Video | un: a jug of wine amidst the flowers

[wenderer]

[ A man with long dark hair, dressed in green silk robes, is lazily fanning himself and smiling, as he lounges by a campfire. He’s singing along with a group of children seated next to him:

Stitch by stitch,
The love of a witch
Will unravel

Dusk to dawn
Each morning to mourn
With blood and gravel

He lifts his hand, stopping them. ]

I think I’ve learned it now, I’ll teach you all a verse also, come listen.

[ He clears his throat, and in a formal style, speaks as if he were reciting before a large audience. As he does so, the man’s eyes drift away to something just out of view. ]

When mountain peaks wear away, when all the rivers run dry
When thunderstorms rumble in winter, and snow falls from the summer sky
When heaven and earth seal back together, only then will I dare to—

[ A hand abruptly darts out from off camera, obscuring the scene for a moment. When it draws away, the stone has been forcibly moved, revealing the face of another man. ]

That’s not why we’re here. We’ve found out a few things about Lord Arha. If the song these children have been singing is true, this ghost army isn’t trying to rescue anyone, it’s out for revenge.

[ The first man scoots back into the scene, sitting right next to and parking his chin on the second man’s shoulder. ]

Ah-Xu, the man was betrayed!

[ He clicks his tongue, shaking his head sadly.]

He went to rescue his lady, but she joined hands with her enemies instead. The whole army was slaughtered!

[ "Ah-Xu," with a slightly frozen smile, says through his teeth: ]

Keep it down.

[ The undead army is clearly changing its guard in the background. More softly, the first man says, leaning towards the stone: ]

I’ve met some people who say they know how to deal with ghosts. Kindly share your knowledge, I have a feeling we’re all going to need it.

[ Meanwhile, the children have started softly singing again:

Love, her love
Hatisse’s sweet dove
Arha fell last

Vowed to return
His lady to scorn
And spit on their past

With strike of sword
The love of a lord
Will unravel

Dawn to dusk
His memory a husk
Each year he will travel.


ooc: replies from Wen Kexing wenderer and/or Zhou Zishu fated_dance ]

Comments

un: chengmei

[thesuspense]

Not if she didn't want him any more.

People are fickle.

[Not his place to interrupt, but for whatever reason, he chooses to.]

If she ever wanted him.

[paperbutterflies]

[ ... that voice.

That voice is not unfamiliar.

Sizhui starts where he is, then swallows, heard. Maybe the bear can take a liking to someone other than senior Wei? Please? ]

That... we can't know until we find a way to ask her, can we?

[thesuspense]

Are you going to inquire~?

[His voice is light and sweet enough. Or, perhaps, too light and sweet.]

un: dappled pearl of the parted seas [voice]

[beitangmoran]

Hm, that was indeed the general idea we got from the letters, but we were not sure whether he was replaying his original voyage or actually out for blood, I suppose.

He definitely would have died with a sense of betrayal for certain. What we cannot ascertain is if she did it willingly or if she was coerced into it.

un : deft hand of little deaths [voice]

[scrapgege]

Well... I'm a Heavvenly Official so 'dealing with ghosts' is sort of my job...

But this Lord Ahra is at the very least a Wrath-level ghost with how he can keep the army in its thrall. I have a feeling that if we managed to make him pass on or destroy him, the rest will probably dissipate as he'd be the one keeping them here.

If he won't listen to any reason, and nothing else works to appease him, then destroying his bones and ashes would be a last resort, but we'd need to find them.

[paperbutterflies]

If no-one more skilled at it will.

[ Hanguang-jun is here so at least there is some safety possible, but ugh. ]

[thesuspense]

You are so helpful. Raised well.

Such virtue. The ghosts are lucky to get to talk to you, young master.

[weifinder]

Ah... not likely, given the obsession. He'd want to see her grave, or what amounted to it, and by now I feel his anger is that he knows he cannot continue pretending he is not dead, and the events that killed him did not take place.

[downswing]

Only to interrogate.

[downswing]

Your

( ...right. He remembers. )

wife spoke well. In this matter, withdraw.

un: xianxian of yunmeng

[downswing]

Choice ever remains.

The lady decided.

[paperbutterflies]

[ ... Sizhui's point stands, and he is pretty sure Hanguang-jun, of all people, will understand it. ]

I wonder why the pass is closed the rest of the year, in that case. The tar creatures?

[downswing]

Perhaps protection. The spirits angered with our passage.

A man said they spoke of slaughter.

[paperbutterflies]

[ Sizhui veeery carefully swallows most responses. Instead, he replies mildly, softly, ] in this world, the ghosts talk to many, not few. Things are different, and I would not presume to know what is virtuous or helpful here.

[paperbutterflies]

This time, this year. But there were caravans who passed, and that was only the time of passage of Lord Arha's army. I meant why nobody uses it the rest of the time.

[downswing]

Spirits are volatile.

We ward some burial grounds though they might never waken. Defend the living.

[fated_dance]

[ There's lust...and then there's something softer, something stronger. Zishu lets his expression soften again, a small smile curls at his lips as he looks at his soulmate.

That's an easy request to answer, and he shifts close enough for their limbs to be easily entangled if they so chose. A calculated risk, but one he feels is worth it. He leans in until their noses almost touch. ]

Is this close enough, Lao Wen? [ Just for Kexing's ears. ]

[paperbutterflies]

Ah. And they are here all of the rest of the time. I understand now.

[downswing]

They may be.



( Or... they might only show face the once a year, naming this an unspeakably wasted precaution. )

[paperbutterflies]

I understand.

[downswing]

Assuming good will. Caution.

The spirits may have been fettered to different design.

[thesuspense]

Aish, you're too considerate, aren't you? You shame me with your manners! [Of course, he sounds nothing but mocking, but that is hardly surprising.]

You disciples of the Lan Clan. More virtue in your little finger than I have in what's left of my whole hand.

[paperbutterflies]

[ Sizhui ... is fully aware he is being mocked, and isn't really disturbed that much.

But the last part sends a chill down his spine. His voice is very quiet, ] if you say such things in public for certain people to here, is it that you want them to end up like they did before?

[paperbutterflies]

Hanguang-jun, do you think if there are traces of Lady Hatisse, we might know better what happened and what is happening? Or that others might be more likely to know such answers?

[downswing]

We encountered the lady's statue, seeking you in the wall.

You intend to Inquire her?