npc inbox: unkharil

[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 | Arc IV: Serthica | Arc V: Alem

Arc VI: Yancai

UNKHARIL | ALLIED NPCs | OTHERS

UNKHARIL

	DEIMAR Young liege, formerly of the most holy, hell-ruling citadel of Alem — now, would-be king of Unkharil. Leads a group of strong, battle-hardened refugees. Bright, sharp, sly. A golden prince with formidable charisma. Men have followed him to their doom — starting with his brother.
	CLE-FLORENS Twelve thirteen-year-old sister of Deimar, now his sole heiress to the throne. Shy, hesitant, weary of bloodshed, previously prepared to sacrifice her life to end war. Now consumed by romantic dreams of the world — and matrimony!
	GALATEAA true princess, if only a distant relation: patient, fair and compassionate. A rare embodiment of military prowess and diplomatic sensibilities. Leader of mages and a quick hand to assist.

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.
	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.

Comments

deimar, action

[pepsifree]

[ Wherever he catches the supposed king to be, Marty approaches him with his hands in his pockets and his head tilted slightly in curiosity. The guy doesn't look that old at all, and he wonders why anyone would want the responsibility of being king to begin with.

Of course, that isn't why he's come to see him. He's thinking of helping find that special snake, but first-- ]

Uh, Your Highness? [ If he sounds awkward, it's because Marty's never had to use this title seriously in his life. ] Hey. You got time for us normal folk?

[jatharin]

( Wealth, status, dignity and pride may have fled Deimar with the downfall of Alem, but flippancy has lingered strong and unerring.

A king learning to harvest is a wondrous and most beatific sight. In Deimar's case, the process is reduced to sitting idly on the side, dressed in armored regalia, inspecting scout reports but pretending interest when the harvesters come by.

Moral support is quintessential. )

For my favourite battalion of parasitic nomads? Always. By all means, speak. If you're like the rest, you won't be quieted anyway. And how is Yelena?

[pepsifree]

[ Man, he sounds like every rich kid ever, it sounds like. Marty does his best to steel his expression. ]

I don't know a Yelena, sorry.

But, uh, this snake you want found... what's it got to do with being king? [ A beat. ] And how do you get its blessing, anyway?

[jatharin]

...I'm not entirely sure ( But he stops, at least, to raise his glance and study the boy-child before him. Considering him, pained and long. )

Nor can I vouch there is a serpent god. I don't — hold the faith, as it were. If we had a certainty, I would have sent an army. But... drug-led hallucinations that spawned the world and somehow still troubles himself with his old haunts? I wonder.

( Still, an idle, careful shrug. ) My uncles are willing to surrender their claim, if the serpent chooses me over them. So, it will.

[pepsifree]

And these guys' opinions matter to you?

[ Foot, meet mouth. Even his tone sounds a bit disbelieving, and Marty clears his throat and straightens in an attempt to look at least a little more polite. ]

I mean-- you have your reasons for wanting to be king, right? Those ain't good enough? [ A beat. ] Uh, Your Highness. Sir.

[jatharin]

( A slowed, disbelieving... blink, and the nod of his head. Forgive him, a moment. ) These... opinions come with armies.

( And therefore amount to so much more than mere whim. )

[pepsifree]

Do the armies not, uh... like you?

I mean, c'mon, I hear all these great things about you. [ That people are willing to die for him, even, and isn't that a doozy? ]

You want a good life for your folks, right? That... isn't enough for your uncles?

[jatharin]

They also want a good life for their people. A people who could thrive with more lands under their feet. ( A practised smile, far too silvered. Worn. )

You don't know rule. ( A nod. The boy appears... young, ephemeral in the way of children barely learning to be men. At his age, Deimar led armies. ) It's a selfish act. You prioritise the welfare of you and yours against the same helpless faces looking at you from another side. I don't blame them.

( And now, as he starts to set aside more of his papers: ) I don't have to, in order to beat them.

[pepsifree]

[ Marty considers this-- considers, too, the difference in the air around them as Deimar speaks. He doesn't think he understands dying for a king who might never know you exist, not quite, but confidence is confidence.

And the sacred snake plan might not be totally crazy. Assuming it exists. ]

If this thing happens for you-- you know, if you get this blessing, and your uncles accept you and all-- what's next?

