COTERIE INTERACTIONS (IC) - CHAPTER I

[treasuremap]

COTERIE INTERACTIONS

NAVIGATION

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RULES/FAQ

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COTERIES

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LOCATIONS

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!

Comments

[namestrees]

[Ohhhhh yeah. That's familiar. The voice with its hissing and spitting, faint as it is, and that deep seated fury, playing at his own. Brows furrowed, and he leans in a bit closer to try and hear better. On a certain level it feels like crouching next to a furnace- maybe not physically, but mentally. Knowing to be careful of the sheer power harnessed within.]

Not really. I'm still not very good with this power yet. [But interesting that it's an option??]

Uh... well, we kind of figured that the people who trapped you guys aren't telling us everything... so I thought I'd ask you, instead?

[MAKES SENSE?]

So... who are you?

[treasuremap]

'Trapped' me? Interesssting...

[ There's a long pause after that remark, almost as if the guardian doesn't intend to say anything else or answer the question. Or maybe it's just that whatever it says is too quiet to hear clearly through the seal. But then, eventually: ]

The impudence of you, human creature, trying to know that which is unknowable! And you sssquander the gift that you SSSTOLE FROM ME!! How dare you sssspeak to me, weakling!

[ That escalated quickly. ]

[namestrees]

[That long pause sure has him wondering. It goes on long enough that he stands a bit straighter, and glances at Hunter with a helpless sort of shrug. Like 'welp, that sure was a try'

--And then it's speaking again with a fury, hissing and spitting like the crackle of flames, and Lloyd can't help but clench his teeth in turn.]

--Where do you get off calling anyone impudent. [Great job, now he's yelling. At least this, too, isn't that uncommon an occurrence at Viper HQI. Also he doesn't even know what the word means, but whatever. It's clearly not a compliment!]

If you think we can't know, then there's no problem telling us! But you don't even want to do that! Even when we're here trying to help.

[As he rants, his hands on the magic plexiglass heat up. Surely this is fine. And he would be done, but he's gotta be petty:]

Besides, if you think I stole this stupid power from you, you shouldn't be calling it a gift. Gifts are things you give away.

[goldenscarred]

[This face. Why is he yelling at it?!]

[treasuremap]

[ A valid face to make. The guardian hisses and snarls, although the effect is considerably diminished without the visual of bared teeth to go along with it and it being muffled behind magical glass besides. The heat's turning up on both sides of the barrier, which is liable to make the entire room sweltering before long. ]

'Help' me? What help, pathetic human?! You are just as clueless as the last. Blind and helpless, nothing without my power. You were never a part of this pact! You are an interloper! A thief!

[ And there it goes again, hissing and spitting impotently. ]

[namestrees]

[The presence hisses, and his own lips draw back, fangs flexing down as he flinched faintly at the heat and aggression-- though Lloyd doesn't hesitate as he responds in turn.]

If anyone's blind and helpless here, it's you! And if I'm clueless, it's because you won't tell me!

None of us asked to be here, but we are-- and it seems like this place is falling apart. If you and the other three are causing it, then we can work something out. If something else is causing it, than we can go after that. But you're right, I'm clueless, and that's why I'm here asking!!

[His fingertips are blistering, still pressed against the magic pane, voice slightly hoarse as he just continues yelling. Might be a good time to get ready with that water.]

If you wanna stay stuck in there with people like me running off clueless with your powers, then fine. But at least I'm here trying to talk to you! You're not even doing that!

[treasuremap]

I did not bring you here. I do not want you here! We already wasssted our blessing on your pathetic kind once before, and it has done NOTHING for usss! It's this missst... yesss... the incense. That is the cause.

[ The voice inside the relic takes on somewhat more presence once it stops snarling, with dim echoes of a low, feminine-sounding timbre outside of the hollow, disembodied whisper it's been constrained to until now. ]

This gift of my power was granted to ssstop it, but it has been wasted for far too long. I'm TIRED of WAITING!!

