[ voice; un: yuheng of the evening sky

[wooden_one]

[There's silence at first. One that stretches long enough to make people think maybe whoever this is posted by mistake (but no, he's just bad at this whole asking for help thing). If this were just for himself he wouldn't be doing this but this is for the sake of a spirit who had passed on after being betrayed. He could lower his head to ask for help for that.]

I don't need help.

[Which is a lie but he wants to get that out of the way first.]

But I can't seem to grind this ink stone without it rotting away.

[The paper and brush he had brought with him from Taravast but the ink stone he'd managed to get here so they're, sadly, affected by the curse.

He said this all rather curtly and stiffly, because he really....really didn't know how to ask for help. There's another short pause before he adds.]

I also keep bleeding from my hands. I need a way to keep the blood off the talismans I'm trying to write. [Why is his first question not to stop the bleeding? Because his priorities are weird.]

Comments

[scrapgege]

It probably would be... I wonder if this happened because of the undead, or if this came before.

[wooden_one]

[...now that you mention it...he's a little curious.]

I wonder if this is something that would be written somewhere...? [Is there a library of some sort they can have access to?]

[scrapgege]

People are a bit tight-lipped about the curses. Some of them seem proud of the traditions, but it's like they revel in suffering.

[wooden_one]

But if they are proud then why be tight-lipped about it?

[scrapgege]

I don't know. I don't really understand it. It's like... a traditional way of life, for them? Somehow? And we're outsiders, I guess.

[wooden_one]

...I've only ever known three kinds of secrets that are guarded so carefully among the cultivation sects. Either it is a powerful secret, a dangerous one or one that is shameful.

[Like a special technique or a forbidden one...or something stolen.]

[scrapgege]

Or maybe all three at once.

[wooden_one]

Maybe.

But what good is guessing? The only way to get answers is to investigate and question those who have answers.

[...but for once he's hesitant to do so. Especially after what happened in Taravast.

His expression is complicated before settling back on angry.]

[scrapgege]

I can keep my ears open. I am pretty inconspicuous here, and people talk a lot when they think no one important is nearby.

[wooden_one]

[He frowns because that's something he isn't very good at...]

...if you hear anything that warrants further investigation, let me know.

[scrapgege]

I will, daozhang.

Now do you need bandages for your hands?

[wooden_one]

I don't need anything like that. I'm fine.

[scrapgege]

.... But you said you're bleeding?

[wooden_one]

Yes. [He says it like he's not even sure what that has to do with anything???

But then he realizes and frowns]

I don't need them bandaged. I just don't want to get blood on these talismans.

[scrapgege]

.......... wouldn't a bandage.... help with that.

[wooden_one]

[...it would. But it would also be too much like asking for help. Also...]

It would bleed through eventually. Avoiding bleeding on the talisman is more practical.

[IS IT??????]

[scrapgege]

But soaking up the blood will avoid that. And you can change the bandages if they get too soaked.

I'll bring you some.

[wooden_one]

I can find my own bandages.

[scrapgege]

Well, you've found me, who has bandages, so that counts as finding your own.

[wooden_one]

That doesn't even make sense!

[scrapgege]

Why not? it's logical and doesn't hurt your pride, does it?