the stewards (
thestewards) wrote2018-12-09 04:30 pm
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npcs

MAJOR NPCS
The NPCs listed below are considered major NPCs, meaning that any interaction with these NPCs should be run by the mods in advance of a thread. Players are welcome to generate rumors about major NPCs or namedrop them casually ("I heard Grand Master Niall doesn't like cucumbers") but should not include them in threads without running it by the mods first. For simple interactions, the mods will advise players of NPC behavior. For more complex interactions, the mods will drive the NPCs.
Simple: Tony Stark wants to talk to Prince Allairavar about minor alterations to the city's defenses. Tony can make all the alterations by himself and with one or two other people. Allairavar approves of anything that will strengthen the city, and gives Stark his blessing.
Complex: Tony Stark thinks Prince Allairavar's defense is too myopic and has multiple, exploitable vulnerabilities. He calls the Prince out. Allairavar invites Stark for a conversation at his office, which may go either very well for Stark or very, very poorly.
Fayura Nishell
CASTE QUEEN ◆ BIRTHRIGHT ??? ◆ JEWEL OF RANK ??? ◆ POSITION QUEEN OF HAYLL
ABOUT Quiet, eccentric, thoughtful, vicious. Territory Queen of Hayll. Believes that Blood and landen can live side by side if both parties just get over themselves. Does not suffer fools. Rumor has it she isn't entirely human. She appears to wear the Red, but it is unclear if the Jewel is her Birthright, her adult strength, or something else entirely. Many of the Blood find her unnerving and some think she's mad. Sometimes disappears for hours on end. Makes occasional references to Ebon Askavi being her true home, though it is common knowledge that she was born in Hayll.
ABOUT Quiet, eccentric, thoughtful, vicious. Territory Queen of Hayll. Believes that Blood and landen can live side by side if both parties just get over themselves. Does not suffer fools. Rumor has it she isn't entirely human. She appears to wear the Red, but it is unclear if the Jewel is her Birthright, her adult strength, or something else entirely. Many of the Blood find her unnerving and some think she's mad. Sometimes disappears for hours on end. Makes occasional references to Ebon Askavi being her true home, though it is common knowledge that she was born in Hayll.
Allairavar Ris

CASTE WARLORD PRINCE ◆ BIRTHRIGHT SAPPHIRE ◆ JEWEL OF RANK GRAY ◆ POSITION MASTER OF THE GUARD
ABOUT Methodical, stoic, kind, devoted. Fayura's Master of the Guard and absolutely devoted to her. Is not as sure that the landens and Blood can live in harmony as she is but is willing to pursue her goals. As temperamental as all his caste and inclined to snap bones or splatter someone on a wall when pressed. Incredibly competent with a sword. One of the few remaining Eyriens, and as such has massive, membranous black wings on his back.
ABOUT Methodical, stoic, kind, devoted. Fayura's Master of the Guard and absolutely devoted to her. Is not as sure that the landens and Blood can live in harmony as she is but is willing to pursue her goals. As temperamental as all his caste and inclined to snap bones or splatter someone on a wall when pressed. Incredibly competent with a sword. One of the few remaining Eyriens, and as such has massive, membranous black wings on his back.
Loren Sorey

CASTE WARLORD PRINCE ◆ BIRTHRIGHT PURPLE DUSK ◆ JEWEL OF RANK GREEN ◆ POSITION STEWARD
ABOUT Orderly, vengeful, melancholic, overworked. A generally well-ordered man with a wicked sense of humor and a vicious temper. Suffers fools even less than Fayura but with a temper a bit slower to burst than Allairavar's. While he supports Fayura's cause, he believes too strongly in the nobility of the Blood. Holds everyone to high standards, even himself. Often surprised when people don't meet those standards. Could use a vacation, probably.
ABOUT Orderly, vengeful, melancholic, overworked. A generally well-ordered man with a wicked sense of humor and a vicious temper. Suffers fools even less than Fayura but with a temper a bit slower to burst than Allairavar's. While he supports Fayura's cause, he believes too strongly in the nobility of the Blood. Holds everyone to high standards, even himself. Often surprised when people don't meet those standards. Could use a vacation, probably.
