RP:If They Believe

This is a Necromancer's Guild RP.

Summary: Macon and Bradyn meet to discuss the curse that the Prince and the people of Larket suffer. An arrangement is made.

The Black Library

Macon is completely desperate now. His son is not yet a year old, but possesses the body of a child nearing age seven, and can read and write (kind of) already. The curse, that The King of Larket is still convinced (thanks Valrae) is the villainous work of witches, has led him to this final resort of taking his only child to the City of the Dead without Josleen’s knowledge in search of a cure. Bradyn will have been approached the previous week by an agent of Larket to set up this secret meeting between The Rage Knight and the mortician at the Black Library. The King and Prince are accompanied, as they so often are, by a set of three Kingsguard, comprised of; a somewhat round man in dark wizard’s robes from Larket’s Academy of Magics, and a pair of swordsmen, one in full armor, and one in street clothes that travels separately from the Royal caravan, and waits outside in the cemetery when the group reaches their destination. During the trip, once Prince Guillem realizes that they are in Vailkrin, he begins anxiously pointing out every structure in the city and asking the same excited question. “Does Shishi live there!?” Macon varies his responses at first, “No.” “I don’t think so.” Etc. but by the time they are passing the Thorne Estate, he’s just shaking his head continuously. Bummer. It doesn’t matter anyway, that insane vampire likely isn’t home. The King is in his silvery Rage Armor, and has his trusted great axe strapped to his back when he enters the Black Library with Guillem (who thinks libraries are boring, by the way) in tow, flanked by the mage and fighter Kingsguard. He is without the marble crown of Larket however, as this in no way can be considered official Larketian business, unless things work out, of course. The squad of Larketians await a greeting from the man they are scheduled to meet.

Bradyn is waiting within plain sight, which is not often the cause for the Maharan. There is a preference for loitering unseen in the shadows like a predator stalking their prey. Bradyn Mahara is on good behevaior today, perhaps because the figure demanding audience commands respect...but more than likely it is because the vampire sees the potential for a gain, giving him motive. By the look of him, there was hardly anything formidable about Bradyn. He was pale, as expected of vampires, and of a tall and lean build. The predominant color of choice for attire is black save for the white shirt he wears beneath a button down vest. Everything is clean and crisp, just a bit on the drab side. As the Larketians make their way into the Black Library, each of them is regarded with a studious look before being greeted with a stiff not. It will soon become apparent that this is meant to be no slight from Bradyn. The Necromancer has grown detached from most emotions, or as least he puts up a good facade that he is lacking in emotion. Out of all of the individuals in the group, it is the Prince that seems to hold Bradyn’s attention the longest. Many parents would find it creepy and unnerving that an adult takes such an interest in their child but the Prince -is- cursed, the Necromancer undoubtably can sense that. The upside is that his hands are kept to himself, so no need to bust out that axe yet. It is Macon who Bradyn actually speaks to, and when he does address the King, his eyes are not on the Prince. They center on the King himself. “You wished to speak with me.” Statement made in a monotone voice, but is meant to have a ‘let’s get down to business’ implication.

Macon ’s son sees a pale, dark haired vampire in a white shirt with black accessories and for a brief moment his eyes light up because he thinks he is about to meet his idol, but it isn’t to be, this is the wrong vampire. The boy is disappointed, but tries to find a silver lining and asks of Bradyn “Hey. Do you know Shishi? He lives here. You know?” The King of Larket gives his precious child a does of side-eye and places a gauntleted hand on top of the boy’s head. Once Mahara has responded to the prince’s question, Macon will send Guy off with, the fat mage Kingsguard, who’s name is Wendell, apparently. “Libraries are boring, Wendell. Did you know Shishi never reads?” Titan of Winter trivia now relegated to the background, Macon finally gets down to business, as it were. “I do.” He glares towards Bradyn the same way he glares towards almost anyone he meets, intensely, angrily. “You are aware of the witches’ curse upon Larket’s children.” It is a question, but he doesn’t pause for an answer, “Our finest mages ‘ave been unable t’lift it.” He takes a second to assess the vampire before telling him something that very few in this world know for sure; that The King of Larket was once a follower of The God of Death, or that he is at least very familiar with the powers granted to the worshipers of Vakmatharas, “I know of death knights’ ability t’accelerate the agin’ process of livin’ things, similar t’what is happening t’my people. I mus’ know if there is a way for The Death God t’stop the effects of this curse. Or even reverse it.”

