cambium | npc contact.

CROW

Occupation: unofficial leader of The Nest
Age: late 40s
Gemstone: "a pure black gemstone, highly polished and slightly tapered towards one end not unlike an egg" (first mentioned here)
Description: Crow has sandy blond hair and dark brown eyes, and can typically be found at home or around the train station. Reportedly, he holds a lot of influence over the town, and is a good person to talk to when troubled. While many npcs have been losing memories, Crow reportedly has not. He is the one who gave named npcs their bird names, as well as the one who named the town The Nest.

SWAN

Occupation: ferryman
Age: mid 30s
Description: Swan has dark brown hair and dark green eyes, and can typically be seen out in the water on a boat during good weather, or couch hopping during bad weather and at nights. Six silver coins are used as a passage fee and conduit for her to take a person across the water; according to Lark, those who leave with her never return.

ROBIN

Occupation: rail attendant
Age: early 30s
Gemstone: "fragile light blue shards encased in clear gem" (first mentioned here)
Description: Robin has black hair and light brown eyes, and can typically be found around the train station or cafes in town. She was married to Jay, the train conductor who was murdered early in the game, and has picked up enough from him to operate the train if we ever get it working again. While she has lost a considerable amount of her memories, she claims to be content living in the present. An unknown individual stole her uniform and faked her death via the train's furnace at the start of the game.

LARK

Occupation: postman
Age: mid 20s
Description: Lark has ashy hair and golden eyes, and can typically be seen around town with his mail bag doing deliveries, or hanging out in the graveyard talking to the dead underground. As a postman, Lark prides himself in knowing people and places, but has trouble speaking and reportedly cannot read aside from names he's learned to recognize. It is not widely known, but Lark is able to speak with and, to a certain extent, control the dead.

RAVEN (née HAMTARO)

Age: pre teen
Gemstone: "completely clear, like a diamond, aside from a tiny red spot in the center: a gemstone trapped within a gemstone" (first mentioned here)
Description: Raven has black hair and grey eyes, and can occasionally be seen wandering around town but is most reliably found at Poppy Hall after dark. Following the "sacrifice" of several characters, he awoke without any memories of his identity or past life, and was given the temporary name Hamtaro before learning his true name. His family is dead, and according to the note he had written on the back of a photograph discovered in a burning house, he had sworn to bring them back no matter what the cost. According to the townspeople npcs, according to Crow, a boy named Raven died in a house fire many years ago.

MAGPIE

Age: early teens
Gemstone: "blue and yellow, splotched like flowers run through a photoshop distort filter" (first mentioned here)
Description: Princess Stephanie Astrapia (aka Paradise Magpie, aka Magpie, aka Maggie) has sandy blond hair and golden eyes. While not related by blood, Crow and Maggie consider themselves father and daughter. An unknown individual has been using her name and reputation to communicate with the characters, and has stolen six silver coins.

SPARROW

Age: mid teens
Gemstone: "like a fire opal: bright yellow and red that dance like flames when turned" (first mentioned here)
Description: Sparrow has black hair and bright blue eyes, and is difficult to get ahold of; the most reliable way to meet her is to wait for her to come home, which she does some nights. She has an interest in the supernatural and the occult, and reportedly is the person who gave other npcs their gemstones. She is Maggie's best/only friend at the start of the game.

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Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Look at you guys, making house calls! If they're stalking the house, they'll probably see Lark leaving in the mornings and returning in the evenings at around the same time, and Maggie too except her schedule appears to be more erratic. Crow himself doesn't come home until several days have passed, some weekday afternoon when he leaves the train station with Robin, the two of them in quiet conversation between themselves, until Crow drops Robin off at her house first before returning to his own.

So it takes a moment, and he looks tired when he answers the door, but when he does open the door he also steps aside and gestures for them to come in and sit if they'd like. ]

Please, come in. Make yourselves comfortable. What can I help you with?

[Phil smiles, though it's a wan, tired thing, which in a way may be worse than if he hadn't tried at all. Still, an attempt is made, and hopefully it will count for something. He'll step inside after a moment's pause to give the front of the house a quick inspection--]

Ah... I wanted to apologize for intruding the other day, first of all. I hope our flames didn't damage the house in any way.

[It certainly doesn't seem as though they did, but he just wants to be sure. He knows he didn't exactly have the tightest control on his abilities at that point in time given what had just happened.]