[namestrees]

Okay, so how do we stop it?! If Viper couldn't do it right, maybe I can-- but I gotta know what to do. where it came from, what you even are--

[this is easily one of the most frustrating conversations he's ever had-- and it's likely because they both have that fury and flames. Blinding them from actual communication, searing from the heat of it.]

I'd be sick of waiting, too. But sulking in a rock and calling names isn't really working, either. If there's something corrupting the Mana here, I'll find it. If doing the wrong thing with these relics is gonna make things worse, I wanna know that so I don't do it. And if you don't know, then someone else must

This isn't the first time I've met spirits who were betrayed by their pacts, okay?! It's not too late to turn things around.

[treasuremap]

Bring them together. All four. I need their aid—Kraken, Lich, and Her Majesssty, of course. The four of us combined can dissspel this hateful mist!

[ The voice inside the barrier definitely sounds more alive, like it belongs to something tangible and less a ghost, but the roiling heat turning Viper's entire room into an oven doesn't let up. If anything, it only pours forth in waves, more urgent, more seething. ]

We will need those meddling treasure-hunters to release us. But only when we're together, not before. Any of us could have essscaped when we wanted, but the corruption isn't worth the risssk! Do you hear me, boy?! NOT! BEFORE! We mussssst be all together. That's the only thing that matters!!!

[namestrees]

[Bring them together, don't release them before. Similar to what Jaguar and Eagle seemed to think. Kraken and Lich? 'Her Majesty'? Names, though he's not sure what to. At least this is some progress, and some of that heat is ebbing away from his side, distracted as he is by trying to commit this information to memory. Not that he has any context for it.

Carefully, he responds.]

....A lot of the outsiders don't think that's a good idea. They don't trust the coterie leaders, and they think you're the source of the mist, since it's coming out from the relics. I'd need to convince them.

[Someone's rolling high on that wis check right now. Which isn't saying a lot.]

So how would all of you dispel it? Could we help? With your-- uh-- 'gift'?

[treasuremap]

WE and the PRISONS are two different things. They are right not to trust those fools! But the pact is with them, and to their lives we are tied. They mussst fulfill their end of the bargain!! Tell your OUTSIDERS whatever they need to hear. But get it done! And quickly!

[ As if the shouting, from what is now a very corporeal-sounding female voice, isn't enough to make the point, there's a very aggressive, very dramatic hiss thrown in at the end for good measure. ]

You may help by destroying the false gods, the mindless beasts that guard our prisonsss. Use my power to BANISH THEM FOREVER!!

[namestrees]

Man, you're really not big on details, huh....

[Thanks, ragesnake lady. His nose wrinkles, but he nods. And resists the urge to hiss back at her, tempted though it is.]

Just one thing: what will you all being free and dispelling the mist do to the people who live here? I mean, taking care of the big monsters is no big deal, [He says despite having been on fire and burning off a ton of skin and likely nearly dying that one time-] but... we wanna make sure this is the best way to deal with it. For everyone. I don't want to just do what someone says and end up nearly destroying a world again.

[goldenscarred]

[Hunter, who's been still watching this conversation with two parts interest, one part deep concern, is now three-of-three parts deep concern as he mouths the words to Lloyd: "AGAIN?!"]

[namestrees]

[HE JUST SHRUGS HELPLESSLY like ok that will take explaining but they can debrief after.]

[treasuremap]

[ It—or maybe she—sure isn't. And she also seems to pick up on that key word, since there's a pause before she responds. Or maybe she can see them silently communicating... ]

The people will do as they have always done: honor their gods. That is what they were born to do, as mortals! One would expect no lesssss from those that save them from the misssst. OBVIOUSLY.

[namestrees]

[--Well we were getting somewher, but then you gotta go say something ignorant like that. And so, bluntly, he responds:]

No they weren't.

[like duh.] No one's born for anything. They just are. And if they want to worship you, then fine-- but expecting them to do it just because they're mortal and you're not is stupid.