Verim Bahl

CASTE WARLORD PRINCE ◆ BIRTHRIGHT RED ◆ JEWEL OF RANK GRAY ◆ POSITION CONSORT
ABOUT Seductive, passionate, predatory, generous. Often said to be the most dangerous male in Hayll but as with the Steward and Master of the Guard is devoted to Fayura. Doesn't give a damn about the difference between landen and Blood and just wants to be with his Lady. Unlike Loren, will not hold back his temper. Surprisingly generous with the downtrodden and forgotten of society. Making a pass at him (or Fayura) is a quick way to end up dead. Verim is also a Black Widow, having studied the tangled webs of dreams and visions.
ABOUT Seductive, passionate, predatory, generous. Often said to be the most dangerous male in Hayll but as with the Steward and Master of the Guard is devoted to Fayura. Doesn't give a damn about the difference between landen and Blood and just wants to be with his Lady. Unlike Loren, will not hold back his temper. Surprisingly generous with the downtrodden and forgotten of society. Making a pass at him (or Fayura) is a quick way to end up dead. Verim is also a Black Widow, having studied the tangled webs of dreams and visions.
Grejor Shamael

CASTE WARLORD ◆ BIRTHRIGHT TIGER EYE ◆ JEWEL OF RANK PURPLE DUSK ◆ POSITION COUNCILMAN, FIRST CHAIR
ABOUT Shrewd, petty, vindictive, power-hungry. First Chair of the Dark Council and a staunch traditionalist. Believes the landens need to be kept in their place at all costs and that only the Blood should rule. Despises Fayura and is always uncomfortable in her presence. Was once good friends with the Steward, Loren, but is now estranged from him. Hates Niall on a personal level as Niall murdered Grejor's younger (and innocent) brother.
ABOUT Shrewd, petty, vindictive, power-hungry. First Chair of the Dark Council and a staunch traditionalist. Believes the landens need to be kept in their place at all costs and that only the Blood should rule. Despises Fayura and is always uncomfortable in her presence. Was once good friends with the Steward, Loren, but is now estranged from him. Hates Niall on a personal level as Niall murdered Grejor's younger (and innocent) brother.
Niall Berrenathy

GUILD HUNTER, TINKER, ELEKTRILINE GUILDS ◆ POSITION GRAND MASTER OF THE LANDEN GUILDS
ABOUT Inventive, conniving, charismatic, brilliant. Leader of the landen guilds. Absolutely brilliant and incredibly magnetic. Hates the Blood on principal, but has a personal vendetta against them because of the two young males who brutalized and killed his sister Hana for sport. Has a surprisingly congenial relationship with Fayura, but this is likely because he wants to use her. Educated by the Hunter Guild, but is competent in most mechanical and elektric pursuits.
ABOUT Inventive, conniving, charismatic, brilliant. Leader of the landen guilds. Absolutely brilliant and incredibly magnetic. Hates the Blood on principal, but has a personal vendetta against them because of the two young males who brutalized and killed his sister Hana for sport. Has a surprisingly congenial relationship with Fayura, but this is likely because he wants to use her. Educated by the Hunter Guild, but is competent in most mechanical and elektric pursuits.
Raya Aguine

GUILD HUNTER GUILD ◆ POSITION GUILD MASTER
ABOUT Vengeful, wary, suspicious, conniving. Raya Aguine is the blade at the throat of all the Blood. They fear her, and she revels in their fear. In her life, she has assassinated more than fifty of the Blood, from light Jeweled witches to dark Jeweled Queens, and she desires nothing more than to rip out Fayura's still-beating heart. She is perhaps a touch unstable, and so Niall guides her with a delicate hand.
ABOUT Vengeful, wary, suspicious, conniving. Raya Aguine is the blade at the throat of all the Blood. They fear her, and she revels in their fear. In her life, she has assassinated more than fifty of the Blood, from light Jeweled witches to dark Jeweled Queens, and she desires nothing more than to rip out Fayura's still-beating heart. She is perhaps a touch unstable, and so Niall guides her with a delicate hand.
