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

[beitangmoran]

Knowledge is always a priority.

We won't be long, it turns out Young Mistress Granger has a great way of transporting many books.

[Which is great because no need to choose.]

[downswing]

( BEITANG MORAN, YOU USED TO BE

NOT RELIABLE

BUT

SHAPED TO THE GENERAL SPECIFICITY

OF RELIABILITY

SORT OF )

Perhaps the key first.

[beitangmoran]

[Don't tell him Wei Wuxian would not do exactly the same thing he is right now, he would not believe you.]

Master Lan, we are doing fine. You can focus on your own, since it seems you haven't found it yet.

[downswing]

( This talisman'd ghsot in the background

it's dying for your sins, Beitang Moran )

You linger incautiously. Their defences unknown.

[beitangmoran]

Not entirely unknown, Master Lan. I will see them coming.

[downswing]

We know not what waits.

[beitangmoran]

I have ways of knowing, you know that.

[downswing]

Are they yet certain?

[beitangmoran]

I may not be able to trigger my powers, but I know enough to know when they are more likely to be helping out.

[downswing]

I do not incriminate. Only inquire.

[beitangmoran]

We are fine, Master Lan, I assure you.

[downswing]

Five work the forge within proximity.




( Just.............. in case. )

[beitangmoran]

Good for him. Why is this relevant?

[downswing]

If you require reinforcement.

[beitangmoran]

Why would we require any? We already almost have a crowd here. Any more and we might be found out sooner.

And I don't quite know if Master Five has completely recovered from trying to bash my head in with a branch.

[downswing]

...he raised weapon against you?

[beitangmoran]

He got a little over his head out in the forest about a week ago. I assume he's fine now?

[downswing]

Did he succeed in injury?

[beitangmoran]

No. My power saw fit to help me out of the situation.

[downswing]

The hunts... were not of choice.

[beitangmoran]

I'm not holding it against him, I just would rather be sure I or my current cohorts are not at risk.

[downswing]

He is not as animals.

[beitangmoran]

I would hope not.