[ On the other hand, if Yuri is tired, he doesn't show it, a friendly smile all too easy. He's well-practiced in maintaining a certain appearance, in leveraging charm to get what he wants — even if that life's behind him.

It's a convincing enough performance as he follows Phil inside, expression sobering into a more thoughtful one as he peers at the door. His wind, at least, is good at funneling whatever it happens to pull in... Hopefully it mitigated potential damage. ]

Our methods are fairly limited out here, and we were concerned about the kid...

[ He adds, by way of explanation. Doubtless no one would be more worried than her old man had he been present, but they'd have to be cold customers indeed to ignore a child in distress. ]

Not at all. I heard from Magpie what happened, and I am grateful you all were there when I failed to be.

[ He lets the door close behind him, pausing by the living room couches as an invitation for them to sit, while he continues past into the kitchen to heat more water for tea. ]

This house has been burnt down more than once, rebuilt from the ground up half as many times. But material objects are nothing compared to a life.

[It's out of an excess of politeness that Phil hesitates for a moment before sitting down-- he was used to this sort of thing once upon a time, before the world fell apart once again and his title suddenly held so much more weight at the same time it meant absolutely nothing. But he remembers well how this goes, and so he takes a seat, folding his hands in his lap as though this were an official meeting of some sort.]

Well, at least we weren't responsible for that happening yet again. Even though we were trying to help, we could hardly take credit for it in good faith if we'd destroyed your home in the process.

[Ironic, coming from someone who had indirectly been responsible for the destruction not only of an entire country, but a large portion of the world as well. Perhaps that's why he's saying it, however.]

Edited 2023-03-18 02:36 (UTC)

No one can be everywhere at once.

[ Yuri knows that all too well. He gracefully seats himself beside Phil, perched as one might be in the most polite of company... Or more to the point, as one who is accustomed to being viewed as decoration within any room more than anything else. A force of habit, that, though it simply comes across as prim. ]

Shame to hear you've been through that many fires, though.

[ One was more than enough for anybody to have to deal with, to say nothing of yet more. After the fire raining on that island not so long ago, he can fully believe it, however. ]

I have lived here a long time. You know of the dangers of this place, and how quick people turn to fire.

[ It might, too, be a bit of bad luck that the house has fallen into misfortune more than once, but he supposes it's unavoidable between fighting monsters and fire falling from the sky and regular old arson. ]

Have the two of you been faring well here? It's been quite some time already, hasn't it? You must miss home.

[At that, Phil goes quiet for a moment, his expression turning momentarily more somber as though reminded of something beyond this place.]

... yes. They are... quick to leap to that.

[The subject change is a decided relief.]

I've been doing as well as can be hoped, yes, although I suppose I have something of an advantage compared to many of the others here.

[Namely, Marcus' presence. He's well aware that he wouldn't be holding up anywhere near as well without Marcus, both because of the literal bond they share as well as the emotional one.]

I'm well enough.

[ As well as can be expected. Truth be told, he's been far more concerned with Byleth and Vivi. The unique stresses of this place have been hard on them, he knows, but he needn't trouble Crow with those details. ]

What of you and your household?

[ Yuri thinks it the best way to encompass Crow and those he lives with, without drawing assumptions as to the nature of Lark living with them. It may simply be safest that way, or an arrangement made for Maggie's safety. Whatever the case, though, it isn't Yuri's business to speculate or pry. ]

[ Both these answers are just "yeah no I'm fine" from people who are obviously not fine, but Crow can't call them out on that when it's the same answer that wavers on the tip of his tongue before he swallows it down. ]

I shouldn't speak for the others, but I have a feeling we are all a bit restless. Nothing so great as to draw attention to it, but enough to internalize, to the detriment of the self.

[ It's not an uncommon behavior. After a bit of clattering, Crow returns to the living room, carefully setting a platter on the coffee table consisting of three cups and a steaming kettle. There are tea leaves in the cups, flower petals and small pieces of dried fruit, tea meant to be enjoyable to smell as well as to drink. ]

Having so many people show up in just a few short months have made them spirited, however. Magpie especially, having found people who would play with her.

[It's just as well that Crow doesn't, honestly. The understanding is implicit, as is the mutual determination to put up a stoic front for the sake of others. It would seem all three of them are alike in that much.