[treasuremap]

[ Now you've done it. ]

Mortals were born to SERVE!! WEAK, PATHETIC—WORTHLESS MINUSCULE CREATURES!! Without us you would be nothing, NOTHING!!! I will show you, insolent worm, if you refuse to see—I WILL PUT YOU IN YOUR PLACE!!

[ Inside the energy barrier, a flame flickers to life and begins to catch the pedestal that the relic is resting on. The overwhelming heat, intense like the inside of an oven both within the barrier and outside of it, begins to warp and "bend" the invisible divide like melting plastic, the space very faintly visibly shimmering as it weakens in various places.

Viper, suddenly in a lot of pain, is on her way. ]

[namestrees]

[Hmm. This might have e been a bad idea. But Lloyd has no fear or respect for supposed gods, so he just rolls his eyes.]

Yeah, and I'm sure all the other worlds where you don't exist and people still amount to something don't count, right? It sounds like you need us more than we want you.

[Lloyd please stop yelling at it, the two raging fireworks, soon to be three, will not improve this situation. He does finally have to back off from the magical plexiglass, the burns on his hands progressed enough to be a constant searing, stinging ache-- and boy that magical seal does seem to be weakening, yikes. Okay, okay, time to back off.]

But fine, whatever, we're going. I'll keep looking for clear answers someplace else.

[goldenscarred]

[Hunter, who has been watching this whole thing happen with increasing concern- and noting Lloyd's lack of concern- has been trying to stamp out fires as they crop up. But this is getting worse, and it's going to progress too far to handle himself.

Hunter reaches over, grabbing Lloyd by the arm.]

We have to go.

[And he's already trying to drag Lloyd away, as the fires begin to worsen.]

[namestrees]

Okay, okay--

[There's probably should have been more rules, other than 'no names' and 'no primises', but really, how should Hunter have expected that this idiot would be willing to get some multiple-degree burns just to call a relic spirit stupid and stand up for the free will of person-kind?

Should have had more of a meet and greet before the heist, obviously.

He does give one last sullen hiss at the burning pedestal and warping magical seal, fangs flickering down with it, before he's turning to leave with Hunter. Bye, bitch.]

That seal will keep the fire inside too, right?

[goldenscarred]

[He thought Lloyd would be able to act with a little more decorum but that's on him for having such high expectations. Hunter just gives Lloyd a wide eyed look and a shake of his head as he keeps pulling Lloyd to the door, not wanting to speak in front of the relic at all.]

[treasuremap]

[ No, Lloyd, sweetie. No it will not. Luckily for everyone who lives and works in the typically heavily populated Viper HQ, Viper herself makes it there quickly enough to hopefully prevent any disasters. It'd normally take one longer to get from Coba to Kiichpan, but she's got wings and lots of practice using them. By the time she gets there, she's wild-eyed but sheet white, breathing raggedly and clutching the wall for strength, shoulders slumped and wings sagging toward the ground, and what should she find trying to escape the scene of the crime but two very naughty boys!!

And also flames flickering behind them in her room as they start to consume everything and burn past the barrier. Also that. ]

Wh... wh... what the hell did you do?!

[namestrees]

[-Oh. That was fast. They aren't even clear of the room when Viper arrives, sagging and clearly in pain-- which Lloyd kind of feels bad about, but also no one told you to seal it with your life, you dumb bitch, also you're immortal.

Still. Uh. Guess he's gonna try and explain.]

Trying to have a talk. [He gestures to the fire with a blistered and raw thumb.] She's a huge jerk, though. I thought after that whole blow-up you guys had, we'd be better off getting answers on our own.

[goldenscarred]

[If they managed to leave before she showed up, Hunter would have denied involvement in this entirely. But now they're caught, he's visibly seen, so instead he opts for his other method: pleading forgiveness. First he slaps his hand over Lloyd's mouth, and then takes on a more formal tone.]

We apologize. We made a foolish mistake. Please reestablish the barrier and have mercy on us.

[namestrees]

[Sorry Hunter some of us are cursed snake children with rage issues and a strike reflex. It's whip-quick as he just instinctively bites, crunching down on Hunter's hand and staying latched there. Anyway, please continue, Viper.]