un: absterge | video

[downswing]

( Dark and damp and Lan Wangji's pallor strained under moonlight. Behind him, flickers of broad, long temple columns — and the smoke smears of... ghosts, gathered. He seems short of breath, the silvered sheen of his sword half drawn from her scabbard, a spate of parchment papers littering the walls: active talismans. )

They have crowded their halls of the dead, to excess.

Here, the key withholds itself. Who hunts the other locations?

( And a pause, hesitant — whether to find his words or, absently, slap another talisman on the spirit that looms with a gaping maw behind him. ) Ke-Waihu stands safe?

( ooc: forwarded dated to the group's incursions in Ke-Waicai. Feel free to run into him in person, if you're also chasing the haunted temple key! )

Comments

voice;

[techmaturgy]

I would also like to see the books.

[traaaaaash]

Swing by the library, then, before they notice something's up and it's too late.

[techmaturgy]

[you mean this is NOT a book delivery service? bogus]

I suspect that my joining the infiltration would greatly increase the chance of detection. If you choose to bring anything back with you, however, I'd like to see it.

[traaaaaash]

Why? We're just browsing here.

[techmaturgy]

Oh. That's disappointing.

[do a crime, cowards!!]

[traaaaaash]

Browsing and stealing! Ha!

[ She takes a book halfway out her harpy hair to show him. With a cackle. ]

[techmaturgy]

[Good. I was worried for a moment that you weren't taking full advantage of the situation.

[traaaaaash]

What, and miss out on these --

[ She opens a book. It coughs smoke in her face. ]

-- treasures?

[downswing]

( WHY






ARE WE MOVING AWAY FROM THE CRITICAL STRATEGY HERE )


The... key.

[techmaturgy]

We can't do two things at once?

[downswing]

Capture risked for scant gain.

[techmaturgy]

The gain is, currently, unknown.

[downswing]

( Is no one listening, not a single soul — )

The key.

[techmaturgy]

I'm not picky about the exact books. Throw anything interesting into a bag on your way out. I can work with it.

[downswing]

Alongside the key.

[beitangmoran]

Do try to not raise attention if you are joining us, from the way the doors were barred, I surmise we are no supposed to be in here.

[techmaturgy]

No, I won't be joining you. I would slow you down. If you see any interesting volumes, however, I would appreciate a look at them.

[reparo]

What interests you? The majority of books are hard to decipher at first glance, so some narrowing down would be great.

[techmaturgy]

The sciences, mostly. Barring that, any information on the magic systems of this world.

[reparo]

Noted. Not sure if they have written books on those things, considering how heavily they rely on superstition, but I will keep an eye out!

[techmaturgy]

Ehn, it's worth a shot. Like I said, I'm not in a position to be picky about it.

[beitangmoran]

The books are probably not in a language you know, but we have ways of deciphering some of them, I believe.

[arsmechanica]

To add to that, since I'd also love to see whatever you find on the sciences -

If you see anything related to metalworking, I can probably get something useful out of it.

[ See, it's not even just curiosity. It's Helpful! ]

[techmaturgy]

Meatalworking? Are you a smith, of some kind?

[arsmechanica]

I am. Blacksmith, mostly I've been dealing with weapons and armor these days but that's less a matter of what I know and more a matter of what's been in demand.

[ He'd...kind of love if the world could do with a break from weapons and armor, but he doubts his luck in that regard is going to be much better out here than it was back home. ]