MINOR NPCS
Players can include minor NPCs in their threads with impunity, though the mods expect that these characters will behave according to their traits. Prince Zaym should not be saccharine, and Councilwoman Rheea should not tell a PC all her secrets. If you want to use a minor NPC in a thread or as an impetus for action but are unsure how they would behave, always feel free to ask.
Fayura's First Circle and Court
As with all First Circles, Fayura's is filled by Blood males. They all serve Fayura without question or hesitation and are fiercely loyal to her. All of them have mixed feelings about a world where the landens and the Blood can live as equals but all of them are willing to work for it.
ZAYM
Prince ▪ Purple Dusk ▪ Opal
Sarcastic ▪ Independent ▪ Proud
Prince ▪ Purple Dusk ▪ Opal
Sarcastic ▪ Independent ▪ Proud
GEHT
Warlord ▪ Summer-sky ▪ Green
Artistic ▪ Judgemental ▪ Helpful
Warlord ▪ Summer-sky ▪ Green
Artistic ▪ Judgemental ▪ Helpful
DURNEM
Warlord ▪ Rose ▪ Purple Dusk
Easy-going ▪ Quiet ▪ Charming
Warlord ▪ Rose ▪ Purple Dusk
Easy-going ▪ Quiet ▪ Charming
LACHLAN
Prince ▪ Summer-sky ▪ Opal
Anxious ▪ Cynical ▪ Secretive
Prince ▪ Summer-sky ▪ Opal
Anxious ▪ Cynical ▪ Secretive
NOLAN
Warlord Prince ▪ Rose ▪ Opal
Talkative ▪ Gossipy ▪ Sly
Warlord Prince ▪ Rose ▪ Opal
Talkative ▪ Gossipy ▪ Sly
YARL
Warlord ▪ Tiger Eye ▪ Purple Dusk
Bashful ▪ Honest ▪ Solemn
Warlord ▪ Tiger Eye ▪ Purple Dusk
Bashful ▪ Honest ▪ Solemn
AUGUST
Warlord ▪ Opal ▪ Red
Brusque ▪ Athletic ▪ Creative
Warlord ▪ Opal ▪ Red
Brusque ▪ Athletic ▪ Creative
JARED
Warlord ▪ Purple Dusk ▪ Sapphire
Energetic ▪ Naive ▪ Optimistic
Warlord ▪ Purple Dusk ▪ Sapphire
Energetic ▪ Naive ▪ Optimistic
BARRET
Prince ▪ Yellow ▪ Tiger Eye
Scholarly ▪ Studious ▪ Thoughtful
Prince ▪ Yellow ▪ Tiger Eye
Scholarly ▪ Studious ▪ Thoughtful
JESIREE
Healer ▪ n/a ▪ Yellow
Sarcastic ▪ Determined ▪ Sassy
Healer ▪ n/a ▪ Yellow
Sarcastic ▪ Determined ▪ Sassy
The Ebon Council
Each member of the Ebon Council believes in the superiority of the Blood or just hates landens for the devastation they wrought on the Blood in the Great War. Some are simply traditionalists, but some are vindictive and cruel.
