un: macaluso spina

[aprescoup]

( Two days after the banquet poisoning, don Macaluso himself sends his message to all newcomers. His voice comes trembled, uneasy, overcome with emotion. )


My friends. My new friends. It troubles me to speak to you so on this day, which may well have been the day of my matrimony.

I know what came of my welcome, of my banquet. I cannot speak of my remorse, that this should be how you are greeted in our fair city, our Taravast. You must know now, you must understand, surely, how great is our burden to proceed with fair, honoured and safe elections. To bring Taravast to the glory and trust of old. We were never these creatures. This is not our way.

But it cannot be that it soothes your hurting hearts to know so. I shall not play at games of court: the cure that needs to be procured for you who have been touched by the lily mist's toxins is not within my healers' reach, though they have tried. Wisdom hear them, they have tried.

It is of lesser comfort, but... should the worst prevail, my grandfather and I are both prepared to subsidise your resurrection, as required. We have a number of necromancers in the family's employ. Some... nearly reliable. We will require, of course, a pledge of fealty, a contract of service in exchange. We speak of fortunes that must go spent, and you are many. It pains me, how many you are. But if you wish this path walked, I offer here, the first step. Tell me your decision.

Many of you must wonder why I speak to all those who have entered the palace of late, and not only my own faction. I wish it understood: you could have faced death herself as well. Faced her very easily. And though some of my companions disagree, I do not hold this against Vannozza. This is not her way. We set about to do our work righteously. And it may be that, unknown to me, some of you are affected. I have even heard Lady Odile may have been involved, speaking of a foreign influence. I have been told before that foreigners wish only evil upon us all. I did not listen then. I hear now. Though you are not my people, you were my guests. If you were affected, please: allow me to reimburse your resurrection on the same terms.

If there is aught else I may be of help with, in the matter of this great sickness, or if you have any information that may assist us with hunting the root of a curse, advise me. I am, in all things, your humble servant.


( ooc: Macaluso and don Bonaccorso will be putting 150,000 coins/person towards necromantic resurrections — at the not negligible price of a contract of service, pledging a boon that the signatory cannot refuse once called, on pain of forever-death. The boon will very likely be used for plot-relevant purposes.

Characters can let Macaluso know here if they'd like to pursue this option, or talk freely amongst themselves about the poison / cure finding progress. )

Comments

[aprescoup]

You... would go to my cousin with this. You would think her your better chance, when she has not even dignified you all with a message, has she? A word of consolation? Yet, she is superior? She is whom you choose, whom you want?

[binghua]

[An audible sigh. Xingchen can deal with people better than others he knows, but he still does not have a large wealth of patience for these games. And after the last couple of weeks or so turning his life on its head with this poisoning knocking that life off-balance in more ways than one, he is simply Tired.]

I have given you a suggestion. If it is not feasible, say so. If it needs to be tweaked, then do it. If your cousin is truly so unfit, then prove yourself the better.

[aprescoup]

I am making that attempt! What more can I do, with the resources available to me? You ask, and you ask, and you ask. There is a limit to man, though he strains himself. Though I strain myself.

[binghua]

[He's touched a nerve now, though Xingchen doesn't think he's been that harsh. Then again, with everyone else speaking to Macaluso, his own words have undoubtedly added to the weight upon the man's shoulders. He understands there is stress. He feels bad for him. But if this man wishes to become the Doxe and yet cannot handle this pressure beforehand, then things really do not look good for him.

Still, although Xingchen's patience wanes, he bites his tongue. It doesn't seem as if he'll be able to do much good here anymore.]

...I have overstepped my boundaries. Please forgive my forwardness.

[aprescoup]

I have nothing to forgive. Perhaps I have been naive to think men would afford me the dignity of trust.

[binghua]

[Trust is too fragile a thing, he wants to say but holds himself back yet again. That's not going to help anything.]

Be strong, my Lord. Do not let this consume you.