un: a civil serpent. | audio

[inferus]

( Wrath has heard from his disciples Vannozza plans on summoning or exorcising- a special ritual spell. He means to look into it more, but he would prefer to have some idea of what he may be walking into. He knows the group is exactly that.

They are a team, and while he is not used to relying on others in such a way, this world is making him experience many things he is unaccustomed to. He means to speak to Vannozza himself, but first, he wishes to inquire about those who have already had dealings with her. In exchange, he would be willing to let them know what he has learned and what he will learn.

A Prince of Hell always knows how to bargain. )

Has anyone had interactions with Lady Vannozza thus far? I am curious as to what others may have learned or what their reading of her has been when they've interacted with her.

Comments

un: daozhang | audio

[binghua]

I have spoken to her on one occasion, though I also upset her greatly, so our interaction was colored. That is something to keep in mind.

[And, in hindsight, Xiao Xingchen was in the wrong, even if he doesn't feel that being frustrated with the lack of healing efforts re: the whole poisoning debacle was uncalled for.]

She strikes me as being much colder than her cousin, who at least seems to want to care. Lady Vannozza gives me the impression that she will only lend a hand to those she deems worthy of her time and effort and if anyone is affiliated with Don Macaluso, then she couldn't care less. She termed those of us who are aligned with him as his soldiers. I am not politically minded, so I don't appreciate people who put some matters over others, but she might be considered a stronger leader in that she seems like she wouldn't buckle under pressure.

un: absterge

[downswing]

Her forest keeps court for the dead.

[inferus]

Can I ask how you upset her?

( Wrath missed some of what happened while he was poisoned, focused on getting his own cure to a sickness that would not have likely killed him but did affect him more than he is accustomed to.

He does not like Macaluso at all. His offer of an impossible 'choice'- die or serve him bothers Wrath immensely. Choice is important- vital, and that was an offer to desperate people which would only serve him in the end. He does not think any higher of Lady Vanozza. They both have goals in mind. As a group, they can only hope they'll find the leader that might benefit the group most, and he doesn't know which one that is yet. )

And yet I am certain she expects the same loyalty from those who follow her. ( So to call the ones who follow her cousin 'soldiers' a strange thing indeed. ) It is unsurprising that both would want to make moves that benefitted themselves the most. That is politics. Never showing your true hand.

[inferus]

You mean those related to the Necromancers here or those like the group we arrived with? ( or both.

he's never seen undead creatures like the ones who joined them on the trip to taravast. )

[downswing]

A different creature.

No ghost. True dead, stirred.

[inferus]

( she keeps undead in the forest, and she seeks necromancers to help her with a ritual of some kind. he did not go to the forests, choosing another route for his cure. while he may spend time with the necromancers, he does not truly like their bringing the dead back to life- it is their other methods that interest him.)

What are they like? How powerful?

[downswing]

Apologies. I cannot assess.

Poison had eroded my ability.

[inferus]

No apologies necessary. Your information has been incredibly helpful. I was unaware of the dead in her forest.

( Everything in Hell is based on exchanges. One does not demand information from a House without being willing to give up something in return, and while he may not be in Hell any longer, he still operates under these same rules. Information shared deserves information in return. )

It appears she may be planning something larger. I have few details as of yet.

[downswing]

The dead need not be her own. But they walk her family estate.

[inferus]

I know. It is unwise to make assumptions so I make none. But she has connections to the Necromancer's as well. ( Is it related? It's far too soon to say. )

[downswing]

What stokes interest?

[inferus]

She seeks the aid of Necromancers for a special summoning or exorcism. That is all the details I know thus far.

[downswing]

Your paths have crossed.

[inferus]

With the necromancers? Yes. I haven't spoken to Lady Vanozza.

[downswing]

You are the witch's creature.


( From... the series of unfortunate events that befell Emilia's quarters. )

[inferus]

( of all the offensive things to be called in all his ancient years, in all eternity. he is a prince of hell, the general of war, one of the seven wicked with his own esteemed house within the underworld where he commands respect and has commanded armies over centuries. the gall of mortals-

he takes in a breath, and his response does not come immediately. it gives him time enough to think of who this might be in turn and how angry he was to see him sneaking into emilia's chimney. )

I am no one's.

And I am certainly no creature. So that would make you the one who would sneak into a lady's quarters in the middle of the night?

[downswing]

The dawns of morning, traversed. I travelled to family.

[inferus]

You missed.

You have family here? ( ...he can only hope his own brothers will not make their way here for entirely different reasons than he imagines people hope their families won't follow them through. )

[downswing]

My son. His aunt. The one whose fate I share.

Family.

[inferus]

The one whose fate you share?

Did you all arrive at the same time? ( does he have to worry about his brothers showing up? that would be... messy. )

[downswing]

At times discordant. From times dissimilar.

[inferus]

From the future even? ( this may well answer emilia's question about what happens to their world while they are here. at least to know it is not being destroyed in their absence. )

[downswing]

Some of us, from the future of others.

Assuming same fates manifest.

[inferus]

What do you believe happens in the worlds we leave behind? If some arrive from the future, it must continue on.

[downswing]

If they come of a same future.