ABIGAIL
Healer/Black Widow ▪ Opal ▪ Green
Irritable ▪ Charitable ▪ Jealous
Healer/Black Widow ▪ Opal ▪ Green
Irritable ▪ Charitable ▪ Jealous
DANEEL
Warlord Prince ▪ Yellow ▪ Rose
Respectful ▪ Reserved ▪ Elegant
Warlord Prince ▪ Yellow ▪ Rose
Respectful ▪ Reserved ▪ Elegant
VERA (deceased)
Witch ▪ Rose ▪ Purple Dusk
Loud ▪ Intense ▪ Angry
Witch ▪ Rose ▪ Purple Dusk
Loud ▪ Intense ▪ Angry
Sharr
Warlord ▪ Opal ▪ Sapphire
Teasing ▪ Warm ▪ Pessimistic
Warlord ▪ Opal ▪ Sapphire
Teasing ▪ Warm ▪ Pessimistic
Rheea
Black Widow ▪ Rose ▪ Opal
Gloomy ▪ Petty ▪ Withdrawn
Black Widow ▪ Rose ▪ Opal
Gloomy ▪ Petty ▪ Withdrawn
Perik
Prince ▪ Summer-sky ▪ Opal
Smart ▪ Awkward ▪ Quiet
Prince ▪ Summer-sky ▪ Opal
Smart ▪ Awkward ▪ Quiet
The Landen Guild Masters
Of the Landen Guilds, only the Hunter's Guild has any great influence. The rest of the Guild Masters, though highly skilled, have little social pull within Draega. The Masters and those who work and study under them have mixed feelings about the Blood, but rather uniformly dislike the Ebon Council.
Doriah
Master Elektric, female
Bitter ▪ Intense ▪ Cunning
Master Elektric, female
Bitter ▪ Intense ▪ Cunning
Sorrel
Master Transporter, male
Cheerful ▪ Thrill-seeker ▪ Impulsive
Master Transporter, male
Cheerful ▪ Thrill-seeker ▪ Impulsive
Mari
Master Tinker, female
Clever ▪ Bombastic ▪ Willful
Master Tinker, female
Clever ▪ Bombastic ▪ Willful
Kasik
Master Crafter, male
Twitchy ▪ Energetic ▪ Cruel
Master Crafter, male
Twitchy ▪ Energetic ▪ Cruel
Lam
Master Medico, male
Severe ▪ Sarcastic ▪ Tired
Master Medico, male
Severe ▪ Sarcastic ▪ Tired
REQUEST AN NPC
Any general questions about NPC behavior can be asked in response to the General Questions top-level below. Remember: you're welcome to make up unconfirmed rumors about the NPCs as much as you like and do not need mod permission for that.
To request an interaction with an NPC, reply to the appropriate NPC's top-level with the form below. You should have a reply to your comment within 24 hours, whether in the form of clarifying questions or actual NPC engagement.
MINOR NPCS
Lady Jesiree
Request type It depends? It's looking like a complex one though, given the request.
Request Rhus has been given Jesiree's name by the Queen as the one to approach for learning healing Craft. He was a healer himself in his world, but arrived with his dark knight's broadsword rather than his white mage's cane, so his Eorzean magic is limited to the dark arts. He'd like to learn how healing works in Draega for future trouble, and maybe find some cure for the Queen's strange problem-- he'd willingly tell Jesiree all of this if asked for his reasoning, except for the Queen's blood-coughing problem.
Influence No influence to use, sadly. I havent gotten around to poking at the influence page after the tdm stuff.
Thread None, sorry. But willing to make one if it's needed.
no subject
Lady Jesiree has a workroom in the basement of the Queen's Residence, tucked in a cool corner. A short flight of stairs leads to a small, private garden out back where she grows useful herbs, and half-windows let in light. Every morning, either Fayura, Allairavar, or Verim comes through the room to kindle tongues of witchlight for her, so the room contains threads of psychic energy darker than Jesiree's own Yellow Jewel.
When Rhus comes to see her the first time, she's standing over a table laden with jars of powdered ingredients and several mortars with pestles nearby. A book floats just to her left, and she holds a glass bottle over a tongue of witchflame that burns from the fingers of her opposite hand. She frowns fiercely at the book. "You interrupting me means the difference between this healing brew clearing someone's lungs and blowing them up," she says tartly, not looking up. "Give me just a moment."
Five minutes later, the brew is done and her attention turns to Rhus. Unlike how some of the Blood will certainly react, she isn't at all skeptical of a male's interest in learning how to heal. She only gained her Jewel a few years ago. She grew up around the landen Medicos, and she values their work as well as Craft.
