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

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.

[enucleation]

[ what is he meant to do with a pulsating heart, dude?

Kaneki simply hums]

If I may ask, what is it for and what does it do? I will keep and protect it as requested but I'm curious to know what I have in my hands. [ he knows it's not human, at least]

[pulvisetumbra]

Leverage, young man. A guarantee of some significance.

[enucleation]

And you trust me to keep it? [ now, he knows they are all a merry band of otherworlders who want to go home and they will do what it takes.

But they don't know each other. The Merchant doesn't know Kaneki. Unless he does, but that's another story ]

[pulvisetumbra]

We are associates. We share communal interests. I trust you to serve your own welfare.

[enucleation]

[ he really doesn't know Kaneki if he thinks he has regard for his own wellfare ('=

But at least he has regard for other people's welfare and does not wish to harm his companions in any way. And if he can make their journey easier and help out, then he shall ]

I don't wish to be rude, neither I'm questioning your words. But I'm a new arrival and still have much to learn. [ Kaneki speaks softly, trying to sound polite and nice ] What exactly are these interests? From what I've learned, you have put a lot on the line bringing us to East, and many would find it much easier to kill us than to bother.

[pulvisetumbra]

Allow me to do my moniker justice and prove perfectly mercantile. You... exotic arrivals are often summoned on account of your... unusual skills. You are then hunted by the dead, and you are either converted or perverted as weapons. You represent a constant and looming risk of being turned against us.

( Candidly, practically, thoroughly: ) If you are killed — as was our initial instinct — you are regrettably still often recruited by the brotherhood of the dead. Therefore, our only option to survive your presence is to banish you back to your homelands. Make no mistake: your safe and prompt return to your worlds is entirely beneficial to our survival.

And if at any point we should discover more efficient methods to annihilate the danger you pose to us, they will be utilised.

[enucleation]

I appreciate the honesty. [ he does. kaneki doesn't like to have things sugar coated and prefers blunt explanations. ]

Have all the arrivals been cooperative? [ he imagines some would very much like to just do as they want. or at least that's how a lot of people in kaneki's world are ]

[pulvisetumbra]

They appear to see the personal advantage of cooperation.

[enucleation]

[ ah.

Kaneki does not believe everyone wishes to return. He has seen despair in many around him and he has seen the desire to leave it all behind; being in this world could be an opportunity, even with the threat of the undead. There are worst things than such. So much worse.

But he may also be incredibly bitter about life in general and thus he is biased. Still, kaneki hums softly ] Let us hope that shall continue.

Thank you for your time, Merchant. If any other side-mission comes along, I'll gladly take it.

[pulvisetumbra]

You will find me not ungrateful. And willing to compensate your agreeable disposition.

I am not unaware some members of our collective have more stringent requirements than others.

[enucleation]

[ a pause follows. Longer than Kaneki wanted it to be, but through his life as a ghoul, to admit to be one to a human (assuming the Merchant is a human) is still something kaneki never did. ]

I suppose this is a good time to discuss that particular topic. [ good as any ]

The good news is that the undead are a good option. The bad news is... I'm a binge eater. [ he doesn't particularly like to use that word to describe him, but it is indeed the best ]

[pulvisetumbra]

( Wait. )

You... consume the dead?

[enucleation]

That is an option. [ Kaneki sighs. ] As long they were once human.

[ he consumes humans. Alive or dead. Or undead ]

It's important to know the people who are working with, Merchant. Especially if our journey is long.

[pulvisetumbra]

You understand my predicament now. ( And he is so well informed, often. ) Are you at risk of your... appetites turning against your fellow collaborators?

[enucleation]

Not if I have a supply. [ he had so many undead in the city. But if they are going to cross a desert for a month, then there will be some issues. ]

I can carry what I need, but I need to know how much I need before venturing.

[pulvisetumbra]

That will not be necessary.

How long do you have before you cross the point from cravings you can control to those you cannot? How long can you fast? Estimate towards the lower end of your endurance.

[enucleation]

Two weeks. [ that would be the lower end ] A month on the higher end. [ a month would be difficult, but if given no other option, that is something kaneki can push himself to do. Only if he keeps busy, however, because if not then hunger is all he can think of ]

[pulvisetumbra]

Thank you for your sincerity.

[enucleation]

If I lose myself to my hunger everyone will be in danger. And I will be killed and possibly turned into an undead to be used by a necromancer. [ and nobody wants that. Because if an undead is bad, an undead ghoul is probably much worse ] That situation is not good for anyone involved.

However, while I shared this information with you, I have no intention of sharing it with anyone else.

[pulvisetumbra]

I assure you, I have no intention of sharing with anyone the specifics of your... sensitivity. Whilst I am willing to cooperate and offset your particular... weaknesses, they will not be so.

[enucleation]

I don't think they would, no.

I appreciate your discretion.

[pulvisetumbra]

Your circumstances. Do they deteriorate...?

[enucleation]

Deteriorate? [ a very specific word that can mean a lot when addressing Kaneki. So he would rather understand what the merchant means specifically before he answers ]

[pulvisetumbra]

Do your hunger and requirements exacerbate over time?