video | un: haltham

[aprescoup]

( Friends, family, travellers: you might remember this friendly speaker, eyes bright and wild while blood's drenched the better half of his grinning face. )

Hello? This is Haaaaaaltham. How do you do? Me... I'm — ( The pendant briefly slips from his hands, showing glimpses of Haltham and a rolling, feral dead creature he subdues with a final snap of its neck. Patiently, after recovering the pendant: ) Fine. You, um... you're fine, yeah? Also? You're good people. Good people.

So I told m'friend, I told her... said, me, these are good people, and they will help you. ( Another pause, as a rabid goat jumps over Haltham's head to crush a dead man. Behind him, rows of burning homes distinctly different from the snowed-under peaks of Haltham's native Sa-Hareth. ) Goat says hi. Good goat.

Now... now, my friend, yeah? She's... last we met, she wasn't that, she was... riding hard. In the fancy magic city. And them others coming after, her old friends. One of them. Only... now she's not feeling friendly with the Brothers no more. Now, she's wanting to be friends with us. All of us. Cause she's... in a bit o'trouble with that one. The mean one. The one that brays like animals... and... that's no nice way to treat a lady. Me, I always thought... you got a lady friend, you treat'er well.

She's got to stay in Krrrr-Croak-Weeeey-who? Couple o'days. Call it... three? Four weeks? But she doesn't want no finding, when the animal comes. And she's a little... slimmer in her strengths. Til the old man mountain breathes fire again. So, you know. If you can be nice to her, our huntress. She'll make it worth everyone's while. Yours... mine... ( Another undead creature assaults his back, only to solidify in pure ice within half a heartbeat. Haltham points behind himself: ) His.

What do you say? ( All at once, warmth wanes from Haltham's voice, hollowing it: ) ThIn K. Th ErE aRe BenEfitS o F Gi vInG HER tHre E weEks o F shElt Er. WhaT Do YoU saY?



( ooc: — cast an IC vote until 23:59 GMT on 2 April if the party should hide and protect the Huntress for a few weeks in Ke-Waihu, during the Beastmaster's upcoming visit

— new characters can assume party NPCs Asgeirr or Hatisse have shared told them about the Huntress, Haltham/Anurr and Beastmaster

— feel free to spam/threadjack/discuss IC opinions in this post — Haltham will respond sporadically; no input from the Huntress at this time! )

Comments

[weifinder]

Oh, not at all, I just wanted to ask you a favour as you're asking us.

[aprescoup]

You... want a fatter bear?

[weifinder]

I want the bear, or bears, to stop trying to join me in baths.

[aprescoup]

You call the bear to your bath? Is... that what you like?

[weifinder]

The bear calls itself. I've invited no one to my bath, ah? That's more your thing.

[aprescoup]

I don't send the bear to no one. Does what it wants.

[weifinder]

( the heaviest of sighs. )

Of course. Tell it to stop, anyway, if you set it back to tracking us. Thank you.

[aprescoup]

And you'll do my favour, then?

[weifinder]

If you agree to owing me another one to be named in the future, sure. The bear is a hairy issue, but hardly equivalent.

[aprescoup]

Isn't me you're helping, little friend.

[weifinder]

Oh, it is. When you are the one doing the asking, it's a favour to you, too. As you said, it's worth her while, your while, and the one who has the beasties you're properly freezing out.

[aprescoup]

W HaT d O YoU Want?

[weifinder]

A favour, in the future. What form that'd take is one I'd let you know of when I became aware of it.

( MISTER CONSENSUS OF ANURR )

[aprescoup]

Seems too much, don't it? Greedy?

[weifinder]

My friend, you're an embodiment of vengeance. Greed's been part of your nature as much as it's been part of humanity's or many other species over their age.

[aprescoup]

A small boon.

[weifinder]

For a small boon from you at some point which is not this moment, yes, I'll not be unkind to the Huntress for her time of... lessened resources.

[aprescoup]

We Ha VE Agr Ee MEnT.

[weifinder]

Great! Talk to you later, see the Huntress sooner.