un: mansbane | audio

[bravelyrunsaway]

Good whatever time it should be, loves, a question for you.

I've half a scroll from the Dawns Reach Trading Company, those lighting struck merchant fools. It says, in poor penmenship and inking, "All debts repaid. We know." Drew lines under the 'know' and everything.

Lisanther wants these things, but this is only half a torn scroll, and I wouldn't trust that company of merchants further than I could toss a mountain.

Thoughts?

Comments

audio; un: man's greatest treasure

[reparo]

So many, now. Whose debts repaid? What do they know? How is it possible for them to have their nose stuck in everything, including pockets of time?

[bravelyrunsaway]

All questions which are better answered if we have to deal with the merchants, which apparently we do. Not so long ago that their mucking around left us Storm-struck on those pirate ships, love, but I only have half a scroll.

[reparo]

I remember the experience, yes - altogether unpleasant. I suggest not giving Lisanther the scroll yet - as you said, it's only half of it. Maybe locating the other half would be better?

[bravelyrunsaway]

It'd be more educational.

[reparo]

Yes well, you know I'd be in favour of anything educational. Do you require help?

[bravelyrunsaway]

Only in requiring someone other than my handsome self applies themselves to finding these bits of scroll, love. Volunteering?

[reparo]

Why not you, if I can ask?

[bravelyrunsaway]

Already found one, feel like that's enough for one snoop. Let others have the chance!

un: absterge

[downswing]

Why trust the necromancer?

[bravelyrunsaway]

A thought I agree with. I'm more interested in anyone finding the other half of this scroll and if it says anything. What magic allows a merchant company to do this, and what debt, and what they know.

[downswing]

They are merchants. Their knowledge is of trade.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Trading only functions with buyers in addition to the sellers, doesn't it?

[downswing]

Unless they seek out buyers only after procurement.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Meaning they have a market or someone who knows there is a market to back the purchasing. No merchant group I know puts that much into chasing after uncertain investments.

[downswing]

You believe the procurer of foremost interest.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Until we know the why's of their motivation? Yes. Being blind to what moves the world and people in it is convenient, but dangerous when it's targeting us or those we rely on, to some extent.

[downswing]

We cannot outrun all danger.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Perhaps, but I'm sure willing to try outrunning most.

un : dappled peals of the parted seas (voice)

[beitangmoran]

Master Lan is right, a half doesn't say much... That being said, it is interesting we found traces of them here, given that we do not know who their mysterious patron was when we crossed paths with them.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Things done by halves are by their nature incomplete, aren't they? Anyway, is it interesting, or is indicative of how long they've been around or how deep their greed goes? I'm a poor mercenary, I don't bother thinking along the lines of mercantile companies. Too liable to get swept up into bad ideas in their good business pursuits.

Has anyone spoken to that Lisanther about how he made contact with them in the first place? Did they find him? Or he them?

[beitangmoran]

I am afraid I haven't had any long conversation with the man as we crossed paths while trying to reach the house to make sure tokens were acquired in a timely fashion. But these people are from Taravast, are they not? Taravast had known, public dealings with the undead, on top of more secret ones.

[bravelyrunsaway]

News to me, I wasn't with this lovely party at the time, love. Yet has this... everyone here been in residence for more than what? How long have the death lords been roving around this world?

[beitangmoran]

A while. Back in Sa-Hareth, there were tales of Anurr going back five or six generations, a grandmother remembering her grandmother telling her the tale of how he came to be. But then, he is different than the rest, it seems, older, more ancient, not made through the same magic.

In the same city, the people seemed very used to having the undead around. Taravast's dealings with them were at least a century old if not more. And In Ke-Waihu, I met a lady who remembered the Beastmaster when he was still alive and had grown up alongside him.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Anurr, isn't he one that's been off... around... doing something? He's so old, was he a problem for the whole of the world, or just his part?

The Beastmaster, he's the one you lot slew before I was dragged into this sorry mess, wasn't he? Supposed to be one of the powerful ones of the... what's the name for their group, love, there's some name that merchant spoke of before.

( He means Brotherhood, but isn't remembering it at present. )

[beitangmoran]

It's unsure where Anurr is these days but he... occasionally pops by. The bear is his.

