groundrules: (Default)
let's set d o w n some ([personal profile] groundrules) wrote2022-01-23 05:44 pm
Entry tags:

npc inbox: arc v


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

Arc IV: Serthica


ALEM | ALLIED NPCs | OTHERS

ALEM

DEIMAR
Young king of Alem, six months into rule. Ascended after his father perished during Alem’s siege. Bright, sharp, sly. A golden prince with formidable charisma. Men would follow him to their doom.
HAIVA
Elder brother to Deimar, whom he resembles greatly. No appetite for the throne. Organises the evacuation convoys and healing efforts. Personally visits the wounded often. Scholarly, sedate and sickly. Has offered a bounty for the Reaper.
CLE-FLORENS
Twelve-year-old sister to Deimar and Haiva, in line for the throne. Shy, hesitant, weary of bloodshed. The people name her a symbol of righteousness and think they’ll win the war if they are led by her innocence and sacrifice.
VATAZ
DECEASED | Cousin to the heirs, son to Thyvault. Paladin of renown, serious, earnest, ready to sacrifice his life for Alem. Devout believer in the citadel’s sacred mission to rein in hell.
THYVAULT
Uncle to the throne heirs, father to Vataz. Pragmatic, weathered, strong. Consummate soldier and sorcerer. Briefly acted as Regent while Alem determined his brother’s succession — many say he hesitated to surrender the crown to Deimar.
GALATEA
Distant relation and noted paladin. Patient, fair and compassionate. A rare embodiment of military prowess and diplomatic sensibilities. Negotiated the trade route truce with Rathakku and has been single-handedly striking supply deals with traders.
KERASSTONE
Leader of Mount Attevar’s ancient dwarf tribes, which preceded the settlement of Alem. Allied with the citadel for its efforts to keep hell bound. Battle-hardened and quick-tempered, but a man you want minding your back in battle. The one who’ll make sure everyone survives.
MERCHANTS OF ALEM
Passing scavengers intent on stripping the flesh off Alem's financial bones. From boastful Batthour of the grain route to stern Eles of silks and steel, they'll supply most provisions... for a steep price.
RATHAKKU / RAKKATHU / 'THE LORD WHO WAITS'
Undead liege. The Lord of War. Cruel, cunning, decisive, strong. Apt torturer and tactician. Sufficiently patient to wait out a year of siege against Alem. Leads the armies of the brotherhood — so far, to perennial victory. Can only be reached by missive (a single letter/answer interaction) or through envoy.


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. Currently unavailable.
ZENOBIUS
Former caretaker and scientist of Ellethia, site and cauldron of the first undead attacks. Fell victim to local enchantment and looked after the comatose bodies of his former colleagues for years. Fell and awoke from a long sleep, partly amnesiac. Practical, grumpy, unafraid to challenge the Merchant.
'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.

rehandle: (pic#12416168)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-12 10:46 pm (UTC)(link)
I'd rather not waste time we might otherwise spend discussing the recent suggestion that you intend to trade some of our number for the safety of your own.

If you need me to bow and scrape as a prelude, I can do that.
jatharin: (deimar)

[personal profile] jatharin 2023-02-12 10:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Suggestion of... what?
rehandle: (293)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-12 10:54 pm (UTC)(link)
We're told you plan to sell a dozen of us to the death lord at your gates. True or not, you have a problem on your hands.
jatharin: (deimar)

[personal profile] jatharin 2023-02-12 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
I knew that when you broke my gate.

Well, then. So, I've sold you. Was it for a good rate? I got my... blood lives' worth?
rehandle: (272)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-12 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Push through it. Deimar has every right to any remark. ]

I don't know. I'd ask you to tell me, but I don't know what good that would do.

Do you deny it?

[ It's not an accusation. Neither one of them can trust the other here, but he has to ask, and ask in earnest. Before it all hits the fan he'll have to make up his own mind. ]
jatharin: (deimar)

[personal profile] jatharin 2023-02-12 11:13 pm (UTC)(link)
If I wanted to give you to him, why not take advantage of your... little incident as a righteous public excuse to do so?

