npc inbox: ellethia

[groundrules]

NPC INBOX

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 posts:

■ Arc I: Sa-Hareth

■ Interlude: Stairs of Sighs + Arc II: Taravast

	ENAM Well-travelled guide and botanist. Associate of the Merchant, formerly himself a tradesman. Measured of speech, honourable, sincere. Lover and protector of animals, whatever their nature. Travels with apprentices.
	HATISSE Revived witch of the Attaryl, partly responsible for the massacre of the Stairs of Sighs. Formerly a court witch of the Attaryl. Manipulative, vicious, a trained seductress. Formidably powerful. Buried with wards and injuries by her own sisters to prevent her return. Somewhat bound to Wrath.
	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.
	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.

OTHER CITADELS

	"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.
	MACALUSO SPINA Earnest and moderate nephew of Bonaccorso Spina, now leading Doxe of Taravast. Adrift, following the betrayals of his family, Macaluso benefits from support from the witches of Bessis and seeks to rebuild the citadel he secured with the party's help.
	VANNOZZA SPINA Beautiful and fierce niece of Bonaccorso Spina, targeted by the old man for possession. Crafty, coy, strategic and cold, she now acts as adviser to her more idealistic cousin, Macaluso Spina after executing her grandfather.
	RIGARDA Lively, charismatic and gossip-prone lady of the highest echelons, formerly closely allied to Bonaccorso Spina. She carried out the dirty work of brokering weapon shipments to the Brotherhood of undead lieges, buying Taravast's protection. Alive at Anduin's largesse.
	KARSA Currently unavailable | 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. Furtively left the group, bearing injury, at the end of Arc II.

Comments

→ wrath

[aprescoup]

( It is not for the dead to impose on the living, but arriving at Ellethia-Allayar appears to have stripped Hatisse of her manners. )

Dear heart, mighty king. You are, of course, your own man, with your decisions. And I would not dream to interfere or influence them. It would be untoward. I am, in all things, your humble servant.

But, if you take advice. As men of your modesty and wisdom often do.

[inferus]

( There is the deepest of sighs at the 'dear heart', but at least mighty king is an accurate title. This is not an arrangement he necessarily anticipated upon making their bargain, but he is aware of its value if she has information that is of use. He does not trust her regardless. )

I do not suffer from a sinful amount of pride so there is no need to appeal to it nor am I anyone's dear heart. You have more experience within this particular world, and I am no fool who would refuse to listen to what you have to say. If you wish to gain favor with me, valuable council is far more effective.

What is your advice, Hatisse?

[aprescoup]

Of course, my dear heart.

Don't linger here long.

[inferus]

( another sigh. )

I had no intention, but apparently our benefactor feels it is necessary for our group to witness his home city and the effects of the Undead upon it. Bonaccarso warned against Elletheia as well before the Undead. Is there any particular reason we should not linger?

[aprescoup]

They did something, in Ellethia. Something they should not have done.

[inferus]

Attempt to remove Death itself from their city? ( That would be his assumption based on the endless cycle, based on his being entirely unable to feel death at all. )

[aprescoup]

I do not know what they set out to do. I know only what I see now. There is no death here.

[inferus]

I am aware. I cannot feel it. I watch animals age and then be reborn. Yet when I kill an animal, this corpse remains a corpse. How is that possible in a place without death? Is it only natural death that it protects against?

[aprescoup]

You do not understand. There is a purpose to death.

[inferus]

( frustration mounts. he was created to be the angel of death. not being able to understand it is- it's infuriating. ) In my own world, there is no one more knowledgeable about death and the result of it than I am, but death in yours does not work the same.

You are saying my killing the animal brings purpose to its death which allows it to be permanent?

[aprescoup]

Of course, my king. It should obey you. All things should obey you. You are their master.

I am saying, the death of murder is different from that of the body's own frailty. It does not belong to the body, the spirit, the flesh. It is imposed.

[inferus]

( deep sigh. ) I would not say that is the case nor would I wish it to be. ( he believes strongly in the power and importance of free will. it is why he fell from the iron grip of his own maker. )

I understand. As I mentioned, I have no intention to linger, but seeing its importance to the Merchant, it seems a valuable place of study nonetheless.

[aprescoup]

But you believe he wishes well for you, my king? Why would he?

He is not as I am. He is not bound to you. Your fortune is not his fortune.

for the merchant, a day after arriving at the lighthouse

[lancifolium]

Sir,

There's a lot to learn from Ellethia, and I'm sorry that you lost your home like this, even though the damage isn't fresh it's clear it was terrible.

I've tried to take away all I could learn from this place, and I wondered if you would be willing to speak to me about it. I understand your time is valuable, and we haven't conversed in the past but I am not indifferent to what's at stake and would appreciate whatever time you had.

Lily Evans

[pulvisetumbra]

Good afternoon. How may I help?

asgeirr, while in the lighthouse tower

[weifinder]

My scholarly friend, I've brought something for you!

( to be fair usually he's one of the ones carrying Asgeirr's cloak, but right now he's neatly left it folded over a chair at one of the long discussion tables, holding a talisman in hand and smiling wryly, like a man who remembers once smiling with ease in his younger years. )

Would you lend me a few moments of your time?

[aprescoup]

( He is slow to materialise, trickling in — lip bitten and downturned, as if he fears something, someone, in distant darkness.

But he remembers this one, who summoned him. Nods along, as he sits primly in the chair of his summon. )

Of course.

[weifinder]

( he's not insensible to the moods of others, living or dead; he cocks his head to the side, smile fading a degree without fleeing entirely. )

Will you speak with me about what's bothering you after?

( the gift, such as it is, remains regardless. but whatever haunts the dead is asgeirr's choice to share. )

[aprescoup]

( He is silent longer than might seem at first necessary. )

This is... a place of strangeness.

[weifinder]

I agree. I would appreciate being educated in the ways you find it strange.

( a small pause. )

Would you like your gift first, or after, to drive away the taste of here?

[aprescoup]

( Here, now, he tips his head down, seemingly abashed — shy, all once, curious and stricken. You see: )

I... have not had a gift in a very long time.

( He would sooner have it now. )

[weifinder]

( softly spoke: )

Then here. For you, Scholar Asgeirr. You'd mentioned before a desire to see butterflies?

( wei wuxian shifts, and the talisman he holds activates with a flick of his wrist. the butterflies are bright orange and red as their wings flap, their centres white, a burst of fluttering fire that flits and flitters around before they head toward the door, to the stairs, and out. barrier breaking butterflies, and no he doesn't call them that, but it's flash and show and beautiful when it's not flying at one's face, or perhaps even when it is.

he watches the ghost, some portion of attention on the shimmering butterflies as they leave. there are no particular barriers he feels they'll arrive at and break through, but with his luck, never say never. )

[aprescoup]

( Oh, but they are beautiful, kindly, splintered. Dissolving as pale light before his eyes, and his mouth cuts in a bashful smile, too young for this face. Spreading. )

They... are very beautiful. Thank you. Thank you.

[weifinder]

( just a smile, more sincere than many, smaller than most. )

You're welcome.

( it is the least he can do, in light of so many other terrible things he might, for the living or the dead.

but he doesn't pressure the moment, shifts gaze to stare after the disappeared butterflies, lets the ghost determine if he's ready to speak, or if he's content as he is. all of this place, all of this former home of the merchant, echoes in wrong things, in remembered tragedies, in living decay. lifecycles that bind and force nightly death and rebirth, mocking many things.

at least the mermaids, dead and alive, appear satiated by aspects of it all. )

[lancifolium]

Do you know of the lighthouse we've been taken to? How did it survive?