treasuremap | COTERIE INTERACTIONS (IC)

COTERIE INTERACTIONS (IC) - CHAPTER I

COTERIE INTERACTIONS

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The leader of each coterie, all colloquially known by the same name as their group—Jaguar, Eagle, Viper, and Salamander—will play a major role in the story, oftentimes appearing in events and even, during major plots, accompanying the player characters on their quests. While having constant access to them in threads would be difficult to keep track of and may lead to unfair advantages for some characters, and they will never directly comment to any network or log posts made in

incensed or

incenselogs, we do want to offer the opportunity for characters to interact with them. Therefore, with the exception of the aforementioned event posts where the NPCs might appear, all direct interactions with the coterie leaders can be done here. Simply comment below with the leader you'd like to interact with and whether it is in person or via medallion/journal in the subject line.

Note that it is fine to handwave minor interactions with the NPCs, such as in the case of exposition or receiving their quest orders, and you do not need to thread that out here nor ask permission from the mods. Relationships beyond passing familiarity as leader/subordinate cannot be handwaved however—in general, characters will not "build CR" with their leader to the degree they might with other characters in the game. They will still get to know them well over the course of the story, though.

Please also note that the NPCs are played by the mod team and are subject to the same tagging speed or question-answering expectations. We will respond as soon as we can!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Why hel-lo my dear Sophia! Yes, I heard an awful lot of prattling about in circles recently, it's true.

With younger members of the coteries, you say? Oh, I'm so curious now! Yes, of course I have time. How can I be of service?

Everyone does seem to have a lot to say, don't they?

[ She's no exception. And yet, Eagle has been ever so notably quiet. ]

You've mentioned often you are a bard. Do you know of any particular tales from these lands prior to or around the time that your original group arrived here?

There also seems to be some disagreement on the nature of the... "beings" linked to the relics - spirits, demons, would-be gods. Perhaps you have a tale or two about them? Or an opinion as to what they are to share?

Ahhhhahaha.

[ That's an I See What You Did There laugh. Nothing gets past Eagle-Eyes! (That was probably the point.) ]

Having trouble getting straight answers, are we? But nothing is clearer than it is in song and rhyme. As it happens, I do know quite a few tales from all those almost-eons ago, but I'm afraid they don't translate so well over the medallion. They're best sung in the local tongue, as they were told back then. As for the fiendish things you're asking about in particular... I may have written an epic or two in my time.

[ Oh no. He's strumming. Already. Does he just have that damn lute ready and waiting for any occasion?

Yes. ]

My opinions are also best presented in song.

[ She rather thought he might.

And if he's expecting her to run away from the threat of that strumming, well. She listened to the entire lullaby, didn't she? ]

I will have to make an effort to learn the local tongue, then, to appreciate the older stories better. But I would be most glad to listen to your ballad, if you're willing to play.

[ "if" she says. ]

Of course, of course! How delightful that someone in this forsaken place is willing to listen. What does everybody think I write these ballads for? My own benefit?

[ Also... yes? Maybe? At any rate, Eagle plucks a few strings to find his key, and then starts into a wistful-sounding intro as a backing track to his dramatic introduction: ]

Our tale, my sweet Sophia, takes place many centuries ago. Long before you, or I, or the incense. Long before Copalli was nothing but four cities amid a continent of ruin, it was a populous and prosperous land of beauty and riches. The ancient pantheon ruled the skies, the sea, the earth, even the hearts of men. All was harmonious, but there was no order, no peace. The gods of the old world were foolish, and petty, and craved endlessly the blood of the fallen. But all that changed when the land itself rebelled against its cruel masters and, in defense of itself... lashed out.

[ And now more aggressive strumming as he delivers the rest in song: ]

O thundering fury, cacophonous land,
Exalted, contemptuous, corruptor of man;
Stripped clean of his flesh, but nevertheless, painless...
The earth lay desolated, his bare heart over-rated, torn apart by his own hand.

O fiery fury, wherefore a snake?
(Wherefore, indeed, must it always be snakes?)
Careless and reckless and blinded by hate...
Uncontrolled in her measures, and every last treasure thus incinerated.

O perilous fury, sundering tides,
Its visage, good heavens!, a trick of the mind;
Would I were so bold, with that many hands to hold, but feckless...
It drowns out our sorrows, yet there'll be no to-morrow, for one so utterly blind.

O glorious fury, whispering winds,
Her heads put together, the seams of time, she mends;
And how foolish are we, defy vainglorious She! a trick Goddess...
Swept away on the breeze, she holds all the keys, thus locked inside we all meet our end.

