1 What’s the maximum amount of time your character can sit still with nothing to do?

I mean, Ebenholtz may be a scheming viper, but she is also fully capable of hedonistically enjoying the fruits of past labour. (Otherwise she and Narcissus would be completely incompatible.) She doesn’t mind being active, but she’s capable of stopping and smelling the roses (or other pretty flowers whose roots can no doubt be distilled into poison) from time to time.

29 Do they usually live up to their own ideals?

Hm, yes, I think so. She is very ambitious, but she is also mostly satisfied with her success in life. The things she wants to be good at, she is good at. She absolutely resents ageing, though, and her own idea of fading beauty is definitely one of her larger weaknesses. So perhaps that is one unattainable ideal she fails to live up to.

30 Who do they most regret meeting?

Lazuli, no doubt. She loathes him and is also healthily afraid of him. He very much enjoys insulting her and making her uncomfortable, partly to get at Narcissus, but also because he delights in trying to get her to break character. For the most part it’s nothing worse than stinging insults and acts of mild humiliation, but I have no doubt he has done intricately cruel things on occasion, and should he ever really want to send a warning to Narcissus, Ebenholtz would no doubt be the one to take the blow.

D) Have they always had the same physical appearance, or have you had to edit how they look?

Ooh, I love this question! Thank you!

For the most part, the core look remains the same, though I have changed some details over the years. She’s always had a rather vampy face with full lips and dark red lipstick, ombre blue-yellow eyes and an intricate hairstyle with decorative pins or combs. Her features have shifted somewhat from an east-Asian to more Indian-inspired look with a stronger nose and cheekbones, but it’s quite subtle and has happened gradually over time. Her clothes have also changed from a corset/kimono-like outfit to the more typical Machralese look with much draping and (while I haven’t drawn it often) an anarkali-style dress.

Her signature red-black colours are also consistent (her name means “ebony”) as well as the flared shawl draped over her breasts and shoulders.

G) What trait of theirs bothers you the most?

She is vain and beauty-fixated and would probably be much more pleasant if she could chill about that. And she’s vicious, often taking out her bad temper on servants and others considered beneath her. I’m sure she’s ruined far more lives out of petty meanness than consciously going after potential rivals. She is not particularly well-liked at home, though no one would dare show that to her face. Her self-care routine also involves quite hefty amounts of alcohol, which does nothing to soften her temper.

H) What trait do you admire most?

She is ambitious and tenacious, and not afraid to go after what she wants. She’s adaptable and can really be very charming and even kind when called for, or when genuinely at ease. Most of all, like a true Machralese, she always gets back up after being knocked down, and never gives up, no matter what.

So lovely.

One of the first people Ebenholtz makes friends with in Kayalana - where she’s been taken to recuperate after the illness and assault that nearly took her life - is Nera, Akari’s mother.

Few people could be more different than the humble widow net-weaver from a small fishing village to the north, and the elegant but venomous courtesan lady of Machra-la. But they are both feeling out of place in the royal palace where they’ve come to live, and cautiously interested in the other woman sharing their private wing of the castle.

Ebenholtz has been shaken enough by life’s cruelties lately to be grateful for genuine friendliness and is not beyond playing nice when so called for. And she is enthralled by Nera’s lovely cherry-red hair - “I could have killed for hair like yours,” she says, and probably means it quite literally. The mousy fisherwoman is hardly used to such compliments and is utterly flustered, but also almost girlishly giddy at the unusual attention.

One too timid, one too vicious, neither has had any real, close female friends for a very long time... and for all their differences, it’s surprisingly nice.

Ebenholtz, the wasp with a deadly sting.

Ebenholtz is a lady of Machra-la - ambitious, ruthless and pettily vicious.

As a little girl, she started her career as an apothecary’s apprentice, but her pretty face gained her a chance to be formally trained as a courtesan. Dancer, singer, player and acrobat - she possesses a razor wit as skilled at reciting poetry as hatching clever schemes, and a willingness to dispose of rivals any way needed to get ahead (her past learning of potions and poisons comes in very handy at times.)