How do you "beat" them?

[jatharin]

Oh, that's simple, isn't it? Right now, I'm only a hopeless upstart moving into the — ( A wave of his hand, showing off the leafy surroundings. ) Countryside. And our affairs to everyone else are a family squabble.

( But then, he straightens up, gazes upon this young, far too young face, and tries desperately not to laugh. He was this age, once. supposedly. )

After, I'll be anointed. That's a terrible way of saying legitimate. Any attack against me isn't righteous. It's war. And war against a rightful ruler who's only just been tortured by the dead, no, their virtuous neighbours won't stand for that.

( Politics for one and all. )

[pepsifree]

[ Damn, that's heavy.

Somehow Marty had expected some answer about uniting all parties or something, but that only ever happens in stories, doesn't it? As the weight of what Deimar meant by "winning" really sinks in, he nods his head. ]

Jeez, that's a smart way to do it. [ And smart is... good. Probably. Marty's never voted for anything political in his life. ]

And it'll be better for everyone here like that, right? If you and your uncles aren't fighting, that's... peaceful?

[jatharin]

Yes. That's... ( He's trying not to laugh, he is trying. ) What I hear the absence of struggle and fight is.

( This, then, might be the sunny disposition that saw Alem through its war. )

[pepsifree]

[ Marty makes a face. ] You don't have to be an asshole about it.

[ And then immediately, immediately, his eyes widen, and he clears his throat far too loudly. ]

Sorry! Not that... I mean, thanks for talkin' to me at all, Your Highness. Sir. [ So smooth. ] I've never... we don't have kings. Where I'm from. So it was educational.

Uh. [ Smiling awkwardly, he rubs the back of his neck with one hand. ] I should get going, huh? Thanks. Again.

[jatharin]

( For a moment, it seems as if the interaction is ended — cordially, if not with love in Deimar's heart. Then, he crisps, mouth a stern and cleaved line, and waves the boy off. )

I hope you rest well tonight.

( ...because, for this particular offence, Deimar is having every mattress, blanket and pillow from Marty's cell or house removed. En... joy! )

The Merchant;

[blackscales]

No doubt you are busy, so my apologies for the intrusion. A trader here from Taravast told me Vannozza is seeking a military alliance with a city to the south, aiming to secure itself without its previous deals. The city is Ephes, which they mentioned is close to Zakhara -- where we were told Matthias might linger. Are you familiar with Ephes?

[pulvisetumbra]

Greetings. And how does the day find you, Wrathion? I trust you are well?

[blackscales]

I assumed you were busy enough you'd prefer I'd get to the point.

[pulvisetumbra]

As it happens, it is a principal area of commerce. A citadel of some learning, flourish snd the inevitable indulgence. Perhaps cut-throat in its politics and proficiently armed. As a merchant, you would not want for opportunities to trade.

[blackscales]

Is it the largest hub near to Zakhara? My fear is that Matthias might already have had dealings with it.

[pulvisetumbra]

The largest hub by Zakhara would be Ephes or Kharte, on either side, yes. I suppose the choice of truly biggest depends on where you have made the majority of your coin.

Both would be heavy losses to Matthias. They are well resourced, better armed and... malleable in their ethics and politics.

[blackscales]

If they are malleable in their ethics and politics and near where Matthias may be based then that does seem cause for concern. Thank you for the information, I hope to bringmore... positive news in the future.

[pulvisetumbra]

Such as?

[blackscales]

All of us imminently leaving would be your preferred good news, I imagine.

[pulvisetumbra]

Have you noticed all my toil to escort you out only seems to increase your numbers? I wonder.

[blackscales]

Of course, if you'd like me to stay I'll endeavour to avoid the next beacon.

[pulvisetumbra]

I assure you, I am prepared to take you by the hand and deliver you where you need to be.

[blackscales]

The personal touch! I always knew I was your favourite.

[pulvisetumbra]

As it happens, Five is my favourite. He offers to do me services, free of taxation.

I enjoy gratuities.

[blackscales]

I wasn't aware taxation was an option we had when providing services. Duly noted!

[pulvisetumbra]

When have you ever exerted yourself to do a favour for me that did not personally benefit you?