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

[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! )