Her features are more northern than those of most Machralese, with a flavour of north-eastern Bahari, and she has some of the most striking eyes of all current characters in Pangaea - a two-colour ombre of azure and citrine. But the competition in Machra-la is nothing if not literally cut-throat, and in the end, beauty, wit and ambition weren’t enough to take her to the very top.

Cautiously reaching out to Narcissus, a young rising star, turned into a beneficial and surprisingly loyal arrangement for them both. After a lethal twisted race to the top, Narcissus ended up the most influential noble in all Machra-la, save Lazuli himself. Ever a comfortable man, he is satisfied with resting on his laurels, though Ebenholtz might not have minded going for the throne itself.

A few years older than her partner, her perceived fading beauty is causing her great distress, turning her bitterer and crueler than ever, certainly not helped by the fact that she often ends up on the receiving end of Lazuli’s malicious little games. He won, and is always happy to rub Narcissus’ face in that fact - often by targeting the few things Narcissus genuinely holds dear.

The negative spiral of drowning bitterness and resentment in alcohol, and obsessively lamenting chances and beauty lost forever, could well have ended in tragedy. But when dramatic events propelled her first alongside Narcissus to alien Ku’Ombos, and later to the court of Kayalana, she was forced to sober up in every sense of the word. While her short stay in Ku’Ombos turned out nightmarish, she found unexpected purpose and surprising joy in mentoring the young crown princess Isokell of Kayalana, becoming the headstrong young woman’s confidant, teacher and not entirely willing partner in crime.

–

@seolhe​ pointed out I haven’t made much current art of Ebenholtz at all, which is an outright shame since I am very fond her - pretty much only her character portrait for the website.

“May I have a word with you, Sati Lazuli..?”

“But of course, Sati Narcissus. I always do so enjoy our conversations.”

The din turned only slightly less deafening as they made their way into the fresh night air of the gardens, moving with the very studied casual grace of two men expecting a dagger to the back at any moment.

“Our beloved Rava certainly knows how to throw a party, doesn’t she..?” Lazuli commented, turning to face his bitter rival with a benign smile.

“Oh, yes,” Narcissus agreed, smile every bit as sweet. “The Festival of Five Flowers this last spring? Absolutely inspired! I will have to admit, these last few years of sparring with you in all the golden halls of Machra-la have been entertaining beyond measure.”

“Past tense..?” Lazuli commented, a sudden sharpness to the unwavering smile.

“Mmm. A few minor technicalities aside, I would say our glorious rivalry is reaching its end. The dance of the aristocracy this evening only made clear the inevitable - they flock to you like moths to the moons. I owe you congratulations. Watching you play has been magnificent.”

“And yet,“ Lazuli pointed out, ”Saya-rehu Rava is still very much wearing the crown and the party is far from over. I think you may be a bit premature in your congratulation, Sati Narcissus.”

Narcissus’ smile turned sweeter still, ember eyes momentarily veiled by thick lashes.

“Oh, I think we can both tell where the wind is blowing, Sati Lazuli, and neither of us are the kind of man to wait for fortune to make its call. I have little choice left tonight but to surrender to you or kill you.”

Lazuli’s brows quirked, smile still on his lips, but a subtle shift of wariness crept into his stance.

“How unusually straightforward! So tell me, dear friend, which will it be?”

Narcissus hesitated for a moment, as though making his final decision right then and there. Then, slowly and unthreateningly, not being a fool after all, he produced a delicate vial from his sleeve and held it out. Lazuli made no move to touch it.

“What is it?”

“Antidote,” Narcissus told him, serenely. “To the niphrith I had put on the goblet you drank from not half an hour ago.”

Blue eyes suddenly narrowing, Lazuli still didn’t move.

“It’s slow-working, as you no doubt know. You wouldn’t even feel it until around dawn, at which time it would unfortunately be too late. It does mean, though, dear friend, that you have plenty of time to let a healer confirm what I’m telling you, and get your antidote from somewhere else, should you so wish. It would be faster if you would accept it from me, of course. And lessen risk for unfortunate lingering side-effects.”

