𝐧𝐩𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭

[uruz]

Available NPCs
SLEEP ONE TWO THREE FOUR ESPERA

SLEEP

A manipulative enigma with grand presence and power within The Murmur that rivals that of a god, and many already treat Her as such. She is everywhere and nowhere at once. Call to her, and she may answer you. She may even treat you, if you treat her, but be prepared to sacrifice. Painful offerings and loyalty are her favorite gifts of devotion (She's also a hopeless romantic).

The Numerals and Espera seem to despise Her, and One is inexplicably bound to Her. What Sleep has disclosed about Her intentions seem quite simple: Collect more Vessels to host Her power, expand past the Earth She's tied to, and deliver them all from loneliness and prolonged suffering to a divine eutopia only She can create.

For that, She needs One.

ONE

A somber, shy and elusive individual that better expresses himself through poetry and song. One's past is shrouded in mystery, tragedy and his own amnesia, but hinted to hold an incredible power that not even he is aware of. One has devoted his entirety to Sleep through blood sacrifice in an attempt to skew Her attention from the vessels to himself, but whether that was successful or not has yet to be known.

Vessels have been made recently aware that One has suffered Lunar Exaltation before the world was destroyed: An ascension, from mortal to more, and a beacon of power that remains the reason why Sleep seeks to claim him.

TWO

Not much is known about the Numeral Two, other than he is an expressive and unburdened Token, mute but not idle. He was very close to One before being thrown into a voided plane of existence by Sleep's hand, and scattered into fragments. Espera claims he is essential to returning One to his senses and putting an end to Sleep's reign.

Currently missing, but one fragment has been found.

THREE

An impish Offering of the Trickster variant, the Numeral Three has a playful disposition and colorful means of expression. Rather chaotic but not malicious, he takes the form of three-eyed corvids, cacatuas, and foxes with frequency, while answering riddles fuels his permanance for brief bursts. His connection with the Waking World is stronger than Two's, but in no less need of mending.

Currently his appearances are unreliable; He may be seen in shared dreams or when he has enough power to solidify from the Void's realm.

FOUR

The first Numeral to vanish and the last to be found. Not much is known about Four, other than having a very strong connection with Three.

Currently missing.

ESPERA

Revealed to be Nymphai, The Espera were birthed from One's exaltation and were meant to guide him on his journey from mortal to more before being barred by Sleep. She, (or they), is (are) a singular entity of three bodies, which are missing in a similar manner to the Numerals. She has a stronger presence within the Murmur but too weak to manifest physically, and is always watching to aid the Vessels in any way she can.

NAME5
PB NAME

Info Five Here

© TESSISAMESS

Comments

[merged]

There are other exceptions here, and a few ways to learn, but... [ She trails off, reluctant to elaborate, even if One could probably benefit from learning how to lucid dream. ]

Do you know everything she's capable of? [ Is what she asks instead. ]

[uruz]

[ how does one even learn such a thing? dreams are no spells. and even then, one is powerless in that regard. he seems to discard her thought altogether. he has no magic to use at his free disposal as any token, no beast to call upon within like an offering.

just choatic potential that shouldn't see the light of day. ]

I have seen Her wonders firsthand. [ it is what he thinks. it is what he understands. it is all he knows. ] I would not be daft enough to force Her hand for more.

[ there is an underlying concern in even thinking of such rebellion. look what he has become. look at kalmiya . . .

he does not want to hurt anyone else. ]

[merged]

Exactly, One. You've seen her wonders— [ The word comes out grudgingly, tinged with disgust, as if calling them that feels wrong. ] You've seen them firsthand, and I need to... [ She hesitates, sucking in a sharp breath. ] I need to know what she can do—what more she can do. How else could she hurt people?

[ What does he think made Sharon act in the first place? She wouldn't have played so openly if Sleep hadn't reacted that way to Kalmiya. ]

You know her, and we need to.