Assuming I were.
rehandle: (pic#12484567)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-12 11:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Executed or exiled in public disgrace doesn't have the same uplift as dying heroically for a cause, and those of us you didn't pack off wouldn't be as easily directed after that.

There'll always be a counter argument. I'm not asking for your defence, I'm asking if you deny it.
jatharin: (deimar)

[personal profile] jatharin 2023-02-12 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Who accuses me?
rehandle: (pic#12290378)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-12 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
We have no name, just words over the pendants. They claim to be of your kingdom. 'Unlikely friend', or 'L'.
jatharin: (deimar)

[personal profile] jatharin 2023-02-12 11:49 pm (UTC)(link)
...I put down a goblet of wine to rescue my pendant off the floor for this conversation.
rehandle: (pic#13281297)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-13 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
By all means, pick up your wine if you think it more important, your Majesty.
jatharin: (deimar)

[personal profile] jatharin 2023-02-13 12:05 am (UTC)(link)
One of us has to laugh at the absurdity of this exchange, and I don't hear you unhinging your jaws.
rehandle: (pic#12284577)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-13 12:14 am (UTC)(link)
As far as I've seen none of our number are laughing. That's what you need to take seriously.
jatharin: (deimar)

[personal profile] jatharin 2023-02-13 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
'Or else'...?
rehandle: (pic#12484742)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-13 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
Maybe.

[ He doesn't know all of these people well, to fully understand how much of a threat this situation presents. But he equally can't guarantee it won't spiral into something dangerous - the unpredictable always might. ]

I don't know. You're the one that'll find out.
jatharin: (deimar)

[personal profile] jatharin 2023-02-13 08:05 am (UTC)(link)
If you think I've sold you, why aren't you fleeing?
rehandle: (293)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-13 09:04 am (UTC)(link)
I don't think anything yet.
jatharin: (deimar)

[personal profile] jatharin 2023-02-13 09:12 am (UTC)(link)
I saved you. This is your gratitude, and I saved you.

You should be my man.
rehandle: (pic#13281295)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-13 09:28 am (UTC)(link)
I am here speaking with you when I could've come to my own conclusions.

You may have blind loyalty from your followers, Deimar, but you can't rely on it from us. I'm trying to help you.
jatharin: (deimar)

[personal profile] jatharin 2023-02-13 09:38 am (UTC)(link)
I suppose this is the part where you tell me I need to help myself first. Funny, isn't it? Diplomacy. Bit like attending a whorehouse, but you only get fucked.

Very well. I didn't do it.
rehandle: (pic#12484567)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-13 09:52 am (UTC)(link)
Thank you.

Is there anything you've said or done that might've been misinterpreted or misrepresented?
jatharin: (deimar)

[personal profile] jatharin 2023-02-13 09:55 am (UTC)(link)
We wouldn't be here if there weren't.

I'm getting very bored of this little insurrection.
rehandle: (283)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-13 10:05 am (UTC)(link)
[ Ah, the subtle art of trying not to piss off a king while inevitably pissing off a king. ]

I'm sure you are. I'm going to need more from you than 'yes'.
jatharin: (deimar)

[personal profile] jatharin 2023-02-13 10:10 am (UTC)(link)
You're here on the words of a nameless... friend? Shall we call them that?

I gave you my name and antecedents of saving your skin.

As far as I can see, I've brought you twice the evidence of my accuser already. I won't entertain this further.

You haven't been sold. I'm tempted to make that a 'for now' sort of occasion.
rehandle: (272)

[personal profile] rehandle 2023-02-13 10:31 am (UTC)(link)
I was hoping to help save yours in turn.

Call on me if you've need. I can be near faster than most.

[ It doesn't seem like they're getting anywhere else - if the king's had enough, he won't push him further. ]

(no subject)

[personal profile] jatharin - 2023-02-13 10:36 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] rehandle - 2023-02-13 10:45 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] jatharin - 2023-02-13 10:55 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

[personal profile] rehandle - 2023-02-13 11:04 (UTC) - Expand