“Unless,” said Lazuli, matter-of-factly, still smiling, “What you’re offering me is actually the poison.”

Narcissus laughed, a pleasant warm sound.

“Of course! A rising ruler of Machra-la needs a keen sense of judgment, wouldn’t you agree? You make the choice yourself, my friend. All I humbly ask is that you remember this moment when you put that crown atop your lovely blue hair. That our grand game might have ended differently, had I only chosen so. Oh, who knows? You might have been warned, recognized the symptoms, survived to take gruesome vengeance even had I opted not to tell you this. But I did. Consider it my first act of servitude to you, Sati-rehu Lazuli, Lord of Machra-la - and this my humble gift of celebration.”

The hand holding out the small vial was utterly steady, as were his fire-colored eyes. Lazuli held his gaze for a long scrutinizing moment, then relaxed and reached out to accept the offered draught of life. Without any further hesitation he removed the stopper and swallowed the oily contents, making a face at the expected bitterness.

“You play with high stakes, Sati Narcissus,” he concluded after a few moments of heavy silence, somewhat acerbically, but with a thoughtful look on his face.

“What other games are worth playing..?” asked his once-rival with an elegant bow, an impeccable display of submission before a ruling lord. He smiled sharply at that.

“You are still somewhat premature in your congratulations and obeisances, my friend, appreciated as they are.”

Narcissus tilted his head, and for a fraction of a moment there was a hard darkness glimpsed beyond the honeyed smile.

“I should think not. Yours was not the only goblet kissed by death tonight. Our most beloved Rava has been wondrous company, and shall be genuinely missed. But lest you decide to interfere, knowing now what you know, the throne should be empty and awaiting you tomorrow morning.”

With another, final bow the young nobleman nodded knowingly at him, and drifted back through the curtains inside, for a final dance with their beloved benefactor.

They both knew she would be dead before sunrise.

-----------------------

So, uh... yeah. I don’t even know if this is canon now or what ?? ? but the gentlemen in question were being talkative and I wanted to get it out there. Yay?

Ebenholtz is so pissed. So very pissed. “If you were close enough to actually poison him, why didn’t you just let him die??” she argues. And Narcissus agrees this is a good point, a very good point, but - “Even if I did let the poison runt its course, and had him buried in the deepest of graves, impaled on twenty iron rods, with a dagger through his heart, could you be absolutely sure he wouldn’t come back out of sheer spite and kill you horribly..?”

AAAAAHHHH, sorry for taking so long to reply, I’ve literally looked at this message every day for the last few days and just basked in it. XD

It’s an awesome awesome thing to have people remember those early days of Pangaea-ness! Elfwood, dear lord, that was... that was a while ago.

And GODS YES, I LOVE asks about Pangaea! It’s my favourite thing!

Rannon and Aurora only met in Kayalana, during that short, sweet while where a large portion of the Machralese court had come to Kayalana to welcome Rannon and Narcissus home from Ku’Ombos. They stayed for a few weeks, partly because of Politics™ and partly because Rion and Lazuli were banging like rabbits Narcissus needed healing and time to rest.

So for at least a brief while, Narcissus did take Rannon up on his offer to move into one of the empty grand halls in the Dragon Wing alongside Ebenholtz who had been living there for quite some time by then. They all spent quite a lot of time together, during those weeks, trying to get used to the idea of returning to some sort of life as it once was before. Long, late evenings in brilliant lantern-light, with quite a lot wine, just talking, or playing zenaqet, just being. Being together. Being home. Being safe, at last.

That’s where Ebenholtz introduced her “friend” Aurora to the gentlemen in question, and they let her join the group, first out of politeness to Ebenholtz, but soon because she was such a delight, lighthearted and happy and charming, like fresh, blossoming springtime after a long bleak winter. And clever, clearly, and an absolute ace at zenaqet, which had at least Rannon won over in an instant

I think Narcissus views her with a mixture of envy (she’s young, unmarred and beautiful, and Rannon is clearly growing fond of her) and bittersweet relief (someone will be there to take his place once he goes home.)

