npc inbox

[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

■ Interlude: Ellethia

■ Arc III: House of Ravens

SERTHICA | ALLIED NPCs | OTHERS

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.

ALLIED NPCs

	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 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. Not travelling with the party.

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.

Comments

[hatejakku]

I just mean the- the crime. The unreasonable things with the knives and... everything. I just want to make sure it's safe for you and the kids. It sounds like some people get... more stressed with the gas? The same way it makes you feel tired?

[ Yeah, the crime. That's what he's worried about. Great save, Finn. Sure. ]

finn, m8

[sansdoute]

Oh, no, I think it's only... when this happens, it gets us slow, and some folks don't be liking it, gets their tempers sharpened, can't be helped. But it's nothing to worry about, honest. There're no disappearances, really. I think... it must be heat, or pressure... or whatever it is, I'm no scientist, me, bless. I just know we... I suppose we forget a bit, heat'll do that. Heatwaves too, why, I lived me a summer when I was a sprightly girl, I could not tell you what happened, sun kept smiling on my head. I just...

And it's a little like that, when they get the gas wrong, but it's only the pressure, I imagine, of the pipes or... everyone's busy, poppet, we all try our best. I'm sure the mechanic is trying his best.

he's only screaming on the inside, it's fine

[hatejakku]

Oh, I'm sure they are. [ wheeze ] I'll check in on them, though. See if they need anything to fix this faster, regulate better, something.

But when you say forget, do you mean you found yourself losing a few hours here and there or-?

[ Don't think he skipped over the 'we forgot of our losses' bit. ]

[sansdoute]

Oh... I suppose... truth be told, I think it was mostly, well, you see. You see, dear, poppet, ummm, how shall I say this... wasn't pretty, the sick, when it happened? We only just... those who made it through, we were happy, but we lost our share of good, honest folks. And then they wouldn't let us go up anymore, saying it all started in the Mouse House, and... it was all very upsetting, so. I couldn't tell you what I forgot, mostly a few days here and there, when it got rough. I think it was a fair bit, but... I'm honest with you, like I'm with my own heart? I can't say I regret it.

It's not stuff you want to remember, poppet. Makes no one happy, all that death and trouble.

[hatejakku]

No, guess not... I understand. It's all right.

But... I didn't know it started in the Mouse House.

[ Or did it? Wow, he hates all of this. ]

[sansdoute]

That's what they say, about the coal sick. Everything from the port comes through the Mouse House first, then overground. So, 'we started it.'

[hatejakku]

Ah. [ The port. Right. ] That's not fair...

We're going to do everything we can to make sure this doesn't keep happening. In the meantime... you sure you and the kids want to stay down there? We can try to work something out with the city, if you want.

[ Not totally sure Serthica's much safer... and his idea of working something out may or may not include more smuggling. ]

[sansdoute]

Well... well, we're safe enough here, cozy, but. What've you got in mind?

[hatejakku]

I should be able to get you a place on the Minaras side. Probably won't be very big but enough room for all of you. At least, until this blows over.

[ He plans to try actually talking to some official (and hopefully alive) people first, do this legally. When If that falls through, well, he never did get a place of his own. Been going between Vanessa's and James' this whole time, saving money he never planned to actually use aside from giving it away. After all, a proper liaison could use some "office space" or something. ]

It's not always that safe up here, I'll be honest, but there's no gas.

go beg the group for some coin, finn, but not undoable

[sansdoute]

...you reckon you could get us up? Really, despite the passport troubles? Well... well, that'd be nice. The children should like some fresh air, and... Minaras, oh, that's the fancy side, isn't it? They've got all the... gears and...

here's hoping he doesn't accidentally get them moldified, lmao rip ;;

[hatejakku]

The droids and robots, yeah. The kids will like them.

It shouldn't be much trouble. [ Says man who has about 23% of a plan. ] I'll figure some things out and get back in touch soon. But if the gas gets worse before then, let us know?

:' )

[sansdoute]

Of course, dear. But it won't, it never does.