While the population of Crucible is not robust, there are plenty of other survivors to be found. All named NPCs can be interacted with, appear in network posts, and can inboxed but engagement may be limited. Threaded interactions may be resolved summary style.
Characters may accrue positive or negative reputation with npcs based on personal interactions, public behavior, and hearsay. Shifts in reputation might open up player characters to unique plotting opportunities and consequences.
In-depth threads, interactions, and plots using named NPCs might require the a favor earned from bonus activity.
Feel free to inbox any named NPC like a normal text thread using this post by denoting the NPC name and the interaction style (network, in person, etc)
eaters of sin
The so-called Sin Eaters are long-term residents of the Lonely Fortress and are so named by their preference to indulge in creature comforts to keep their servitors at bay.
Siegfried
The Kindred Scholar
RoleRecord keeping
TemperamentFriendly/Arrogant
Location(s)Library
A demonologist who has been exiled in the Crucible for a significant period of time compared to the others. He is invested studying the Crucible and their purpose within it. As the elder, he is somewhat the de facto voice of leadership among the fortress residents.
Edvin
The Lamenting Baron
Role:Steward
Temperament:Evasive/Haughty
Location(s):Tower Study
A melancholic noble who has lived within the Lonely Fortress for some time. He somewhat oversees (or mostly complains) over stewardship duties around the keep and organizes dinner parties. Mostly yells at people to clean up after themselves.
Mathilde
The Rottflower Prophet
Role:Herbalist/Healer
Temperament:Direct/Kind
Location(s):Greenhouse
A woods witch that cultivates an exotic herb garden collected from egregore-tainted flora. She serves as the spiritual guide and healer to fortress residents, often spearheading experimental rituals to try and bring equilibrium to the egregore.
Romilly
The Sorrow-eater
Role:Companion
Temperament:Friendly/Nurturing
Location(s):Velvet Parlor
A low-born entertainer who apprentices with Mathilde as a healer. She provides council and physical comfort to residents, believing that only love can beat out the darkness that prevails over all exiles. She treats the egregore like an entity to be worshiped, lovingly referring to it as Gregor.
yorick
The Gatekeeper
Role:Lift Operator
Temperament:Friendly/Snarky
Location(s):Lift station, front gate, ramparts.
A cheeky bard that manages the exit ways of the fortress. He knows the keep, the undercroft, and surrounding areas better than the back of his hand. Collects secrets and trinkets, but don't you dare call him a thief. Sometimes provides the musical entertainment to fortress gatherings.
In a way, you have left one pit only to find yourself in another. Your mind seeks the rope that would free you...but if you manage to find it, do you imagine you'll find yourself in yet a different pit?
[ Questions, questions... ]
Would you like to merely escape the pit or conquer it?
One would have you forget your horror, tuck it behind the veil so that you can no longer feel its festering.
Another could show you how to overcome it, no easy feat for the soft-minded, but if you are able to withstand facing your fear...perhaps these thoughts can be put to eternal slumber.
( with the options presented like that, his immediate instinct is option 1. that's already how he deals with everything, incredible that there's a magical potion that can do the emotional repression for him!
but, that's the rub, isn't it. it's already how he handles ugly things, only they keep crawling out of his head to haunt his pillow and keep him up at night. so... so maybe it's time to try and face it. )
I'm not gonna die if I fuck up the second thing, right?
I need something only the Whisperwood can provide. You will fetch it for me and I will procure your draught for this endeavor.
A fungus that grows under shaded banks. Some say they look like fingers. [ An image slowly forms in Steve's mind of what she seeks. ] A hand's worth should suffice.
No, it's the lands beyond the fortress isle, across the waters. Agnete would usually fetch what I needed, but as I understand it you have inherited her sickle.
It's no easy feat with what lurks. Take some protection from the armory and a boat to take to shore.
( oof. well, that's sad, isn't it. while this is quickly becoming more of an adventure than Steve realized he was signing up for, Agnete being involved makes him feel strangely obligated. if he was gonna whit out before, he definitely can't now. )
If there's more you want, I might as well look around while I'm out there anyway.
I'll see what I can do. ( Steve doesn't want to disappoint her, even if he's not confident he can pull this off by himself. he's trying not to get in his head about it, but there's a lot weighing him down. the loss of Agnete, the mess of his own making, and Mathilde being far more decent to him than he'd been to her when he was trying to get her help.
if he's gonna get mauled by monsters out in the waste because he's the world's biggest fuck up, he might as well cough up something he should have said weeks ago. )
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[ Questions, questions... ]
Would you like to merely escape the pit or conquer it?
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( he has seen the trend line of his bizarre supernatural experiences and suffice to say he doesn't like how things are going. )
What's the difference?
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Another could show you how to overcome it, no easy feat for the soft-minded, but if you are able to withstand facing your fear...perhaps these thoughts can be put to eternal slumber.
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but, that's the rub, isn't it. it's already how he handles ugly things, only they keep crawling out of his head to haunt his pillow and keep him up at night. so... so maybe it's time to try and face it. )
I'm not gonna die if I fuck up the second thing, right?
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[ Silly boy, what kind of witch does he think she is? Death. no. Incomprehensible nightmares...maybe! ]
I would serve as your guide. A hand to hold through the Everbloom's grace as it washes over you.
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Everbloom? Am I supposed to know what that is?
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Think on it if you need to, but do not dwell for too long. It will not do to keep on like this.
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( from S1 to S5 and all the fog in between, some things never change: Steve stays not thinking about it. ✋ )
What do I have to do?
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A fungus that grows under shaded banks. Some say they look like fingers. [ An image slowly forms in Steve's mind of what she seeks. ] A hand's worth should suffice.
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Whisperwood. Let me guess, that's not in the castle.
( aka, is it outside, you know, the place with all those monsters roaming around??? )
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It's no easy feat with what lurks. Take some protection from the armory and a boat to take to shore.
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If there's more you want, I might as well look around while I'm out there anyway.
( you know. since Agnete can't anymore 😭 )
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It would be wisest to part in the morning and return before nightfall. There are few places to shelter and it is most unforgiving under the dark.
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Go armed, take a boat, only what you need be quick. I got it. ( maybe. ) Unforgiving how?
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[ Don't find out, Steve. ]
Be well and back by dusk.
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if he's gonna get mauled by monsters out in the waste because he's the world's biggest fuck up, he might as well cough up something he should have said weeks ago. )
I'm sorry I was an asshole about Agnete before.