She seems surprised that he's concerned about the Queen, but explains: The backlash of power that ripped through Fayura damaged her organs. Whatever he saw isn't a chronic issue but an acute one that will fade as the Queen continues to heal. "What happened that made you—no, it's fine, I can guess. See, this is what happens when you don't tell your Healer you're about to do something phenomenally stupid because you don't want to get yelled at in advance of doing the stupid thing. If she'd told me, we would have built a better healing web to begin with, she'd probably be healthy by now, and no one would be snarling about anything." She crosses her arms. "It's stupid to think a Black Widow or a Queen can build a better healing web than a damn Healer."
Then she goes to a bookcase nearby, pulls out a thick tome, and hands it to Rhus. "The foundation of healing is both healing brews and using Craft to put someone back together instead of blowing them up, a huge distinction that most Blood males seem to have a great deal of trouble with. Since you're not attached to a caste that sucks your brains out of your head and drops them into your balls, I'm hoping you'll be a quicker study than any of them will ever be."
She tells him that if he's serious, he should join her after breakfast three days a week to help her make brews. She plans to start him out with simple things and graduate him into more difficult mixtures over the course of a month. Healing brews, she explains, help with sleep or limiting pain. (Were she from the real world, she might explain that they function very similarly to antibiotics or medications one takes for things like pain, nausea, high blood pressure or other physical maladies.) Once he proves to her that he can make brews that won't kill someone, she promises to teach him how to thread Craft through a human body. "Since you already know healing principals from your own world, we'll figure out what's similar and what isn't, and hopefully we don't need to unlearn bad practices." She pauses. "Another Stranger, Lady Zita, she's interested in learning healing Craft, too. Bring her along."
If he has nothing else to do, she'll immediately put him to work grinding up ingredients. Jesiree believes that people must prove they understand the basics before they can move on to more complex tasks.
no subject
He's... kind of used to getting his hands dirty and exploded on but insist on wearing a facemask to stifle the smell a bit. Luckily he manages to keep his spectacles on him when he came to Draega so Jesiree wont have to find him leaning too close to any fires or brews.
On the other hand the healing he uses, conjury and white magic, is a lot more straightforward but also more esoteric, if that makes sense. Rhus would explain that his first lessons involved meditating to open himself up to the world and become more sensitive to the energies around him so he can draw them into his body to channel spells-- and at the same time sense what's wrong with his patient's body so he can pour the magic into them to either heal wounds or cure illnesses. He's used to gauging how strong he should make the spell as well, and even learning when to leave a simple regenerating effect on the patient's body so they can heal over time rather than have their injuries wiped away instantly. Which isn't possible in Draega, of course. The rest of white magic involves using the elements already surrounding him to fight, namely stone, water, wind and holy-element spells, but they aren't important here. So there's likely some unlearning to be done.
And luckily for her, he's already met Zita! Should be easy. Right?? Should I give Zita's player a poke and see if we can do a threeway log for the first healing Craft lesson? (i had to make that joke, you understand)
no subject
And before we forgot: For going to talk to Jesiree about both helping the Queen and learning healing Craft from her, Rhus gains +1 influence with Fayura's Court.
Master Doriah
Request type Rather simple!
Request Leo wants to help with the power plant / e-line after the explosion, and he'd offer his help if it's wanted. He'd also demonstrate his abilities by quickly turning some scraps of metal he'd picked up into a music box which mimics different instruments playing the same song.
And later on, after helping with it all, he'd also want to know if either the Tinker or the Elektriline Guild (or both) would want to offer him a job, given that he no longer stays in the Queen's Residence.
Thread Just getting the answer here is good!
Re: Master Doriah
Unaware of Leo's presence, she barks out a series of quick orders. The men and women around her scatter.
Doriah sinks back into her work, muttering to herself for before yelling, "And someone get me the damned estimate on when we'll have the wiring and ducts around the furnace repaired!" When no one answers, Doriah stands up and rounds on Leo since he's the only one in the immediate vicinity. Irritation dominates her expression, and the smudges of grease, soot, and grime can't hide it. Her eyes narrow.
"What are you doing here, Stranger?" she demands, giving him time for an explanation.
After she gets it and the demonstration, her suspicion isn't gone, but she does think over his offer to help.