Phil does perk up a bit at the sight and scent of the tea, however. His appetite is mercurial on the best of days, but tea is one thing he can always appreciate.]

Ah, that reminds me...

[Reaching into his pocket, Phil pulls out a very familiar-looking black gem, holding it out to Crow.]

... this belongs to you. [Then, by way of explanation, he adds:] This is the real one-- the one you have in your possession right now is a fake that I exoflected. After what happened on the island, I thought it would be best to keep the actual gem on me just in case whoever was responsible wanted to try to finish what they had started...

[ Ah, tea. This too is something they have in common, for regardless of which stretch of Fódlan one hails from, tea is always a welcome addition to polite conversation. Yuri eyes the kettle just for an instant before his attention returns to Crow, for it may be out of turn if he pours himself a cup.

He's a polite guest, at least. Others should have tea first, and he can't be entirely too certain of its steeping time, besides. Best to take his cues from Crow.

The offering of the gem goes without comment on his part, since Yuri didn't know too much about that. He simply waits, rather than interrupting. ]

[ hello????

Crow looks up from the gemstone leans in dangerously close towards Phil, setting the boiling water to the side so he isn't tempted ]

You were in my daughter's bedroom?

[Phil jumps a bit in surprise, instinctively leaning away and bringing his hands up in a placating gesture.]

Um, y-yes... we were looking for any sort of clues as to who might have been responsible for what happened, and we stumbled across it... we just wanted to keep it safe, that's all. I apologize...

[Not gonna throw Diluc under the bus here just yet, but.]

[ Ooph, Phil did just step into that one, despite the best of intentions. Yuri doesn't so much as flinch, hands neatly settled on his lap and maintaining straight posture even as poor Phil shrinks away. ]

Admittedly, people were zealous in investigation. While no harm was intended, more care could have been taken, especially since she's a young lady.

[ Having other girls looking about with Maggie's permission would have been ideal, but precious little about their circumstances is within Gronder Field's length of ideal. ]

The lot of us aren't accustomed to death being impermanent under any conditions.

[ Which, though an explanation, isn't an excuse. There is no excuse when it comes to a loving parent and anything to do with their child. ]

[ /: keeping an eye on you, mister ]

So you just happened to "stumble" on something that had been sewn inside a doll.

[ ...He'll have mercy, this time, sitting back down and getting out of Phil's face. His hands barely shake when he pours hot water over the tea. ]

I suppose it is testament to how thorough you all were, and that much I should be grateful for. [ even if you guys didn't end up solving the murder. it's fine, it's fine, this isn't Crow's first unsolved assassination. ]

It must have been a shock, and much effort was apparently expended. I am not upset with my death, if it had not dragged others into it and became a cause for worry. The culprit, whoever they may be, surely had a statement they had wanted to make. I can only hope the message has come across.

[LOOK Phil has done a great many things wrong, but he is innocent this time, he swears...!]

Well... as I wasn't the one who found it, I suppose I can't exactly speak to what sort of "stumbling" was involved.

But you make it sound as though this has happened before.

[Not to mention the fact that the gem was sewn inside a doll to begin with...]

I wouldn't have any objections to continuing to keep the gem in my possession for safety's sake, if you would prefer that. It would be well-guarded between myself and Marcus. Though I understand if you aren't willing to trust me enough for that...

[ For his part, Yuri was no more involved in the initial investigation than Phil was. Others had been quick to get on the case, and Yuri hadn't seen a need to join the crowd. Too many people would be unproductive and besides, he was more the sort to carry out assassinations than solve them.

Regardless of how many times it's happened, Yuri can admit to himself that Crow is incredibly calm about having been murdered. How many times would that take, or is it something about his nature?

Yuri's got no way of knowing. ]

Hell of a way to send a message.

Yes, well... a sensational murder commands attention. Even if one does not care for the victim, the culprit is still cause for worry. This I know from many experiences.

[ It's resignation, sort of, that his unwanted position comes with being made example of. It's a grim smile he directs towards Yuri, apologetic when he glances over towards Phil, sliding his cup of tea towards him and holding his hand out in exchange. ]

It isn't a matter of trust, Phillip, although I do trust you: you have kept it safe all this time, after all. But I do not wish to burden you with it.