He is no friend of the Brotherhood, as our merchant friend told us, but that doesn't mean he is good. He is just the enemy of our enemies.

The Beastmaster was indeed powerful although I am unsure he was one of the most powerful.

... On second though it took a volcano tot ake him down so maybe you are onto something here.

[bravelyrunsaway]

A volcano.

[beitangmoran]

It's a long story.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Is that the only one you lot have killed?!

[beitangmoran]

There was the one in Sa-Hareth, before that. So that makes two. Arguably, the first one was he weakest of the lot, and we had Anurr's help because he was very interested in eliminating a local rival.

[bravelyrunsaway]

How many more are there? The Huntress, Rathakku, where does that pale man, Matthias, fit in to this?

[beitangmoran]

I am not sure that we know how many there are in total. The Brotherhood seems a loosely organized group, but they don't seem to like on another overly much.

As for that man.... the clues we have found so far seem to point towards him having somehow created those undead lords. The ones from the Brotherhood anyway. Anurr seems more ancient. He might have started dabbling with life and death after his daughter died.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Right, so what do we do to unmake the maker?

[beitangmoran]

That's the whole question, isn't it? He's been elusive, even though we may have found... bits of him. Maybe. It is still unsure.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Think we could just tie the lot of them together? You people have magic, that surely would work!

[beitangmoran]

That might not be the greatest idea. We're unsure what the bits could do if reunited. It's been ascertained those body parts are still alive, in spite of their.... separated status.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Oh no, love, I mean the necromancers stuck in here. Please don't attach the body bits together.

[beitangmoran]

Hmm that too might not be wise either. Clearly someone thought so, at least.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Which someone, mm?

[beitangmoran]

That's the question, isn't it? Still, given that one of them has expressed willingness to kil the other two, putting them all int he same room seems unwise.

[bravelyrunsaway]

Tied all up with a neat bow might be mildly amusing, on a disastrous hand.

un: sling shot | audio

[slippin]

[ After some long moments of hesitation: ] What, uh, kinda paper is it? Your standard scroll-paper?

[bravelyrunsaway]

I can do you one better, a moment...

( switching to video, he unfurls the scroll in mention. )

Thin as a moth's wing, here it is!

( Thinner ink reading: "All debts repaid.

We know." )

[slippin]

Onionskin. [ The face he's pulling is semi-audible. For good measure he throws in a tongue-click. ]

Well, whatever you wind up doing with it, [ —a dilemma that definitely doesn't involve him!— ] it might, uh, behoove us to hang on to a sample of the handwriting.

[ For entirely legitimate purposes. ]

[bravelyrunsaway]

Wonderful, I'll stop by where you are so you can create a copy! I'd offer, but my handwriting, love, it's terrible. Absolutely terrible.

( He just smiles. He agrees, it's great to have records. Especially if more contracts are going to crop up later on. )

voice | un: oil change

[nachocheese]

[ This response starts with a brief period of silence. Then: ]

Got one too. Says... "You told us you were one, not three."

[bravelyrunsaway]

We should see if the edges match! Like puzzles, only I don't like puzzles at all.

( He sighs, dramatically, for effect. )

So whatever contact it was, the person who made it didn't mention the other two in residence. The living two. Let alone the dead, or the bone hounds, for what they count.

[nachocheese]

Yeah? Good idea. [ Snort. ] I like 'em. I used to do puzzles sometimes with my dad when I was little.

[ Nacho's upper lip twitches into a faint smile, although Licyn can't see it since he's still on audio. Licyn's way was unusual at first - not in a bad way, but Nacho hadn't been entirely sure what to make of him. But he's gotta admit, Licyn's whole schtick is growing on Nacho exponentially. ]

Hey... what do you think bonehounds like, anyway? The one down there's pretty nice. I might wanna bring him a treat or something.

[bravelyrunsaway]

I hear puzzles are great for long winter nights, but wouldn't know. Would you agree?

( he chuckles at the question about the skeleton hound. most of them are too fond of Licyn, and wary of him in turns, but it amuses him at this point. first big response out of anything here to what he is, he supposes. )

Good question, love, but there can only be one possible answer.

( the momentary pause, and then: )

A juicy bone with the marrow still in! Which might be too hard for this place, have you scrounged around in the kitchens?