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

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.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

You wish to appease them.

( A step away from manipulating resent, excellent. )

This is a terrific amount of information, thank you for putting it together.

I've spoken to one of the refugees and they were somewhat helpful regarding the differing groups of magic users, having been to Taravast before in her youth.

I'll copy directly from my notes:

Bessis: Fire and light magic, (mostly). Predominantly women, some men.

Attaryl: Court mages, diplomats, concubines. Persuasive and behavioral abilities (?), the "softer arts" (??). Predominantly women, far fewer men.

I'm not sure what the refugee was implying by the mention of persuasive abilities, but I think it might be best to keep it in mind, especially if it means they have some ability to magically manipulate someone. I'm also completely uncertain what the softer arts are, I've never heard the term before. While I hope it has something to do with constructing a better sleeping mat I'm doubtful. At least we know to better be prepared.

Do you intend to talk to them?

( lan zhan pls )

Them and whatever's responsible for the curse, ideally.

Ah, I won't say I know for sure, but I'd presume they have a way of changing people's minds or perceptions enough to go along with their ideas, or to smooth out interactions? I'm less familiar with things of that nature, but that'd be my guess, in context. Better at diplomacy, mm?

The soldiers? I've been chatting with them, yes, but if you mean anyone in particular, I'm not sure. Have you tried bringing up their, ah, present state?

Not all hauntings are curse-born.

[While Allison can certainly read along, she's not really accustomed to texting. So she sticks with voice. It's like using a phone, right? This is fine.]

I think ... I might have seen something like that? Or something depicting it?

No, in fact the majority aren't. So let me amend: and anything related to any curse or binding agent behind the lingering.

Though being here, I wonder if curses aren't also laments, rather than the things we know them to be back home.

( he says, still thinking his name's cursed and still not sure how that pans out. )

Have you? Where, and what did it depict in particular? Also, hello, your voice is as new to me as the name! I'm Wei--Laozu, pleasure to meet you.

A matter unfinished.

( Hmmmmm. )

Common, among mothers.

Allison Hargreeves. Nice to meet you as well.

[But back to where she saw it:]

When I first woke up here, I was in this temple, I think? It was really run down. It looked like there hadn't been anyone there in a long time, but on the wall there were these like ... cave drawings or etchings that showed an army of sorcerers advancing on a city.

Harder to let go and trust your child to the cruel world you've left.

( ... No comment, when one does not know. Also glossing past unfinished matters in love. )

There's enough they never managed to achieve, that burial might not have been enough for. There's also the song... have you been listening?

Huh. For that army, were there any indications of their particular powers? Were they wielding fire in these etchings? Not to mention, a temple hidden in this area... when and how did it get sealed, I wonder.

It eases, come morning. As does the bleeding.

The army's own vitality is weakest in those hours before dawn, too.

( Aggressively breathing through his nose: )

You've attempted to control them.

Fire, definitely, yeah. That much was clear.

[She shakes her head.]

I wish I could tell you where it was. All I know is that while I was in there, I got grabbed by something and then I was in the middle of the caravan.

Lan Zhan, an observation is an observation, if they're listless and fading would I say: they're filled with vitality in those hours?

Pledge.

Pledged.

I trust in you.

( Carry that weight. )

( Ah, good. Expectation to keep him grounded.

Remind him of this when Sizhui goes missing. )

And I, you.

... Now that's concerning. You're alright?

( Waiting on her answer for that before he comes back around to: )

If there's a temple documenting what happened, now sealed, then there may be more that happened back then we still don't know. I... admit we could stay uninvolved, but if in the process of our travels we can understand what holds them to repeating this same march every year...

Oh, I'm fine. No harm done, just a bit rattled.

[She's been through worse than a mystery cavern.]

I can try and recreate it, maybe? I'm not an artist, but I can try and sketch it out.

[There's another pause.]

I also saw creatures there. One's that I've seen since leaving. If they can get in and out, maybe we can too?

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

un: absterge | he has his own when he's not stealing wei wuxian's now, PROGRESS

un: any fin is possible (text)

un: wen qing | someone make her get a new username

wei wuxian is SO PROUD

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you need new benchmarks

audio | @taken for granite

offer him some higher ones

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be proud when he no longer prepares millet

audio ; to end

................................................ that bar is so high, consider it done

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tks bae

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