audio & text | un: xianxian of yunmeng (the day before stone kidnappings)

[weifinder]

Gather round for a story, ah? Xiao Xingchen, I'll come tell you in person, the rest will get to read along.

( A pause. )

The Stairs of Sighs are named after our ghost general Arha, for the sighs of pining between himself and his lover, Hatisse. The Stairs of Sighs opens on the day Arha arrived with his people, setting off to win his lover free. As may be apparent, it did not end well. Arha's campaign ended in death, and Hatisse survived her love, going on to become a high priestess of some influence.

Arha's army did not reach Taravast. In Mazyar's recounting, "The people spoke of great, uncontrollable fires that suggested the presence of the higher-numbered witches of Bessis defending the city. In the end, the flames grew so high that Taravast called down summon-rains to stop them. After this vast tragedy, all sorcery schools buried their previous animosity and agreed to stand together, allied for the greater good of Taravast. Hatisse made no comment or statement amid the destruction, but her presence was accepted as part of the truce, and she proceeded with a life of charity. It is said she paid to have the bones of each of the fallen of Arha's people found and buried from her own coffers."

I think even now, the Bessis and what is it, the Attareal? Are lines of magical learning in Taravast. Has anyone talked with anyone of the refugees or the ghosts to confirm or deny?

( A pause: )

I'm equally curious what else everyone's heard regarding our armed escort, or what may have truly happened all those years ago.

Comments

[rumorate]

It's hard to believe he could get more tense.

[Given that Five is wound like a tightly coiled spring, unwilling to trust anything. But it's something she will keep an eye out for regardless.

Time to pivot back.]

Do you know of anyone else might be able to track or fly after them discreetly? Maybe it's worth asking people at large?

[weifinder]

A handful, possibly, but the wiser course is to ask all of us from other than this world at large.

[rumorate]

Then I will do that. Hopefully we might be able to cobble together a somewhat functional plan.

[There's a smirk in her tone as she continues.]

Experience dictates that most plans only get that far before you have to change course.

[weifinder]

( He chuckles, shaking an unseen head. )

Even reaching a full plan before things get tossed out like spilled water can be a challenge. Adapting as you go is the reality of most plans.

( ASK FIVE ABOUT THE BANK HEIST. GO ON. ASK! )

Let me know how I can help.

[rumorate]

Of course. I'll see who I can find, and I'll let you know.

[Time to gather a team.]