un: pillar of the heavens | video

[inkfire]

[ Mo Ran looks rough, with a few scrapes on his face and his hair disheveled, and he's quieter than usual, staring into the distance for a few moments before he finally talks. He's much more subdued than usual. ]

We don't need to worry about the Chained God anymore. [ Don't ask why. ] He called the black water stuff "a little friend below the depths" and his brother. The water wants a body, and shape, but it can't fight back. I guess that's why it takes the dead bodies, since the dead can't fight back against it, and then the water reanimates them.

[ He trails off, thinking back to his conversation. ] He also said something about someone wishing it free, but didn't offer any names or anything. It probably happened long ago, so it's impossible to say.

Oh, and don't go to the temple of the Chained God. It's dangerous. [ It's been somewhat destroyed. ]

Comments

un: nami (text)

[cartographie]

So if the water is its brother, then does that mean the water is one of the divine and/or destructive forces that the book in the room with the Chained God mentioned?

That sucks.

un: life's a drip

[fiercechains]

Called it a 'friend' and a brother?

[ The mention of the temple, though... ]

How dangerous is it? And what happened to the Chained God?

video, un: average sighren

[lanclan]

[ Looking concerned at how subdued Mo Ran is, Xichen pops up with a video call. ]

Mo Weiyu, are you alright?

un: audio

[downswing]

( Rasped: ) Mo Weiyu. Why... need we not worry?



( HOLD TF ON???? ALSO HOW DARE YOU AFTER STABBING HIM???? )

video; un: owllady

[traaaaaash]

Mmmhh, I love me some sentient goop. And since our goop friend is the brother of the Chained God, I doubt it's gonna stop hurting people if it gets hold of a living body.

un: headless ragdoll | audio

[matermali]

[ She's asking. ]

Did you kill it?

[inkfire]

Likely, yes. It seems they came from the same source, so the water is probably just as destructive as the chained god was.

[inkfire]

They came from the same place, it sounds like.

[ he goes quiet for a moment. ]

The water is dangerous. It's able to use the dead bodies, it wants form and flesh. As for the Chained God, he will no longer bother anyone in this life.

[inkfire]

[ he brightens a little when he sees Xichen, although not by much. he doesn't deserve the worry from Xichen, considering what he did to his brother. ]

I will be fine. These are just a few scratches.

[inkfire]

Ah, senior. [ he does feel sorry about that. ] He has been dealt with. We won't have to worry about him in this life.

[lanclan]

I can heal them, let me know where you are.

[inkfire]

No. The Chained God can't bring about the apocalypse now. But that doesn't mean his brother can't.

[inkfire]

Yes, and then the temple collapsed.

[inkfire]

I appreciate your kindness, Senior. But they will heal easily, and I am otherwise uninjured.

[lanclan]

[ More gently, he tactfully amends, ]

You don't look unaffected.

[inkfire]

[ That's enough to make him pause and ask, almost pouting: ]

Do I look that awful, Senior?

[ Yes, he probably does. ]

[lanclan]

[ Not unkindly, he's firm. ]

Just tell me where you are, I'm coming to get you.

[ Mo Weiyu is a young man grown and can take care of himself if he needs to, but he's also barely an adult and Xichen is a fullass adult. The responsibility to stay strong isn't Mo Ran's anymore after ... what he's done. ]

[downswing]

What did you do?

[inkfire]

Do you really... [ He breaks off with a sigh. Of course he wants to know. ] I stabbed him, and his death brought down the temple.

[downswing]

Such a thing... so easily achieved?


( Are gods not invincible? )

[inkfire]

[ He feels guilty about it— after all, he stabbed Xichen's brother— but he is weak against that sort of determination, still young enough to want to be cared for. ]

I've returned to the Coliseum, staying in my room here. [ It was all he knew, for the moment, even if the arena had been damaged in the earthquake. ]

[inkfire]

He was old and feeble. [ At least, that's what Mo Ran assumed. ] Maybe he didn't have enough believers.

[lanclan]

Wait outside for me, I'm taking you somewhere you can rest properly. Pack what you want to bring for an overnight stay. If the guards make it difficult for you to leave, inform them I will not be kept out.

[ He ends the call after that and promptly rides the sword to the Coliseum, touching down ten or so minutes later in a flurry of layered blue robes. If Mo Ran isn't outside waiting, Xichen knows the way to his room. ]

[downswing]

( Old... and feeble. Are not all gods so? He will not ask. )

And your circumstances?

[traaaaaash]

Yeah, yeah, what I'm saying! So what do we do here? Just burn any bodies immediately forever?