1. My PC really enjoys taking care of Avery. I believe he’d want to do more than just tidy the mansion and prepare dinner. To what extent would Avery start to feel it’s too much? A: Avery would feel that the PC waiting with a towel while they bathed would not be too much. Warming Avery's side of the bed with their body heat would be too much, though perhaps Avery just thinks it's an excuse for the PC to be lazy.
2. In a previous Q&A, you mentioned that Avery’s expressions of affection include lines like, “You’d make a good husband/wife.” Considering their (surprisingly) monogamous tendencies and their decision to adopt the PC, are they consciously aware that they’re building a quasi-marital relationship? A: Aye.
3. Following on that: if the PC were to urge or advise Avery to marry an upper-class partner—say, to have children and secure their social standing—how might Avery respond? A: They'd say it's a good idea, if they could find anyone worth it.
4. It was once mentioned that Avery had previously adopted a former partner. What happened to that adopted ex? A: Asylum.
5. Earlier in the story, Remy gave Avery a pale object that made them feel deeply satisfied. Later, in both the ascension ritual and the vault sequence, the wishing stone is also described as pale. I’m assuming the object Remy gave them was the wishing stone. A: Indeed, Remy gave Avery the pale wishing stones.
6. Remy seems to act as a representative figure within the Elk cult, but is Harper actually the one at the core? My reasoning is that Harper seems far more familiar with the wishing stone and the rituals, and was quick to react and escape during the chaos—while Remy appeared unaware of what was happening. A: Remy is the more central figure. Harper is just quicker, sharper.
7. If not, is Remy’s leadership position due to Harper’s disinterest in being the face of the group, combined with Remy’s more suitable social status? A: This plays a role.
8. Within the Elk cult, aside from Harper, are most of the members who don’t wear the fox mask from the upper class? A: It's about evenly split between upper class and successful middle class.
9. After the failed ritual, do the relationships between Avery and Remy, and between Remy and Harper, change in any way? A: Remy becomes colder to everyone, especially Remy. They resent Harper for running without informing them of the danger, but they couldn't have expected otherwise in that scenario. (It may be a typo. Remy here refers to Harper)
10. There were already people wearing hound masks at Remy’s masquerade, so Avery wasn’t the first Hound—right? Or were those masks simply part of the party’s ritual flow and not indicative of the wearers’ roles? A: Avery is indeed not the first hound.
11. During the ritual, Remy said “We are complete,” and I recall the Brown Fox mentioning a triumvirate. This implies that the Elk (or Auriga) requires at least one High Elk, one Cannibal Fox, and one Scarlet Hound. Compared to other potential initiates, what did Avery do right that finally allowed them to ascend into the Elk cult’s inner circle? A: It might be explored in the future. It relates to the PC, but also doesn't.
12. Among the High Elk, Cannibal Fox, and Scarlet Hound, is there a hierarchy? If so, how are they ranked? A: There's no explicit hierarchy, but the High Elk is master of ceremony.
13. You’ve said before that Remy experiences nightmares, while after Avery’s ascension they mention likely being unable to sleep at all. Does this suggest the three ascended members have different abilities—or that Remy’s nightmares occurred before their own ascension? A: They indeed have different abilities.
14. Once Avery, Remy, and Harper form the triumvirate, do their opinions and levels of trust toward one another change? A: Trust increases, aye. This is not to Remy's benefit.
15. Avery seems to pursue not only influence within the cult but also prestige in regular society. How are these two kinds of reputation related—do they value social status to elevate the cult’s fame, or the cult’s power to strengthen their own social standing? A: More the latter.
16. It’s been said that most of the skyscraper’s funding came from other people’s money. Can I assume that between 3:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., Avery spends their time networking and courting investors? A: Aye.
17. What was Avery’s single most frustrating experience while securing funding for their “Babel Tower”? A: Depends on how the parties go down.
18. How did Avery persuade others to invest in the skyscraper—promised returns, personal connections, or cult involvement? A: Promised returns and personal charm, mostly.
19. How do townspeople view Avery’s “Babel Tower”? Do most regard it as a monstrous eyesore or something else entirely? A: Some view it as an eyesore, others see it as a beacon of hope in a way.
20. It’s surprising that Avery had a nanny growing up, yet they don’t seem to regard the nanny as a significant figure. Was this because Avery’s parents required the nanny to keep distance, or because Avery adopted their father’s view that servants are inherently “beneath” them? A: The latter.