groundrules | npc inbox: arc viii

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:

HATTHEVAR | ALLIED NPCs

HATTHEVAR

	MATTHIAS The white-cloaked wanderer, maker of the undead, nominal creator of the Brotherhood. Former lead magical scientist of Ellethia. A man of a forgettable face but considerable power, bound by covenant to propagate the 'dark water' that awakens the dead. Gently mannered, yearning to reunite with his daughter Cosette. Only available via network.
	THE WISH MAKER The Red Lady of the Whispering Houses, foremost among Hatthevar's wish makers. A little whimsical, a little cruel. Lover of wit, flattery and luxury. Presumably able to make any of your wishes come true... for a price of equal merit.
	THE ORACLE The one and only Oracle of Hatthevar, lady of the Halls. Mystical, Purposefully obscure. At times appears young and able, at others sage and crone. Speaks either in riddles or in cutting, biting fact.
	"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 negotiation. Loathes the Brotherhood, who briefly imprisoned him.
	RATHAKKU / RAKKATHU / 'THE LORD WHO WAITS' Undead liege. The Lord of War. Cruel, cunning, decisive, strong, strategic. Apt torturer and tactician. Sufficiently patient to wait out a year of siege against Alem, then win the fortress. Leads the armies of the Brotherhood — so far, to perennial victory.

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

( A letter of cost proposal, in the wake of Five Hargreeves' visit to the Whispering House: )

The Whispering House is grateful for Master Five's visit.

The Whispering House has considered the terms of his request.

The Whispering House recalls as follows:

♦ that Master Five freely and of his own accord wishes to remember a person
♦ that this memory is not in the master's possession
♦ that Master Five desires this memory returned unaltered and in perpetuity
♦ that the master has placed no limitations on the methods applied to manifest his wish
♦ that Master Five set no restrictions on his reimbursement for this favour

Such matters being considered, the Whispering House proposes:
♦ to be paid for this memory through Master Five's forfeit of memories of another person of equal standing

or

♦ to be paid for the memory of this person in Master Five's forfeit of any feelings that they evoke

Both offers expire within three sunsets of receipt. The Whispering House may also hear counter-proposals.

Kindly communicate the master's pronouncement in writing.

[ The letter came out of the blue. Maybe it's not so surprising that they saw through Five's obvious questioning. He hadn't asked for this, but they knew why he wanted to see the process. Apparently they don't share trade secrets.

He waits three days. After talking to Ben and Allison for their honest opinions, then trying a last ditch effort that didn't work, he comes back to it. The offer is tempting, and he knows better than to trust it. There's a million reasons not to; the least of which is being a hypocrite who warned against doing this exact thing.

Magic shouldn't mix. Their entire business is built on the desperation of their customers. It's also been years of not remembering key pieces of his history. He doesn't remember how his brother caused the apocalypse, and caution hasn't led to any other solution. There's nothing on the horizon. He doesn't know what lies ahead, but he needs to be able to recognize his brother if he goes back. All of his siblings. So just before the offer expires, he writes back: ]

I accept your second proposal.

The Whispering House is grateful for Master Five's business.

The Whispering House recalls Master Five has agreed:
♦ to receive the memory of a one [1] person of Master Five's specification
♦ to pay for the memory of this person in Master Five's forfeit of any feelings that this person evokes

The Whispering House, proposing these terms and finding them accepted within three days, agrees to honour them as presented.

The Whispering House asks Master Five to present himself within five days at sunset.

The Whispering House strongly encourages Master Five to come accompanied and contract the services of a carriage, should he not be in state to physically retire himself off the premises, after.

( OOCly, if you're okay to provide the name of the person Five wishes to remember, please c: )

[ Five doesn't know if he's comforted by the cooly professional way they write back, but he predictably gets hung up on the last few words. The ritual he went through to remove the mirror had him out of commission for a week, and they don't have that kind of time. But he's already decided. For all his reservations, he sticks to what was ultimately an impulsive choice driven by one simple fact. This might be his only chance. Memories without feeling are better than no memories at all.

Allison and Ben both decide to come along once he tells them. At least he's not hiding it from them, because he thinks they'd ask, after he went to each of them for advice. And he doesn't trust anyone else to take him back if he's incapacitated. He knows Ben in particular isn't happy with his choice, but he never seems to judge him as harshly as Five judges himself.

This was his mess. He'll face the consequences.

He'll show up within the allotted time. With his siblings there to confirm, he offers the name only when he's prompted. Names have power here, he hasn't forgotten. He knew him by another, but thanks to Allison, he's aware of what the future holds and how his brother discovered himself in the middle of their trauma. Maybe because of it, and he holds onto what that feels like in what little way he can before he lets it go. He'd be Vanya in his memories, Number Seven, who will be known as Viktor Hargreeves. ]

( The Whispering House receives Five at the appropriate time on the appropriate day for the appropriate wish. The escort is parted from him, allowed to rest in the waiting chamber, while Five is taken in for the rites. A simple affair: he meets the Red Lady of the Whispering House, her manner patient and resplendent. They exchange tea. Perhaps she asks questions, perhaps she does not.

Between the beverage and the thickening incense, Five may find himself slowly drifting asleep, under the Red Lady's hawkish, vigilant watch — before awakening, precisely one hour later, to find his memories completely restored.

Yet, Viktor Hargreeves is as no one to his heart. Evoking no love, no loss, no sadness. It is as if, somehow, these memories were witnessed and performed by another person, returned to Five like a curiosity.

He will be drained, leaving the Whispering House, faint on his feet and struggle to shape or articulate thoughts for up to six hours. There is no long-term impact on his physical or mental health otherwise. )

npc inbox: arc viii

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