exit, stage e a s t

( In a rare turn, a restless Macaluso and a pale but resolute Vannozza Spina appear to make a public front before the Piazza, in a speech broadcast across all communicators. Macaluso addresses the people first: )

Good people of Taravast. These are not the faces we hoped to show you today. We had intended to make our final pleads and prove our worthiness before you. But we do not step before a free and joyous Taravast. Today, on our way to the markets, we walked on corpses and ruins. I would like us all to observe a moment of silence for our suffering, our heroes, our fallen and our loved ones.

( Respect, awe or fear of the Spina guards see Macaluso’s plea obeyed. Vannozza continues: )

How beautiful you are, strong things. How stoic and determined. I admire you. One and all who have survived, despite the treachery of the moment. Despite those who have sold us. Despite the man who have failed their duties. Know this: my cousin speaks our truth. Today, we both ask every man, woman, child, cripple and magician of Taravast, the living, the dead and those transitioning to join hands and assist our efforts to rebuild. As you know, when my parents passed...

( Macaluso intercedes: ) When our parents passed, Vannozza.

( Vannozza laughs: ) Yes, but you’re not giving away your dowry. When my parents passed, they left behind a not insignificant fortune of 500,000 gold pieces, so that I might make my way in this world, as a gentlewoman. But you will not find me gentle. I hereby put this money towards healing houses, homes of fresh shelter and alms. It is not a loan, and it is not a donation. Taravast is my home. I do not loan to myself, and I do not donate to myself. The Lady Emilia has further graciously added her own fortunes. I ask everyone who has bound themselves to my name to pledge 20,000 pieces to the same cause and produce them within the month.

( Macaluso appears briefly ill at ease — surprised, but rushing to rest his hand on his cousin’s elbow to support her: ) ...of course. We will take this aid and couple it with new wisdom. The old ways of Taravast have led us here, my friends. The corruption, the underground transactions, the isolation. We cannot have this further. We must open our arms and our hearts to those who bring us new knowledge, new experiences, even to foreigners, who can -

( Vannozza once more, laughing: ) And what will you give them, Macaluso? If they did not come for love of you days ago when we were attacked, what will they come for now? Our magic? Our witches? Look around you! We have scraps, we have dogs. We are... no. We will not be Ellethia. We will have curfews. I declare it, in my grandfather’s name. Any man who roams the streets with undue cause past midnight faces prison. Anyone who homes or harvests the dead will be hanged. We will have reckonings. I will know why each of our sorcerers failed us, I will know why we have walls and the power to stop death and raise fire, but we were caught out like rats in the rain. I want an account of every man’s power and learning and identity. I want our sorcerers to remember they are foremost the servants of their people. And I want every nightmare creature and risen dead man burned.


( Macaluso opens his mouth to object, but Vannozza has already retreated, and the communication ends without the typical boisterous enthusiasm of the piazza. )

( OOC: neither Vannozza nor Macaluso will be responding. Threadjack away and plan your next moves ICly. Consider responses to this post private to the character network and unreadable by NPCs. Shortly after this communication, characters will notice:

a curfew is now in place, between midnight and 6am

Guards ask a tally of everyone’s abilities (feel free to lie) and seem generally apprehensive of and brusque with magic users

Openly declared necromancers will be treated coldly

Vannozza and Macaluso require their supporters to contribute towards rebuilding Taravast )