ᶾ 003 ; network (audio) | @taken for granite

[rumorate]

[She's very careful. She wants to make sure that this is just between the party, and not leaked out to the higher ups.

Well. It can be leaked out to the higher ups, but not until they decide what to do with the information first. If she sounds tired it's because she is but she knows that what she's handing out could be dangerous if told to the wrong people.

That's why it needs to be handed out carefully.]

For those of you considering going to town to make deals with the necromancers, be careful and whatever you do, don't give them your blood. If you've already given it, then be careful who you piss off. It's giving them pretty serious leverage over you that they will sell to the highest bidder when you make someone mad. And contrary to what they try to sell you, it doesn't have to be your blood. It just has to be a living donor.

[Which means putting someone else in bad shit, but well, she doesn't care about some other asshole. She cares about the people here who are trying to get home not getting fucked over by creepy wizards.]

Also, about the man that allegedly poisoned everyone? He was in Macaluso's custody the day of the poisoning. But given the way things are being handled here, I would wield that information very carefully.

[The lines are open for questions, though she will have to tap her brother for information on the poisoner stuff. She didn't actually see that one.]

Comments

[un: sprite bulb] text;

[bearshermark]

The necromancers sound as though they perform a sickening practice. I've seen evidence of their work in bodies left to bloat in the canal.

text ; to end

[rumorate]

Yeah, I think if we weren't in such a desperate situation, I would have been happy never to meet them.

[But Wrath was poisoned and she wasn't going to let him die.]

[bearshermark]

Were they able to offer a cure?

[rumorate]

They were. They needed very specific ingredients, and there is the aforementioned price. If you're going to deal with them, I'd be careful.

[bearshermark]

I have no plans to so much as visit that district unless given no other choice.

I just hope it isn't by experience that you came to know of their blood magic.

un: absterge

[downswing]

The toll of blood sorcery.

[rumorate]

Yeah, I'm learning.

[Blood magic isn't really a thing where she's from.]

I'm glad we had the presence of mind to interrogate it further.

[downswing]

Necromancers trade only in despair. It is known.

[rumorate]

Is it like ... revenge for being the intense goth kids?

[Then she realizes that Lan Wanji probably doesn't know what goth kids are, and she waves it off.]

You don't have to answer that.

un: stellata

[valeas]

I discreetly asked about this man where I could. Matteo Ballatini.

A gentleman sorcerer of passable means, he was previously in training with the witches of Attaryl. My impression is he had neither the skill nor the money to meaningfully ascend their ranks, but was quite determined to court favor by providing his services.

His earnestness was singled out more than once. ( she hadn't known he was in macaluso's custody the day of the poisoning, but now that she does... )

[rumorate]

Poor guy. Seems like he just wanted to matter and all he got for it was his throat cut.

[Which... has shades of Allison's own story in there. Emilia can't see it, but her hand does wander to the light scar where her own story almost ended once.]

I think he might have been among the protesters too. It's like he didn't care which side he was on, so long as it would get him somewhere.

[valeas]

By any chance, do you know why he was in Macaluso's custody?

( she wonders if it does involve the protest somehow.

emilia wishes she'd paid closer attention that morning, but needless to say, she'd been a bit preoccupied with the three gentlemen in her boudoir. by the time that chimney situation was all sorted, the protest had already gotten out of hand. )

[rumorate]

He was one of the demonstrators.

[So yes, Emilia, you are correct.]

Apparently they pull in prisoners for labor when they have big events like the banquet.

un: ut malum pluvia | audio

[somebadnews]

[ Five is less surprised by Allison choosing to share what they learned and more what she chooses not to. Not that he's interested in spreading gossip after seeing what they've been doing with it. ]

How many donors do you think it'll take before they figure it out?

[ He means the necromancers, but he also wonders if they were the only ones feeling desperate enough to make blood deals with them. ]

[rumorate]

I don't know. Balance of intelligence and ego. Part of me thinks that they're too confident in their place in Taravast to think a lot of people will cross them, but maybe they're smarter than we give them credit for.

[And Allison will figure out what to do when that time comes.]

[somebadnews]

If we had a list of their customers we could probably find out why they're so comfortable.

[rumorate]

Probably.

[She considers that for a moment.]

I'm willing to bet there are some big names on it.

un: xianxian of yunmeng jiang

[weifinder]

Dealers in death and life and control: blood's too personal a tie. They're bloodthirsty as it is, and I say this as I'm learning from them.

Be as wary, I'd say, of where that places Lady V, given her interests and tendencies to be found within the Necromancer district. Lord M wasn't incorrect in speaking on the exorbitant costs of resurrections here, and those are the people you may be seeking assistance from. They're not altruists. These people enjoy control and power more than any person should, and it will have consequences, one way or another.

( in which he agrees with her warning and the sentiments behind it, though he hadn't heard details on any of their dealings. not yet, when he'd been tangled up in the birds, not the harpies, but the winged flying beasties of the forest. )

Anyway, that's me chattering on, how is that helpful? Hmm, hmm. Allison, how are you? Your family? Is there anything you need that I can help with?

[rumorate]

Honestly? I don't think anyone here is worthy of one hundred percent of our trust. They're all too interested in their own ends.

[Allison's been on the receiving ends of threats of her own from Lady V. Not directly to her face, but her safety is being used to keep her brother in line. And she's technically on Vannozza's team.]

I'm okay, otherwise. Family is all in one piece. Have you met my other brother, Diego?

[He makes an impression, to be sure.]

[weifinder]

Diego? Only heard his name, I've otherwise yet to have the pleasure.

( If the wolves are in tow, he won't have any concept of pleasure: he'll be running, shrieking, as one does when facing a phobia, but alas, alack. )

Self-interest is always the case, and really, this is their lives, and what are we?

( Travelers. Guests. )

[rumorate]

I'm sure you'll see him around. He tends to make an impression.

[Diego is also not subtle or good at blending in. Especially with the wolves.]

No, you're right. But I would prefer not to be completely expendable when looking for their own gains.

audio. civil serpent.

[inferus]

We should speak about what happened with the Necromancer's.

( He keeps it vague for whoever else might be listening, but he is curious about her powers, and he wants to ask about it now that he is no longer suffering from the effects of the poison. It is unlikely he would have died, but she helped him, and he will not forget that.

And still... those powers are dangerous. )

[rumorate]

[She had a feeling this conversation was coming, but she appreciates him not blasting her on the network.]

We should. Do you want to meet?

[inferus]

I would like that. It is certainly preferable to speaking over these stones. Name the place.

( It is her powers after all. She has the right to choose the location where she might feel safest to disclose information about it. He can go nearly anywhere. With his powers back (not at their full strength but full for this realm- world), he can teleport himself there with little effort. )

[rumorate]

There's a quiet little cafe away from the palace. They have a back room I've used for some of my matchmaking appointments. We'll have privacy.

[She sends him the address and a time. She'll need a little space to make sure she isn't being followed by any of Vannozza's men, thanks Diego for making her paranoid.]

Give me a half-hour?