Bradyn knows something of Shishi. Bradyn knows that he has awful taste in women. This is not something Bradyn would ever express, not out of fear that word get back to Shishi but because he is far too rigid and formal to stoop to such trashy conversation. The Prince is met with a short and simple,”No.” Sorry, Guy. Bradyn really does not have a way with people, little people are even more challenging to mingle with than big people. There is a sense of relief once the child is out of the room, but Macon would be pressed to discern any difference in Bradyn’s demeanor. “How touching,” comes Bradyn’s answer, but those are not sentiments that he truly feels. “I do know of the curse.” There is no confirmation that he believes the source to be from a witch. “If the King of Larket was truly once a follower than he would come armed with the understanding that such a request comes with a price.” Bradyn does not invite Macon to a seat, though there are plenty within plain sight. This was a Library, tabled and chairs were quite useful. Not does Bradyn move to claim a space for himself. “It is possible....that there is a solution to your problem. Are you willing to pay that price? Do you value your son that much? Your what of your people? What cost would you pay for them?”These questions are punctuated with a glint if emotion from Bradyn, it comes in the form of a far too pleasant smile.

Macon and Josleen have no intention of exposing Guillem to his gladiator hero’s unfortunate and, since his celebrity status as Titan of Winter, very public love life, but who knows what The Prince’s tireless quest to learn everything about the famous assassin has turned up. Macon is familiar with the notion that nothing comes free from The Death God. That is part of the reason that it has taken him so long to wind up here, the other part being that his queen had him break away from the religion of Vakmatharas nearly a year ago. Now, he is desperate enough to pay that price and to break the trust Josleen put in him to do it. So when Bradyn asks, is he prepared to do what it takes to save his son and his people, Macon doesn’t need to think about it for a second. His mind is already made up. However, The Rage Knight came to Lithrydel from Veratoak as a businessman, and he knows that saying, ‘I’ll do anything,’ is a bad way to bargain, even if it is true. Still, questioning his love for Guillem and his people is a quick way to tick off The King of Larket, and it earns a low growl, a scowl, and a subtle pulse of infuriating aura similar to the one The Rage Stone would produce while Macon held it. Behind the king, in the reading room, Guillem knocks over a stack of books and can’t quite explain why he did it. Just felt good. “I am willin’ t’do wha’ He asks of me t’save them.” The Rage Knight turns up his nose in a show of superiority while he begs for this possible cure to the curse on Larket, “Wha’ is the price?” He knows what was asked of him by The Death God previously, before their bonds were broken, and he can only hope that it will be similar this time around.

Bradyn is not a fan of Guillem at this exact moment, the kid just had to go for a stack of books. Topple them over. There better not be any creased pages...or. Or. Or nothing, honestly. Macon is sitting before Bradyn with a request, growling and scowling, and in most cases Bradyn would be inclined to deny such a request. Bradyn does not though. He cannot. Something compels him not to. “We would be willing to help lift the curse,” ...we? “...If you would return to his service, just like before.” A beat, that pleasant smile shifting into a grim smirk. “But that is not enough, no. Your servitude will only buy your son freedom from this curse.” Which perhaps could be enough for the King, but the rage knight does seem to have a genuine love for his people. That is a factor that is going to be preyed upon. “If you want to lift the curse from your people? All you have to do is spread the good name of The Death God. They should be more than willing to follow him if they have the knowledge that he is the one who has saved them, should they not? It is not such a huge price to ask of your people. It seems very reasonable to me, in the scope of demands that could be paid.” Macon barely has a chance to absorb and digest all of that, if he had not already anticipated such a demand of him. Bradyn has his own request, more political in nature. “But what we want does not stop there. I hear Larewen has recently shown herself in Larket? She spoke out against the crown? Threatened war? The request I have for you is far simpler. Should Larket decide that the actions of Lady Dragana are a nuisance and that Vailkrin should be dealt with? Seek me out first. Not all of Vailkrin sees the logic in her behavior, not all of us support her.”

