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.

[rumorate]

No. I can just be very persuasive when it comes to getting information.

[bearshermark]

[Well that's not at all concerning, though it's better than the alternative]

I appreciate the warning. As many of us do, I'm sure.

[rumorate]

[Don't worry, Eleven, as of posting she is 99.99999999999999999999999% sure she will never need to use her power on you. Unless this is the beginning of your villain origin story.]

Just happy I can help. In a lot of ways, we're really out of our depth here.

[bearshermark]

[He's trying for a hero redemption arc atm so! worst case, accidental villain]

Yes. I feel it every time someone brings up a new turn about who could be behind the poisoning. But what's important is that we look out for each other.

[rumorate]

It is. It feels like right now the only people we can really count on is each other.

[She hopes. She hasn't gotten face time in with everyone yet, but mostly they seem like nice people.]

[bearshermark]

That's some comfort at least. I pray we can make it through this without suffering terrible loss.

[rumorate]

Me too. Are all your people okay?

[bearshermark]

The ones that were affected appear to be recovering. I'm told they should be all right soon, hopefully without any ill effects.

[rumorate]

Good. I'm glad to hear it.

[bearshermark]

Yes, I am too.

[He'd been so side-tracked with worry, it had been extra hard not to snap at people during court. He's still not completely sure he managed it well]

I take it yours are doing well after your negotiations with the necromancers?

[rumorate]

Yes. They're doing much better, which is a relief. I still would like to know how we wound up in that situation in the first place.

[bearshermark]

I'm hoping the truth comes to light before too many more accusations are thrown around.

un: absterge

[downswing]

The toll of blood sorcery.

[rumorate]

Me too. If not, things could get really messy.

[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.

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... )

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. ]

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]

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.