Rannon is quite oblivious to just how much he grows to like her, she just eases into his life so naturally, like someone who should always have been there. Having had his mindset on Machralese people very much changed to the better over the last two years, he can appreciate those aspects of her, her shrewd business sense, forward flirtiness (and, well, lack of mandatory Kayalanian cold hatred for him.)

And she is lovely. For all that he’s grown very attached to Narcissus, his preference is definitely for women, and she is pretty and has that sweet mixture of youthful simplicity and mature wit. (In his defense, Isokell is a very mature teen, and neither of them suspect she’s as young as she is. Except Ebenholtz, who knows, and who probably spends the evenings in mild terror, watching everything unfold with mortification...)

Isokell, meanwhile, feels alive for the first time in her life. Free to be who she really wants to be, the mask of the sombre, dutiful princess finally torn away; to make friends of her own, not being supervised and governed every step she takes. Being free, and impulsive, and happy. Being around him.

Starting out so innocently, just wanting to spend time with her childhood mentor without endangering either of them, comparing everything he is and does to the vivid memories she’s clung unto so preciously all those years he was gone. (A lot has changed, a lot remains the same. A lot reads very differently through her grown-up senses. And under the uncompromising austere surface, there is a raw vulnerability to him after Ku’Ombos that wasn’t there before. Not only anymore a figure of inspiration and authority, but a human being, a man. And her hormones not-so-gently point out that she’s become a woman.)

And so bit by bit her platonic, familiar love turns into a different kind of love entirely. And as she falls, he falls, and they finally fall together.

It’s very lovely, and very bittersweet. And doomed not to last, as springtime never does. ♥

A few months, I think. And of course he misses her, and loved her a lot. And he definitely talks about her and his life in Bahari a lot - I don’t think it would ever occur to him his loving new parents wouldn’t want to hear about it. And it’s important to him, so of course they will listen. (Even if Isokell will have pangs of regret at having had to give him away, I think it also really warms her heart to learn that Ebenholtz did as asked and found a really good foster home for the baby, where he was safe, and secure, and loved.)

Ziradess: What do you find attractive in a partner?

His personality, absolutely! And a hot body. A charming genuine smile. Shyness. Confidence! Expressive hands. Silly humour. Sharp brilliant humour. A free soul! Someone sensible. Rugged good looks. Or softness. Intelligence. A hint of danger! Kindness. Uh. Do I have to choose? What was the question again?

Ziradess loves passionately and whole-heartedly, but not exactly with long-term commitment. And what attracts her in a partner varies as wildly as her love itself. It’s more that she clicks with someone, and then they are perfect, no matter their looks, or assertiveness, intelligence etc. Until she meets someone else who sets her heart afire and she starts all over again.

Never falling out of love, not really, but very easily falling into new ones.

Ebenholtz: If you had to fight someone in a duel, what would be your weapon of choice?

Ebenholtz is a wasp, a viper, and her venom is deadly. She’d go for blades - and you’d better not let them draw blood or you’d be mysteriously dead in seconds. She’s as much of a competent fighter as anyone having survived Machra-la for a few decades, but she absolutely prefers to avoid downright fighting, if possible. Far too great a risk to face an opponent skilled enough to kill you before you get the first strike in - or some sneaky bastard as friendly with poisons as herself. Better dispose of threats and rivals before it can get to that point.

But if forced to (say, set up to duel some opponent or other by a ruler taking great pleasure in amicably tormenting her) she would go for knives, daggers, nails - anything sharp and vicious that could be made sharper by a touch of venom more vicious still.

Meishi: If you ruled the world, what would you change? 