Finally, she says, "I'll tell you what, Stranger. If you can get those bumbling idiots two doors down to actually fix the damn transformers instead mucking them up—or fix them yourself—you can stay and help." She gestures vaguely in the right direction and then dives back into the machine that's her current project.
The bumbling idiots aren't anything of the sort, just tired and bleary eyed after a day and a night of concentrated effort and little sleep.
"Master Doriah's not so bad, and you get used to the shouting. The plant is her and Master Mari’s baby."
Assuming Leo helps complete the repairs to the power plant on Doriah's brutal schedule, she will offer him a job. The plant, after all, needs maintenance, upgrades, and new additions, and Leo's affinity for fire will make sure the furnaces keep running.
"Anyway, can't hurt to have one of you lot here in case…" she trails off, gesturing to the plant as a whole.
Leo gains +2 influence for the Guilds
The Guilds Masters
Request type Simple.
Request Daylight would like to request to meet with the Guilds' Masters in regards to their offers with working for one of them. He'll like to explain that, after giving this serious thought and consideration, he's decided to take up Guild Master Doriah's offer. He absolutely promises to do what he can help the other three Guilds if they need a quick hand in anything, but he feels like he'll be more useful with the Elektriline in the wake of the power plant explosion and other reasons.
Influence N/A.
Thread N/A.
no subject
"We've got an old building we'd planned to use for storage," Doriah says while stroking her chin. "Should be the right size for you if you don't mind cleaning it up a bit." She gives him the address and a brief run down of the normal operations of the Elektriline Guild. Midway through, Doriah pauses, reaches into her pocket and shoves a small device at Daylight.
"Better yet, you figure out how to make that work for longer." In her hand is one of the portable muters. "Next time those damn Bleeders come looking for trouble, we'll be ready. Y'know, you Strangers aren't terrible." From Doriah, this is a high compliment.
"Anyway, you let me know when you make headway with that and if it works, I'll mention it Mari. She might have more work for you then." Doriah, never one to spend time over small talk waves Daylight away and then promptly goes back to work.
Daylight earns +1 influence with the Guilds and can earn an additional point if he completes the work for Doriah. The Ebon Council will not be happy if he does, and, should Daylight complete the task, they can find out he was the source if you like.
The portable muters are small devices that can easily fit in a pocket. The battery that powers them only lasts for about an hour before it needs to be recharged.
Councilwoman Vera's Assasin
Request type Simple
Request At Fayura's behest, Molly and Aithne are going to interrogate the boy in the hopes of understanding his actions to help decide his fate.
Influence No specific Influence, just Fayura's blessing
Thread Getting the answers here is good, but to provide some background:
After getting permission, Molly will use Charm Person on the assassin and be very polite and gentle with him to get him to open up. The spell means that the boy will treat Molly as if he is a very dear friend and will listen to his suggestions and answer his questions honestly, including the questions of Aithne because "my friends are your friends."
Molly will be asking:
"What's your name?"
"Where do you come from?"
"Are you working alone?"
"Did someone put you up to this?"
"Where did you intend to go when you ran?"
Aithne will be asking:
"Who gave you the weapon?"
"Did you actually fire it, if not what happened exactly?"
"Are there more targets?"
"Are you willing to enter service, loyal service, to spare your life?"
no subject
Neither Rheea nor Kasik are surprised to find the young man is being held not in a cell but in a guestroom on the fourth floor of the Queen's Residence. Rheea's nose remains wrinkled from the moment she enters the residence to the moment she leaves, and Kasik constantly dabs at his sweating forehead. Both of them are noticeably uncomfortable, but the young man is not even though he remains trapped in a Gray-shielded room. Allairavar lets the group in but stays outside, leaning against the wall.
The young man himself is thin, with a hook nose and watery eyes. He fidgets, rising and giving Rheea and awkward bow. To Kasik, he stutters out a hello with the overawed expression of someone meeting a hero. Kasik dismisses him without hesitation and begins wandering through the room, peering at the sparse contents as if expecting the furniture to grow legs and walk around. It does not.
