Nicholas Larven

****N******icholas Larven** is a former member of Violet Cross's crew. He came to Greenglass House to help her on the heist, then later aided in investigating the kidnapping of Peony Hyde.

## Biography

### *Ghosts of Greenglass House*

Mr. Larven came to Greenglass House with the Waits, wearing a fur coat with a belt and carved wooden mask. When Mrs. Kirkegrim's hood caught fire, he assisted Rob and Sylvester in dunking her headfirst into a bucket. Mrs. Kirkegrim, legs furiously kicking, kicked him in the nose, and he let go and grabbed at his nose. He later asked, still holding his nose, if the Waits could be invited in, then trooped in with the rest when given approval. He introduced himself and requested a toddy, then made Shutter Club Punch himself.

After having his punch, Mr. Larven went to a large window and looked, to Milo, like the lord of the manor. Mr. Larven insisted to Mr. Hakelbarend that he was trying to be grave and mysterious, then went to get more punch. When told that Mr. Larven could not clean the chimney because he was not 'spry', he insisted that he was, and he would arm-wrestle anyone who wished. Lucky, exasperated, said that they were not arm-wrestling. When Mrs. Kirkegrim insisted that if looks were the criteria she could have been the chimney sweep, Mr. Larven agreed and said that being female was not a problem. He then noted that she'd set a table on fire previous, in addition to what had happened with the branch, and so should not have been mixed with the fireplace.

Mr. Larven later cheerfully asked for a refill, and Milo thought he looked slightly drunk in his movements, noting that only Mr. Larven had tried the punch so far. When Milo returned downstairs, Mr. Larven was observing and gesturing with his cup from where he sat unsteadily on the back of the loveseat. Mr. Hakelbarend noted that Mr. Larven was a doctor, but was probably not up to doing anything in the state he was in. Mr. Larven, after Rob mentioned the drink dark and stormy, Mr. Larven offered to make one. Clem guided him to a chair.

Mr. Larven offered to tell a story, telling the story of Jackanory, then bowed as if he expected them to applaud. Milo was severely disappointed. Georgie and Mrs. Pine went to get some punch themselves. Clem did not think there would be any left, and Mr. Larven went over, tried to toast someone, and spilled the cup on his shirt. Mr. Hakelbarend took the cup away and said that Mr. Larven did not need any more, and he, leaning severely, protested that there was still more punch. Georgie assured him that tit would not go to waist. Mr. Larven then called Lizzie Caraway a pepper grinder, then fell unconscious. Clem prevented Georgie and Mrs. Pine from drinking their punch, believing that something was wrong with it, and Mr. Larven was brought upstairs. The punch bowl was later emptied and cleaned. Mr. Larven later woke, threw up, and went back to bed, saying something about doctors healing themselves. Milo later found that there had been mistletoe and holly berries in the punch.

Mr. Larven woke after sleeping until noon, looking plenty healthy. He said a cheerful good morning to Clem, Georgie, and Milo, then inquired where everyone else was. Clem informed him that he was on the second floor, and he said he was feeling better and wandered out to get coffee. He later noted that he had probably made the punch stronger than he'd meant, and Milo explained about the mistletoe and holly he'd found in it. Mr. Larven seemed suspicious, and Rob suggested that this had been the secret ingredient to the punch. Mr. Larven took offense, thinking Rob was accusing him of poisoning himself, though Sylvester assured him this had not been Rob's intension. Rob then suggested that Mr. Larven had just needed a nap, and Mr. Larven insulted Rob's chimney-cleaning skills. Mr. Larven did not believe Milo, but Milo simply said that the berries had been there, and Sylvester seemed to agree that something had been wrong with the punch.
During Lucky's story, Mr. Larven stared at Georgie and Mrs. Kirkegrim at Clem. Milo later deemed that those two were the culprits, and Mr. Larven had poisoned the punch but not drank any of it at all, and been awake and out of his room most of the night. During Milo's story regarding Violet Cross, Mr. Larven interrupted to explain how mapmakers had made maps in the Liberty, then apologized for interrupting. After Milo's story, Mr. Larven mentioned the derrotero and insisted that Marzana knew of it, something she denied.

