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

[aprescoup]

Call it... eight days?

[somebadnews]

Eight. And you're ready to trust her with us?

[ Or does he expect them to do what they normally do and burn a mountain down while she's in it? ]

[aprescoup]

Don't be having much choice.

[somebadnews]

You did. Do you think she'll still be your friend after she's recovered?

[aprescoup]

You don't walk from one hand that feeds you and reckon it won't slap you when you come back.

[somebadnews]

[ ...Right. Most of them probably won't go for this, but they tend to think small. ]

Nice of you to think of us, all things considered. We just happened to be in the right place at the right time. [ Not that he's against seeing this particular village rot, but... ] Are the stories about her true?

[aprescoup]

Which... ones?

[somebadnews]

Death and disease follows everything she touches. We were warned about her staying in one place, so you can see the concern.

[aprescoup]

Not there. Them both's weaker there. Can't fight the mountain.

[somebadnews]

[ Well, that's interesting. ]

Could you?

[aprescoup]

( Wistfully: )


Cou Ld I?

[somebadnews]

[ Maybe not now that he's... stronger. Five is just not going to ask. ]

You know we don't always agree, but opinions can change. [ In a world where people listen to him. ] Will the Beastmaster know to look for her there?

[aprescoup]

He always tries to smell'er out, him and his dogs. But... we've got the wind on our side. You talk them into taking her, and I'll sort'er.

[somebadnews]

[ This really isn't so crazy to consider. It'd be convenient if they just killed each other, but even if they don't, he has some assurances that they have backup.

He won't say that he'll try... when other people are listening... but he might have some private conversations about the subject. ]

What happens if she gets turned away?

[aprescoup]

She's lived herself long years... better she sort'erself out.

[somebadnews]

[ He'd ask how she got that weak, but he can guess the answer based on his other conversations. ]

Do you know how much of a head start she has?

[aprescoup]

Never more than three days' ride of a distance, unless his brothers hold'im back. Is the curse.

Won't come til he's allowed though. She'll have herself a week.

[somebadnews]

Which curse is that?

[aprescoup]

Haven't you noticed? Them brothers, they didn't start like me. Was humans first.

[somebadnews]

...I haven't heard the whole story. Who cursed them? Was it before or after they died?

[aprescoup]

Isn't a curse for'em all. Just one between them two.

Now, I've told you plenty. You be good and talk the others to sense.

[somebadnews]

[ 'You be good.' There's a fine line he's walking between doing a favor and taking an order. He holds his tongue, but he needs to watch that. ]

That's asking a lot.

[aprescoup]

Is it?

[somebadnews]

Taravast wasn't that long ago.

[aprescoup]

Can't be advancing, if you're weighed down by grudge.