Molly casts his spell, and it works with ease. Immediately, the young man breaks into a smile and gives Molly an amiable hug. To Aithne, he extends a warm but more reserved greeting—meeting Molly's friends is always wonderful, and they should all sit down.
(Rheea finds this spell fascinating but does not interrupt.)
The young man introduces himself as Neely Farmer and says his da works one of the farms just west of the city, near the power plant. It was mighty frightening for his family when the plant exploded, but they were sure grateful the Strangers were so quick about setting it to rights.
"Am I working alone?" He scratches his chin. "Oh, you must mean with... with..." He spares a nervous glance toward Councilwoman Rheea, whose nonplussed expression doesn't ease his nerves in the least. "There was my friends, of course, they were there, too. We were all thinking maybe we should go to the Bazaar and make some trouble for the ble—Blood folk. I..." He wrings his hands. Did someone put you up to this? "Eddy said it would be fun to bring Muters to The Last Meal. Make the Blood uncomfortable, is all."
When Molly asks where he intended to go, Neely puts his face in his hands. "I was scared. Ain't no one who wants to upset Prince Allairavar, him being the Lady's Master of the Guard."
Rheea draws back sharply at this phrasing, her eyes flashing. Kasik remains preoccupied with a paperweight.
"The Breaker? Oh, that's mine. Most of us landens carry one. It's..." He gives Rheea another nervous glance before lowering his voice and leaning closer to Aithne and Molly. "It ain't all the Blood who're as nice as them as in the Lady's Court. A smart man's gotta keep what's his safe. Including his life."
Then Neely pales. His face goes back in his hands and his spindly shoulders shudder. His hands muffle a great groan. "I didn't mean to. We was just trying to scare the Councilwoman, honest. She's said some right unfavorable things about the Guilds and us lately, and we was only trying to frighten her. But my finger just... it slipped. And then she was dead."
"And now witchblood grows where you murdered her," Rheea says coldly.
From a window, Kasik snorts. "That weed sprouts up all over Draega. Do you honestly believe a witch's death makes it grow in one place over another?" he asks, biting and short.
"It only grows where a witch's blood has been spilled in violence, you—" She breaks off, sinking back into herself. "I wouldn't expect you to understand."
Aithne's next question gets a shake of Neely's head. "Didn't mean to shoot her. Don't want to shoot no one else."
The last question produces outrage from both Kasik and Rheea, who being shouting so loudly that Neely's quiet "enter service?" goes almost entirely unnoticed. Both the Councilwoman and Kasik are offended by Aithne's question. Rheea because Aithne has no right to ask for a price on behalf of Vera's family and Kasik because Neely is a Crafter ("A shit one, but he's still one of ours and isn't beholden to your ridiculous etiquettes.").
It's at that point, Allairavar enters. "Your pissing and moaning could wake the dead," he says, gathering everyone up as Neely stares at the floor. "Time to go."
As they leave, Neely says he hopes he'll see Molly again soon and won't Molly apologize to Neely's mama, Sage Farmer? An hour later, he'll realize Molly worked Craft on him, but Neely is the kind of Crafter who finds Craft a puzzle, and he wonders how he might be able to replicate such an effect on his own.
no subject
He'll also want to track down Eddy and verbally box his ears a bit about his stupid-ass decisions and thinking better in the future. He won't physically harm him or use any Craft on him, but he'll make it abundantly clear that his little joke had consequences and it could turn out badly for his friend, and maybe even for him later.
I apologize, I thought I had tracked this..
She pitied the poor ployed boy, and would tender leniency on his behalf, but this is not her world and she understood such might not happen. Hopefully the man learned a lesson steeped in stupidity and ignorance. The others though..
Cooly she looked at Kasik and Rheea as they raised their voracious objection to her simple plan. A simple nod of the head and a whispered "May the Gods of this place watch over you' to the boy, and she exited the chamber. The other two, she wanted to engage, but she demurred. To Allairavar, she gives a true nod. "I fear I did not help as much as I wished." Before she exited.