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groundrules) wrote2020-02-09 02:53 am
groundrules) wrote2020-02-09 02:53 am
Entry tags:
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
■ Interlude: Ellethia
■ Arc III: House of Ravens
SERTHICA
| ARABELLA Mistress of discipline and Minaras' Watch ships, and member of the ruling governance. Her manner at once innocent, ruthless and cold-blooded. Mother to clockwork children. | |
| CAIN D'UBIQ Foremost dragon rider and gentleman of Eidris, accepted by the great fire-breathing Ashtart. War hero of the conflict with Minaras. Too young for his rank and achievements. Patron of several dragon schools. Appears perpetually absent-minded, thoughts astray. | |
| MA'AM MARIOL Motherly figure to the orphans of Serthica's impoverished underworld of exiles, the Mouse House. After years of rearing, prone to treating everyone as children. Her temper runs hotter than a first glance might indicate. Knows just about everyone. | |
| (KING) THIVAR II Formerly king of Serthica, holding a diminished court in Eidris — the single citadel contingent that still recognises his authority. Headstrong, firm, dignified. Claims Minaras and Serthica's dragons as his birthright. | |
| CHRICHTER Only available to those who join Remembrance. Leader of the radical Remembrance resistance movement that calls for a different solution to Serthica's post-plague political landscape. Unaffiliated with Eidris or Minaras. |
| 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. Furtively left the group, bearing injury, at the end of Arc II. | |
| 'QUICKSILVER SAM'(UEL VANE) Pirate king of great renown, master of haunted waters. Recovering from a journey through the Crossing Seas, where he summoned the drowned dead for a foolish act of vengeance with an elusive artefact he himself misunderstands. Agile, quick-witted, charming and possessed of more street smarts than many. Intent to repay his debt to the party. | |
 | 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 |
OTHERS
| "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. |
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Yes, yes, the... kraken. Think nothing of it. Sordid creature. What a number. We kept finding guts all over the deck, all of two weeks later. Imagine, sir, the whores were adamant, them or the fish. They said it had tentacles, and they wouldn't suffer competition, and we, of course, men of God, we said, the fish is certainly gone, madams, this is only debris — but then the next tentacle shows up with the boys, and what do you say to them?
( Apparently, you drink more brandy. ) Hellish thing, keeping the peace. But onwards and upwards. Your Serthica. There was a sickness, everyone knows. Serthica closed the ports. Had to turn several of our own ships around. Mighty fair — although, of course, those pox-saddled fools stupidly felt compelled to do so because they believed strangers were responsible. This was after a shipment from Ke-Waihu, so you'd expect they'd only close their doors to them, but no, no, they barred every path and disrupted every channel. To hear what savagery went on after, they probably did us all a kindness.
( And, ha, but he does laugh here and now. His wonderful humour, truly. ) Master Kirk, they say Serthica called in every wise man, scientist, magician or academic of renown to cure their sickness. They say no one prevailed, until... somehow, the citadel itself did. But we are not uninterested. In such a sickness. Such a weapon. And its origins. You understand, don't you? The men we represent don't want such... villainy ever replicated by man, nature or chance. If Serthica keeps its silence, we all run the risk of repetition. We must be prepared.
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I would say that the origins of this sickness could be used as a weapon by the men you represent just as much as Serthica's people themselves.
[ Yes, he knows Hawk was talking about the cure. But one doesn't come without the other. ]
I don't know what to tell you, though. We haven't figured out how they've handled the sickness. Actually, it's possible one of ours has fallen ill to the same disease, and we don't know what to do.
[ It's possible, because there's no way Jim is going into details about Bones's condition. Also not going to mention that it's extremely likely that Serthica has not, in fact, dealt with the disease at all.
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( And then, perhaps unexpectedly, a moment of actual, calculated silence. )
Master Kirk, if I were having this conversation with one of your comrades, I'd understand. But you and I, we're men of the world. We understand the tick and the tock. Yes, some... might say.... this sickness, as a weapon, could be replicated. Or that your...
...did you say one of yours has fallen sick? You did, didn't you? I heard you. Perhaps you should let me have a word with the young man or lady. To explain our point of view.
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Jim goes still at the next words, posture rigid and steel-cold gaze. ]
No. Absolutely out of the question.
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And then you'll introduce us.
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[ Yeah, he's choosing now to bring that up. This may turn out to be a bad decision but he's been having A Time lately. He's so done. ]
I thought 'no' was clear enough, but maybe this transmission is failing and you didn't hear me right.
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( But he does say it, teeth sharp. ) Capture them all, they have to leave Serthica at some point. There's only one port. Capture them, use them. By everything, turn a coin.
( And then he is but sweetness and honey: ) But I'm not that man, Jim. I only want to reach a mutually beneficial solution. You need help, don't you? Over there. I imagine you've needed help over there for some time now. And this... man under whose instruction you're travelling, how far can you trust him?
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[ Quite frankly, the mere thought revolts him. And he knows Leonard would sooner choose to die than to let that happen, which to Jim also isn't an option. ]
I trust him no more than I trust you. What are you going to tell me next, that your interest here is solely to help? I'm not going to let you use him, or this sickness, to further your own goals. I don't care what you offer in return.
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( The very thought, in fact, seems to sour his mouth to a lone line. ) I'm not here to help anyone to no gain, Captain Kirk. You're not here to do that either. It doesn't mean we can't treat our partners respectfully. After all, if I treat you well now, you might want to do business again later. And I do respect you, for your work at sea. I would gladly share the employment of my finest whore, that is Miss Theodora, with you.
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And I'm not sure where you got the idea I'm so fascinated by— [ Ugh that word. ] —whores, but I really have no interest in your woman. Or any of your women, for that matter.
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...oh, you're just bashful, aren't you? I've turned you shy, you mad dog, you. Listen here, let's not think another thought, you speak to your man, we take it from there. ( Here, the grin turns so molten, it might as well be brandy. )
And I came to you with good intentions, I'll have you know. I sincerely did. And as a token of my good will, please: how can I help you? I can't save the world from outside the gates, but if there is any shipment I can send in, any provision? I am asking as a friend.
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Given the circumstances, we are all managing. I can't think of anything at the moment.
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[ Less likely on the first offer, if anything Jim may reach out if there's something they'll want to have smuggled in here. Still, he's got a feeling that an offer like that would come at a cost. ]