[uruz]

[ one feels her desperation— it also brings a steady apprehension that hangs over his head. a tug to help, then a yank back driven by fear. ]

. . . You wish to confront Her.

[merged]

[ Fear drives so much of what One does or doesn't do. A flicker of her own reflects back at him, though hers feels restrained, leashed—as if she never allows it to take the lead. That belongs to a different, darker emotion. ]

...I do. [ She finally admits after a lengthy, weighted pause. Part of her wants to give the answer she thinks he wants, but she's always been foolishly honest. And it wouldn't do well to lie to him right now, not when they need him. ]

[uruz]

[ oh, no. no, no, no— at least she was honest, and that, at least, causes one to falter. she wants to break free, but one— one cannot see himself without sleep. she cages what he cannot. he is still under the belief that he needs her.

sharon will feel that one is at a divide. an empasse. stuck between a want, and a need, and both of them edged swords. ]

She will unmake you, Sharon da Silva. [ quietly, he urges: ] I cannot . . . Allow that a second time.

[merged]

[ That's definitely not what Sharon wants to feel. She understands his fear, his hesitation, but this sense that he's trapped, stuck, throws her off. It frustrates her. It terrifies her.

If One is stuck, then they're all stuck. ]

What do you mean, unmake me? [ She's not afraid for herself—she's long since accepted an end—but the answer will reveal more about what Sleep is truly capable of. ] Who did it happen to first?

[uruz]

[ perhaps part of the reason why one cannot bring himself to elaborate so much is because . . . he'll be admitting to so much that he doesn't know if he could. that would mean looking toward himself, what he sees as wrong when he's built so much around the lies. to see them crumbling—

how would he proceed? move? live? the first this happened to. one skips himself, but . . . there is something. someone. it rattles his heart, quickens the beat in his chest, and alarms his nerves to an underlying panic he should not prod. ]

I do not . . . Remember— [ he is not lying; his brain is, though. ] Was Kalmiya not enough of a warning?

[merged]

[ Panic ripples through him, frantic, unmistakable, and Sharon can almost taste it. She wants to press, to dig because there's something there, but his question takes her aback. ]

That was a threat—that was violence against someone I care about. [ How could he not see that? It didn't make her hesitate; it pushed her forward. Only informed her that Sleep needed to be taken care of sooner rather than later. ] What would you do if someone hurt someone you cared about? Just let it slide because you're scared?

[uruz]

[ the only way one keeps himself under control is fidgeting, long fingers straining and stretching, flexing— fiddling with rings, with pendants, beads tied upon ropes like rosaries. ]

I fear, [ a truth: ] what I could do.

[merged]

You should. [ Plainly. Fear has its uses, as long as you don't let it drag you into the dark. ] That doesn't mean you shouldn't act, though. It shouldn't stop you. It should make you aware. It should push you. Fear's a tool, same as anger—if you know how to use it.

[ Her attention sharpens as she shifts the question. ] What would you do in my place? [ A pause. ] Because I'm willing to die.

[ To avenge Chris. To hit back for Kalmiya. For herself. She's terrified, but it's driving her. ]

[uruz]

[ hearing that makes his chest tighten up. she shouldn't, this isn't even her home. this is his. but did he want to die? many days, it felt like too much to keep living, but even death . . . was something he feared. he feared it deeply, and he didn't even know why. again, he doesn't remember. ]

I am willing to give. [ every piece of him. it's already owned, as is, but for some reason— perhaps it wasn't enough. perhaps she wants more. perhaps she grows bored of him and for that, her attention shifts. to the new vessels. softspoken, he adds: ] I may . . . Know, what I must do, now.

[merged]

[ hey one that doesn't sound weird or ominous at all ]

And what would that be? [ The Murmur rings with wariness, uncertainty, and, perhaps, a daring pinch of hope. This could be a good thing. She wants to tell herself this could be a good thing. ] Do you need help?

[uruz]

No. [ one closes up. ] I must do this on my own.

[ as it should be. and with that, one's connection fades into a gentle snap, gone. ]