[Phil deposits the gem in the outstretched hand without any further protest and accepts the tea, lifting the cup up to blow lightly on its steaming surface. His expression is inscrutable for the most part, but there's something distant in those mismatched eyes as he looks at the flower petals floating on the tea.]

... that was the least of the burdens I bear.

[And they all weigh equally heavy.]

[ For Yuri, the life of another is the heaviest of all. He carries many in that notehook of his: those he couldn't save. It's the only way he can carry them into the future with him. A future they fought for, fell for. He only hopes that he can give them peace someday.

That's something he can't achieve while they're trapped in this place. Not that he'll speak any of this, instead silent for a stint until the air grows too heavy between them all. ]

...Speaking of murders, Kaeya damn near was the victim of one. Whatever went after him supposedly came from that burned house down the road a ways.

[ They had to get to this matter at some point. ]

[ Crow was just going to be like "the rock's heavy, I can hold it" but now he can't say it. ]

Did it now?

[ He turns towards the general direction of the burned house, though it's a glance towards a wall. He just poured them tea, they can't just leave. ]

A terrible tragedy had happened in that house. I wouldn't be surprised if grief itself had manifested and lashed out.

[That does an excellent job of distracting Phil from his own thoughts-- straightening up, he turns his attention to Crow, business mode back on. This was what they were here for, after all, and right now that statement is the best lead they've got.]

Would you mind telling us what exactly happened in that house, then? Since you seem to be familiar with its story...

[Hmm.]

As I recall, that was where Dimos found that box of gem shards some time ago. He said he had seen some sort of creature lurking in the house... if there's a chance it could be the same beast that attacked Kaeya, I would like to learn whatever you can share with us about that place.

Edited 2023-03-19 05:17 (UTC)

[ It's all news to Yuri, and he suspects it came before his time. This isn't the first time a collection of shards has entered into the equation...was it the same box? Yuri shelves the thought for later consideration.

For now, there's the matter of what mauled Kaeya and ripped his heart out. And an eye, apparently. ]

My people believe the dead can't move on if their business is unfinished... Been wondering whether that may factor in.

[ It doesn't matter that Kaeya had nothing to do with the fire. He was likely in the wrong place at the wrong time. ]

That may very well be the case.

[ Tea should be done steeping by now, sit back and enjoy story time ]

Long ago, a family lived in that house: a mother, a father, and their two young sons, Raven and Koel. They had all arrived to town together, which was a rarity even back then, and as such, the family largely kept to themselves. The children played in the house and seldom left; they needn't other playmates other than themselves. They were a happy family, content, on the surface.

[ long dramatic sip of tea ]

I visited one day, when the parents were out. The two boys were not allowed to answer the door or step foot out of the house, but they were curious, as sheltered children tend to be, and we spoke a little through one of the windows on the side of the house. We talked about this and that, and some time along the way, the younger brother had fallen asleep, and it was just the older brother and myself.

In whispers, as if speaking his thoughts and feelings out loud for the first time, keeping them secret even from his brother, the older brother admitted to being lonely, frustrated, scared— he wanted to leave the house, to run away, but he was afraid of his parents and afraid to leave his brother behind. There was a thought he had played with for quite some time by then, of burning down the house while the family slept. He had it all planned out, starting the fire in one of the smaller bedrooms upstairs so that it would be noticed from the outside, put out before the entire house collapsed— but not until enough damage was done, and the house became too dangerous to live in anymore. He would break the house wide open, so that it could no longer contain him.

I should have tried harder to dissuade him.

[ But he didn't, and he has regrets about that even now. He's never been great at dissuading people's bad ideas, just discussing them and hoping they come to the conclusion themselves. ]

Something had gone wrong that night. Perhaps the fire had gone out of control, perhaps he was seen by the younger brother, perhaps the parents ran upstairs for their children instead of leaving the house as the boy thought they would. I do not know the details. But I was there when the house burned and burned, I was there watching the family trapped within the flames, I was there, when the fire was eventually put out, to recover the bodies.

The mother was dead. The father was dead. The boy, Raven, was dead. Only the youngest, little Koel had survived, and he had run away soon after that. He claimed the freedom Raven could not.

CROW

SWAN

ROBIN

LARK

RAVEN (née HAMTARO)

MAGPIE

SPARROW

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