Macon never knows which way to look when trying to glare at Vakmatharas. Up? Down? Who knows. This time he chooses down at the ground while considering this offer. He won’t abandon the children of Larket and save only his own son, not least of all that would be political suicide, making the citizens of his Kingdom what strange deal he must have made with the witches to lift the curse from Guillem. It is all or nothing now, and Bradyn is right. If the curse is lifted by the Death God, then convincing the people to praise Him should be trivial, assuming that Vakmatharas’s end of the bargain is fulfilled first. On top of this, there is a religious void in Larket at the moment. A paladin of Arkhen is still public enemy number one, and the chapel of Cyris was used as his alleged base of operations during his time deceiving the city. “I will do this. Larket will pledge itself t’Vakmatharas…” There is a bit of sting to his pride saying this, handing his people over to another ruler, but on this plane they will still be his, and it isn’t enough to keep him from saving them. There is one thing he must know however, “‘Ow long until the curse can be lifted? Do you need t’see the boy to cure him?” He looks back anxiously in the direction of Guillem and Wendell, out of sight, wanting this to be over yesterday. On the topic of Larewen Dragana and her piling on with the other terrorist supporters at The Red Witch’s execution, Macon simply nods. “Dragana is not a threat t’The Hard City. Should she become one tha’ needs t’be put down, We will consult you on an alliance beforehand.”

Bradyn’s gray eyes follow after Macon’s. Guillem was out of sight and he could stay that way as far as Bradyn was concerned. Back to Macon, no movement made toward the King nor in the direction of the Prince. No, the vampire was intent on slowly receding to the depths of the library. He would not leave until this conversation finds its end, a point he senses is soon on the horizon. “No,” Bradyn answers. “No, I do not need to see him. The curse has been removed.” Removed might be a very loose sense of the word, it all depended very much on how loyal Macon was to his word. Vakmatharas would not take kindly to betrayal and false promises. There was no spectacle for Macon to witness as evidence that Bradyn speaks any truth. How could a curse even be removed when Bradyn himself has not left the room? There was a little mischief to be had in mystery, but so long as Macon kept true to his word, he would find that Guillem would no longer age. Tomorrow Macon would not wake up and find that his son is not another couple of months older. He would only be older by one single day. “The Prince will serve as an example to your people that there is a solution to the curse...there is still hope, all they have to do is find faith in the Death God. And as they do? They too will find that there children will no longer age. No parent wants to bury their own child.”

Macon knows not to underestimate the ways of The Death God, and what Bradyn tells him is confirmation of that. If Guillem is cured and the rest of Larket’s children are not, then the king cannot rest or wait to begin preaching the religion of Vakmatharas to his people, and to Josleen. He must show them and explain what has cured his son and convince them to follow him on this path. Once the first of them are freed of the curse, the rest will surely fall in line to save their own, but Bradyn and Death have ensured that this will happen without delay by curing Guillem first on ‘good faith’. Macon nods and speaks loudly now, so that perhaps The God of Death can hear him as well as Mahara does, “I will do wha’ I must t’uphold my end of the deal once it is clear that Guillem is cured.” He nods and looks to Bradyn graciously for but a moment before his features harden once more, lowering his voice again as he speaks to just the vampire before him, “And if he is not cured… We will be in touch.” With that, The Rage Knight turns to head for the exit and Guillem, lone, armored swordsman in tow.