse, Lily exchanged a look with Wei Wuxian before speaking. ]

Lady Hatisse, it is an honor to finally be in your company. Please, explain - who was your vessel already primed for?

[aprescoup]

( It is a strange, unfathomable thing, to walk the grounds in skins borrowed. At each step, Hatisse appears to try the body of Vannozza Spina as if she were fresh velvets, curling and twirling her fingers, rolling her ankles, her neck.

It is a flesh stiffness, which she appears to intend to wear down as she paces the forest grounds, feet bare. )

...that... I wonder. I suspect, but I wonder. Light me a fire, won't you, brother? Sister? Bring leaves.

( But she does not wait — blows in the spread of her palm, and flame answers her, at the tips of Vannozza's manicured fingers. )

When my sisters — we take the men, but we are, at heart, sisters — ready the grounds, it is often on commission. Although, some have dabbled in the trick of the transfer themselves. ( A moment, her eyes alight despite the dark. ) But we will have a trade. You want your answers, I want mine. If you are here, you've encountered Arha. You have left him. How was he, in his last?

lady vannozza. 14th-ish.

[inferus]

( wrath has come to see her several times before. it is different now with the city in disarray, with what he has experienced. he is infuriated with how little power he has in this world- a world that ripped him from his own, that shackled his freewill for the first time in countless millennia. at least when he fell from heaven, it was his choice. he waits until they have privacy to speak of her affliction more openly. )

My lady, I wanted to inquire over your wellbeing since the terrible events which transpired within the city. ( especially following the visit from the undead, given the disease itself is death touched and the undead call to death itself ) Has your affliction worsened?

[aprescoup]

( A new day, forcibly bright. When she enters her reception rooms, Vannozza Spina appears, for once, equipped for travel, armed with the thick gloves of the hunt and a lady's riding regalia.

She dismisses her people, her suitor of the day, even her maids, before pacing the room as if she intends to give Wrath no more than spare moments. Trinkets of her time. )

I am as you know me. ( Her smile, faint. ) My wounds and my marks are as you know them. How interminably acquainted you all are with my failings. Perhaps so familiar that you've become fond.

( But she breathes, in and then out, and steadies herself, finally seating. ) I sleep poorly. It is not... unexpected, is it? After all that's come and gone.

un; sprite bulb - The Merchant; 11th

[bearshermark]

[It's taken a lot to reach this point, but he doesn't have anyone else to ask]

Have you heard from Archeval recently? Last I knew, he was on some mission for you.

[pulvisetumbra]

Good afternoon. I am pleased to see you have survived the recent devastation.

No news of our collaborator Archeval.

Macaluso- 16th- a letter

[bearshermark]

In your interest to accept foreign wisdom, I have this to offer.

Working alongside the people to rebuild may win you more of their favor than Vannozza's coin.

~L

[aprescoup]

( The letter reaches don Macaluso Spina — sadly, in the absence of further sender details, he cannot answer! But some part of him is surely grateful. )

rings up the merchant

[weifinder]

At this point I can't assume you have no idea what's going on from our end, but to what degree were you aware of the spirit transfers of the Doxe's, by their meddling or whomever else wanting their line unbroken, and Lady Vannozza's preparation to that state? Or Lady Rigarda in her actions on behalf of Taravast and the Doxe, fulfilling weapons trade agreements with the undead lords at large?

[pulvisetumbra]

What difference does it make?

for Macaluso - un: starkov

[sankta]

do you intend to heed the warning of the Brotherhood?

[aprescoup]

Hello. I should have called first upon you. I heard...

I am glad you are well. And I know what you saw and lived through won't dispose you to think so, but there is value in still reaching out to our friends past our borders. For we are short of allies within.

un: Black Prince; Karsa: Pre-revolution

[blackscales]

The Doxe will be in danger soon, make sure any exit strategy you had is still sound. I'm not sure where a revolution comes in the plan, but it's happening soon. It seems the injustice has galvanised the population, who are quite convinced they can talk Bonaccorso around. They're also arming themselves.

[aprescoup]

Exit? Strategy?

Is he my father, the Doxe? My husband? My little slave? Is he yours?

We have nothing to do with them. You watch yourself.

un: centipede ; un: Merchant // Audio

[enucleation]

Good evening. Me and Marcos have [ aha. ] acquired what you were looking for in the Spina hunting grounds.

Where may we drop the box and its contents? [ he had a peek at them, oops ]

[ ooc: for record, the log is here! It only just started, however, I hope that is okay. ]

audio

[pulvisetumbra]

( ooc: That is perfectly fine! )


Good afternoon. You have done rather well for yourselves. ( A pause, considering. ) I thank your service. But I encourage you to remain custodians of the... contents.

Asgeirr; pre-update

[bearshermark]

[A few hours after this conversation, Eleven finds himself awkwardly addressing a cloak]

Ah.. hello? I was hoping to speak with you.

[aprescoup]

( As it so happens, the monk phantasm inside the cloak has the inclination to materialise. )

Yes...? Hello.