She already is, in a sense! Having gone from street girl to the closest confidant and advisor for her king, she no doubt influences his world-improving policies greatly. Making life easier for the common people, fairer laws that apply equally to everyone no matter their birth. Harsher crackdowns on those who are needlessly cruel and would ruin a woman or child out of petty spite and malice. Shelter for those in need, fair distribution of resources, opportunities for learning and advancing in society even for the downtrodden - she and Rion do share the humble beginnings perspective, and their joint priorities often outright baffle born nobles like Rannon and the Karakali.

(And of course, her still being a hedonist at heart, a comfortable life in luxury for herself. Surely she deserves some perks for all her brilliant advice.)

Thank you so much for the questions! ♥♥♥

Oooh, fresh!

Crow:

5. List 3 fears; one “surface level” fear, one “repressed” fear, and one “deep dark” fear.

Surface level; the healthy normal fears of any courtesan of the lower levels of Machra-la - will this latest client be the one who kills me? Will they hurt me so badly I can’t heal? Would my master let someone pay the blood price to be allowed to do those things to me?

Repressed fear: What if I can never earn enough to have the scar on my face healed? What if I’m stuck here in hell forever?

Deep dark fear: (what the hell am I even feeling for Kitsune? Why does he make me feel so many things, all of them terrifying?) What if this is it, what if everything I’ve done is for nothing and I’ll die in this filthy, dark place, never again seeing the light of the heights where I belong, where I should be, even now, if not for that one fateful night?

28. Is there a certain type of person that disgusts them? 

Filthy, uncouth clients. You get a lot more of them down here than up in the city. Up there, they expect performance, beauty, grace, wit. Here they’re just looking for a hole.

36. Are they in control of their emotions, or are their emotions in control of them? 

Somewhere in between! As anyone playing the grand game of Machralese social climbing, Crow very much strives to control and subdue his emotions, and he’s very successful, most of the time. But falling from grace has taken a great toll, and the stress makes his control come apart at the seams - and then there’s whatever he’s feeling for Kitsune. That shouldn’t be there at all, and he’s struggling very hard to convince himself how little he cares for the man. (At least Kitsune is very convinced…)

Maqaxha:

6. What is something that never fails to make them feel sick?

Blasphemy. Machra-la - first as a godless, vile concept, then as a very ugly reality. :D Everything about his life there sickens him, and it never washes out, not even once he’s free in Kayalana.

8. Do they have anything that triggers them? 

Blasphemy. XD While he was more of a fanatic in Ku’Ombos, his faith stays with him all his life, and things outright going against the teachings of his beloved Father Sun do upset him a lot. It’s a painful truth that these days, that includes just about everything about himself. :D

35. If they could change one thing about themselves, what would it be? 

Kitsune would give just about anything to have his eyes restored. He feels crippled and lost in darkness after being blinded so late in life, floundering gracelessly through a threatening world, devoid of beauty and color. And not being able to see the sun ever again is a cruel thing for such an avid worshipper.

I mean, Rion, Relonia or any reasonably adept Chima-healer could theoretically fix him, but the former have that whole “not interfering with the order of things” idea going on, and the latter have already slowed the sickness in him and made sure he’s not contagious anymore, allowing him to serve Isokell. That will have to be enough. (It’s more than enough.)

Ebenholtz:

4. Describe their worst nightmare. 

Well, the usual and obvious of any (former) Machralese courtesan. It’s a rough and dangerous trade, and she no doubt has her own traumas and scars. And what was done to her in Ku’Ombos pretty much checked all the boxes - abuse, gang-rape, nearly dying… Being only half-conscious with fever should have been a blessing, but it only made her more helpless, didn’t blur any of the fear or pain.

But logical, waking nightmare? Losing Narcissus and having Lazuli and the rest of the Machralese elite fall upon her with gleeful cruelty. She is powerful and noble, and few things delight the Machralese aristocracy more than watching the mighty fall hard.

13. Which of the 7 Deadly Sins best describes them? 

Pride and envy. Of course the lust, gluttony and sloth are lovely, too, and she’s no doubt prone to both greed and definitely wrath. But pride most of all.

42. Are they comfortable with where they are in life? 

This, of course, depends entirely on when in the story you would ask her!