003.

[champions]

FORM: crystal
SENDER: Kostos, Nikos, Marisol
RECIPIENT: everyone
WHAT: don’t feed the zombie
WHEN: current
WHERE: Kirkwallerino
NOTES: Zombies, man. Related to the Nevarra diplomacy effort.

Beloved Inquisition. Charming, benevolent, remarkably good looking, delightful Inquisition.

(Here there is a quiet snort of sarcasm that belongs to Nikos.

Off to a great start. Marisol sighs wistfully. ) You will be happy to know that we are making headway in repairing our relationship with Nevarra. There is much to do, still, but the team I attended with did excellent work, and I am thankful to all of them.

Marisol. ( Quiet chiding, not really meant for anyone else but her. The point, Marisol, the point. )

Ah! ( A moment of enlightenment. Bless you, dear cousin. ) Another of my wondrous Nevarran relatives has descended upon the Inquisition. She is residing in the Gallows, but I would ask all of you to treat her with the utmost respect, and maintain a safe and healthy distance.

( c: )

She— ( wait, no, Kostos isn’t playing along with that ridiculousness ) —It is in a locked room in the central tower. You should not be at risk of encountering it unless you make an effort.

Don’t make the effort. Unless you want your eyeballs speared by long fingernails and the state of your cloak slyly disrespected. The former more likely than the latter. I think her tongue is rotted. (wait…. In a Kostos voice that actually sounds pretty much like his own voice, slightly different accent, slightly more sullen? Less sullen? Hard to say.) It has a rotted tongue. All dust.

(And he sounds way too darkly amused about that. Meanwhile, Marisol sounds as chill and entertained as always, the faint note of reproof entirely playful. )

Great Great Great Aunt Berenike is a woman of considerable reputation, but presently also of considerable temper. She has very graciously acquiesced to participate in our efforts to cure the revered dead of the Necropolis of their current ill-humour, but she is not not one to suffer fools.

Except for dinner. She will gladly suffer fools for dinner.

Comments

[limier]

[ 'it might help us lighten the rifter budget' is not a thought to be voiced aloud ]

While I do not doubt the generosity of your ancestors, I am uncertain we wish to further associate them with looting.

[ she says, with a sword that totally definitely didn't come out of the necropolis ]

[champions]

Hmmm, a fine point. Perhaps, “Templars welcome”?

[limier]

We are famously poor company. Shall I have the sign delivered?

[champions]

Are you sure?

She’s very charitable, I’m sure she’d be patient with even the most devout Templar.

[limier]

So what a shame it would be, were her time with us cut short.

[champions]

Ah, it would, it would. But then she would not be able to keep you all to herself, to my great relief.

[limier]

My door is always open, Mlle. Vivas. [ that she appends lady to morrigan, without claim of any sort, and not to highborn circle mages will... come back to bite her some day, no doubt. ] I cannot make promises of the portcullis.

[champions]

Lady Vivas, Knight-Lieutenant. ( Light, easy breezy, that was an easy mistake to make and not a reason for her to plot Wren's inevitable downfall. )

It is cruel to tease.

[limier]

[ what's that? they're just not using names at all? got it ]

The South is harsh, [ agreement, self-recriminating — as though they're still joking and she's not made certain implications about the north (it rhymes) (with levinter limperium) ] But I hope in sincerity that you will avail yourself of me, or of Knight-Enchanter Voss, should you require.

[champions]

Avail myself of the Knight-Enchanter? I could never. She far too stern and imposing. Alas, I am overcome at the very thought.

[limier]

[ quite seriously: ]

The faith of the Anderfels inspires.

[ ah now we're joking again ]

[champions]

Ah, I go through such pains to ensure there is a fainting couch in every room and yet—! I always find myself without them.

Though I think there is more to be said for Nevarran determination.

[exsecutus]

Why not. They were looters.

[limier]

Would you care to explain your logic, Enchanter?

[ what the fuck's a nikos ]

[exsecutus]

[ c:0 ]

With pleasure.

The great houses and noble names are built upon the backs of those that they have subjugated and conquered. This is no secret. It is rather a source of pride. Whoever holds the highest titles, the most land, collects the most property--and this 'property' includes people, even in the areas where they say there is no slavery, the systems remain--power is handed over, and sold, and bartered for.

The structure of nobility continually grinds down the lesser, and props up the greater. The wealth that is collected--even that which is honestly collected, in taxes--is used to fill coffers and to pay for extravagances, the likes of which those actual laborers will never in their lives glimpse. Gowns, crowns, jewels, coins, beasts, mansions.

[limier]

[ that he isn't wrong doesn't particularly matter — ]

And you wish us to further the example?

[ — that there are a few things that might be said of the relative comfort of circles (of an inquisition choked with nobility and mages and templars and more large animals than might be readily counted) doesn't particularly either.

because of reasons. ]

[exsecutus]

I'm sure the Inquisition is better than that.

["Sure".]

It's just I like the idea of underlining the truths of my ancestors.

[limier]

Has she been much responsive to your philosophy?

[exsecutus]

Oh, yes. She's agreed to eat the rich.