When the locks were found on Sylvester's coat, Mr. Larven looked shocked, then ran upstairs. Milo and Meddy followed him and listened as he and Mrs. Kirkegrim argued about who was lying about the things. They wondered which of the other guests could have done it, Mr. Larven suggesting Marzana and Mrs. Kirkegrim thinking not. Mr. Larven suggested that they use one of the kids as leverage, but Rob, who seemed to be in charge, suggested they try something else first. They eventually returned downstairs.
Mr. Larven told Clem that they were citizens of the Liberty and thus could not be prosecuted for theft. Emmett revealed, however, that it was not a pointless threat, as he was a customs agent. Meddy told those that could hear her who the culprits were. Mrs. Kirkegrim left, pointing out that Emmett did not have the authority to detain them, and Mr. Larven was angry but could do nothing about it. He agreed to stay, going to get coffee.

When Mrs. Kirkegrim returned, Rob and Mr. Larven both attempted to approach her, but she did not let them. Rob then put a knife up against Milo and Mr. Larven went to get the keys from Milo's rucksack. However, behind Rob's back, he later instead took a candlestick off the mantel. Rob started to turn around, but Meddy distracted him, and Mr. Larven hit Rob on the head with the candlestick, knocking him out. He then insisted that he was indeed spry, checked on the candlestick, and returned it to the mantel. Mr. Larven suggested that Emmett arrest Rob.

Milo explained what had happened, calling Mrs. Kirkegrim and Mr. Larven crooks, then apologizing, but Mr. Larven said that it was accurate. Mrs. Kirkegrim confirmed that she, Cantlebone, had infiltrated Gilawfer's group, noting that Mr. Larven was a 'trusted lieutenant' of hers. She said that she'd been on a few 'excursions' since escaping her ship (Mrs. Kirkegrim was now revealed to be also Violet Cross), and winked at Mr. Larven, and he laughed. Mr. Larven reacted wonderingly to Meddy's appearance. Clem referenced Mr. Larven's mention of the derrotero, and when Mrs. Kirkegrim said that Mr. Larven was poetic, he bowed. Mr. Larven then returned to the Liberty of Gammerbund with the other Waits.

### *The Thief Knot*

Honora told a story about how Violet Cross and her crew had smuggled truffle-hunting pigs. Mr. Larven had gone up along with some others to retrieve the cargo. After learning about the kidnapping of Peony Hyde, Mrs. Hakelbarend sent Mr. Larven out to find Rob Gandreider, one of the suspects, expecting Mr. Larven to find him very soon. Mr. Larven later showed up, and Marzana commented upon how he looked like a dandy but wasn't, and mentioned him having been the muscle of Violet Cross's crew. Marzana did not find out what he had come for, however, because she had to leave for school. Mr. Larven later arrived again, this time having brought Rob, and the Hakelbarends interrogated him. Mr. Larven commented upon Rob having supposedly picked a Hellcat, and Rob eventually broke and told who had let him out of jail. Mr. Larven later greeted Marzana, after Rob had been sent away, and was introduced to Ciro. He stayed for dinner, and said that he'd picked a Hellcat three times, not knowing out of how many tries. He told a story. He wondered about Rose Mirassat and Hickson Blount, the other suspects, then agreed to find Hickson. Marzana mentioned having gone to Greenglass House with Mr. Larven.

## Physical appearance

Mr. Larven has a mustache. Typically, he wears a neat suit. When caroling with the Waits, he wore a belted fur coat and a wooden mask. Mr. Larven is extremely strong, being able to knock out a much younger man with one candlestick.

## Personality and traits

Mr. Larven was the 'muscle' of Violet Cross's crew. He is very strong, and is combative. Mr. Larven enjoys poems and drinks. He helps Violet Cross on her heists, being one of the only members of her crew to have stayed in Nagspeake. He looks elderly but insists that he is 'thoroughly spry'.

## Gallery

**Take a look at our **gallery for Nicholas Larven****.