audio | un: wei laozu

[weifinder]

Hey, hey, a little bird told me—truly little, only about the size of a bear or two—there are all these little bits of letters raining down with the rest of destruction, so help me figure something out:

Friends, fellow not-of-this-worlders, what did the loving letter bits you pick up say?

Comments

[weifinder]

Any of which could be true, certainly. Regardless, for the moment, makes me glad we're down any army leading lords of death, minus the, ah, present one. Who seems far more contained.

( little does he know that Anurr is literally on the way, on a speeding... carriage... train. )

Still, even Lan Zhan noted you were collecting pieces of these letters. Nothing to say yet, truly?

[beitangmoran]

Oh, yes, Master Lan seemed most put out about it.

I am still working on the linguistics here, but I should soon have something more subtantial.

[weifinder]

He's... certainly less than fond of what feels like intrusiveness.

( a beat. )

You'll speak when you have worked out whatever you find in your paper flower garden?

[beitangmoran]

Of course, Master Wei. There's little interest in keeping this to myself.

[weifinder]

When do you think soon will be?

( A sound of one of the soldiers being... as they've been, lately, outside. )

[beitangmoran]

[The soon turns out to be a few hours later.]

Well, the way I understand it, this young lady Hatisse was part of a school of sorcery called the Attaryl. At some point, she joined Lord Ahra's court as an advisor and I assume this is how they met and fell in love.

But then, the Attaryl and the other faction the Bessis started some infighting, and it appears Lady Hatisse's people had fallen out of favor with the government of their country and were left to fend for themselves. It seems Lord Ahra remonstrated her for potentially having started the fight, and she was bitter about his reaction and told him to just abandon them if that was his will.

The rest is just flowery praise of her beauty, so it's not hard to understand how a man besotted, being so rejected by his beloved might want to prove himself.

[weifinder]

So there may have been a driving need to make up for that argument, regardless of either side being more or less righteous to their own perception in what was said.

( he pauses, shaking his head, unheard. )

I'm curious how else this fits in, if he was the one turning as dark as he did over being asked to turn back. Emotion that strong on either side doesn't necessarily listen to reason.

[beitangmoran]

Would she, knowing he was on his way, have told him to go back, either out of bitterness or for his own safety?

[weifinder]

For any number of reasons, I would say yes, or be encouraged to say so by those around her.

[beitangmoran]

Then he would be all the more desperate to reach her, I assume.

[weifinder]

Yes. Only, where is she? Or, if we don't know what it is he found before his defeat, what happens when he does?

[beitangmoran]

I would assume she was in the city still. And he mentions the other side having the power to start fires, so that can't have been pleasant.

Of course we're only relying on their word that this is what happened. there is not knowing if they are trustworthy or not.

[weifinder]

Likewise with the master of our caravan, ah? More than that, how old do you think they all are?

[beitangmoran]

The master of the caravan is in it for the money, and I'd wager he won't get paid if we don't get to our destination, so it's in his best interest to make sure we do.

And answering that question would require knowing more about the history of this place, their style of dressing and their speech than i currently know, I am afraid. The only events referenced are that conflict, and it doesn't say when it happened.

[downswing]

( 'Put out.' Really. )

Master Moran applies himself to all purposes.

[beitangmoran]

[Did you want him to say you were being a pouty child about it, Wangji. Seriously, how are you an Aquarius when you managed to give so many Yi vibes to Moran? Then again, you are almost a Capricorn cusp, this may explain that.]

Knowledge is ever a worthy pursuit, Master Lan. As is the understanding of people's feelings.

[downswing]

Not all is for observers.

[beitangmoran]

If one does not wish me to read their private correspondance, one is cordially invited to make sure it doesn't get dropped on my head.

[downswing]

The dead may lack ability.

[beitangmoran]

The dead will then have to deal with that on their own terms, Master Lan.

[downswing]

You spare them no regard. No compassion.

[beitangmoran]

My compassion goes to the living first, as they are in more urgent need of it.

We, at this moment, are in more urgent need of knowing what happened, than they are of having their long-dead privacy respected. I am sorry if that offends you, and your scruples honor you, Master Lan, but I do not believe we have time for this right now when the ghosts are literally trying to order us around and flying monsters are dropping rocks on our heads.

[downswing]

You are wrong.

[beitangmoran]

You are free to think that, Master Lan.

[downswing]

Truth requires no permission.