[ Aaand... fade out. ]

Well? What did you think?

That was...quite astonishing.

[ She is impressed. (By how long it was? How awful it was? By the fact it contained hints that could be useful for the future...? Who knows.)

Polite applause still follows, because it's only good manners to show appreciation for showmanship. ]

Certainly an ominous set of tales. Which of the four would you say you are most familiar with?

Thank you, thank you!

[ He is bowing irl. He's that far gone. ]

Why, I saved the best for last, of course. 'Tis most fitting, no? That I would be bewitched by a cruel mistress. At times I think fate couldn't have been better prepared with a punchline, the setup was so very perfect.

My my. You make it sound like you'd almost be happy to be enthralled by someone like that. Or is that merely because it's the sort of story a bard might otherwise only dream of?

[ Are they going to have to tie you to a mast so you don't throw yourself overboard trying to reach a siren in future, Eagle. ]

Oh, yes! Everything else in my life were utter doldrums up until that day. I shudder to think how pointless my songs were by comparison.

[ As if they aren't typically pointless these days, too. ]

[ Oh boy. ]

And how would you describe things since then?

Never a dull moment!

[ There's something so odd about the wistful way he sighs that. ]

But now I must ask you: did my little tale shed any light on the mystery you've been puzzling over?

That is certainly one way to look at it, I guess. Especially these last few months, hmm?

[ That's a good question, and there's a thoughtful pause, a shift of fabric and paper audible. ]

I think it's raised questions I hadn't considered asking. But I suspect it'd be greedy of me to monopolise your time with more song requests.

Oh, yes. The excitement is positively through the roof now that you all are here. What providence to know that, just when all hope was beginning to wane, you lot would come to liven things up again.

[ Oh no you don't. He's already keying up another song. ]

Don't be silly! I've all the time in the world for you. It just so happens I've been working on another one...

[ She brought this upon herself. ]

Had hope truly begun to fade? I know you've all been affected by this for a long time..

[ Sophia settles herself in her chair. Since he's happy to oblige her.. ]

Is that so? And what would this particular ditty be called?

Oh, yes, we were positively hopeless. I suppose that's one more thing we should be thanking all of you for... giving us back our will to live!

[ He couldn't possibly sound more delighted. With a giddy little hum, Eagle strikes up a new chord, beginning with yet another "prelude" as he introduces the song before he begins to play in earnest. ]

Wonderful! This one isn't finished yet, but I've been laboring over it day and night—when I'm not busy at work looking after my beloved citizens, of course. It hasn't got a title just yet, but just as a placeholder, let's call it... Ode to the Lizard Lady. A-HEM...

There once lived a maiden of untold power
Though rather than use it, she'd rather cower
With a wave of her hand
Could've razed all the land
But instead, a monster's lunch, be devoured.
(And that's hardly the worst thing about 'er!)
She'll cry and carry on for hours
A detestable wilting flower
Try as you may
You'll never get her to say
She's sorry for the constant tear showers.
(But aren't we ever so fortunate she's ours~?)

[ And cue outro... to this diss track. ]

That's all I've got so far! Thoughts? Comments, concerns, critiques... applause~?

Hmmm. I can see how it is still a work in progress.

[ This song is...unkind, to put it mildly, and there's a hint of not-quite-disapproval in the noise she makes before forming words. ]

I can't tell if you're punching up or down in regards to the, ah, subject of your work. Nor what sort of response you expect to it once it's done. Unless it's simply for your own private amusement?

[ ...It's no 'Burn, Butcher, Burn', basically. ]

[ The laugh Eagle lets out is not a chuckle or a chortle but honestly just an out-and-out giggle. ]

The subject~? I'm not sure what you mean. It's a relatively undefined topic, just like the ancient deities I just sang to you about a moment ago! That is, it could mean anything, about anyone. It sounds like you didn't care for it much!

If you say so.

[ Absolute bullshit, Eagle. Absolute. Bull. Shit.

There's a sigh. ]

Your other song was stronger.

[ Eagle coined "I don't know her" well before Mariah. You heard it here first. ]

Ah, well, I suppose it would be. I've had quite a long time to perfect it! Sometimes I find it quite comforting that I'll evidently have all of eternity to master my craft and write some of the greatest ballads the world will ever know. Perhaps even Ode to the Lizard Lady will be a smash hit someday!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

COTERIE INTERACTIONS (IC) - CHAPTER I

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