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

[incantates]

Are you the non-complaining man in this scenario?
Because I'm fairly certain there are plenty who'd find that situation a bit
worthy of complaint.

Either way, I can offer an extra pair of hands before you get unceremoniously whisked away.

[downswing]

You came to us recently. ( A fresh face, unmarred by the... proclivities of the place. ) Armed?

[incantates]

Unfortunately.
I'm starting to think universe has some serious objections to me getting married.
I could not imagine why.

[ He can take of at least a thousand reasons why. ]

And I don't really need weapons to protect myself.
I prefer a more effective method of ghost-busting.

[downswing]

...the day of your wedding?

[incantates]

Indeed.
I had a radiant tux in mind and all these wonderful floral decor ideas.
I don't think I need to bore you with the details when you're in such a precarious
situation.

Not unless you really want me to take your mind off it.

[downswing]

Apologies. For your loss.

What skills do you bring?

[incantates]

Oh, now that just sounds like my fiance died.
I assume he's back home, safe in the apartment, probably wondering where I am.

And fancy you should ask, are you familiar with warlocks in your world?

[downswing]

You speak of necromancers.

[incantates]

No, warlocks.
Say it with me: w-a-r-l-o-c-k-s.

I prefer to leave the dead where they are for good reason.

[downswing]

( s q u i n t, you say warlock, he says necroma — )


Elaborate.

[incantates]

[ Does this really need that in-depth of an explanation? ]

Let's just say I do a lot of magic.
Just about everything else that isn't raising or talking to the dead.
Pull a rabbit out of a hat, portal wayward travelers around the globe, refresh someone's wardrobe for spring, summon demons onto Earth, you know, the usual.

1/2

[downswing]

( .............oh.






Oh.





Ra........................... bbits. )

[downswing]

We are scant in such expertise.

Your aid invaluable.

[incantates]

Well, I'm not just a pretty face.
I assume I was brought here for a reason.

Probably to save yet another world from devastation.
You know, I really need to raise my asking rate.

1/2

[downswing]

We seek only to flee.

[downswing]

The worlds you attempted to salvage before.

Rescued?

1/2

[incantates]

For the time being.
Peace rarely lasts.
When you've lived as long as I have–

2/2

[incantates]

Wait, how old are you?
I've been going on and on about my credentials, and I didn't even get your name or your details.
Clearly, you're some kind of spiritual medium from the use of talismans, so you already have some familiarity with the supernatural.

[downswing]

Wangji, sword hand and exorcist of clan Lan.

[incantates]

A pleasure to meet you and also relieved you're not just a
pretty face, too.

Now, back to my original question– how may I be of service with your ghost situation?

[downswing]

Unnecessary. You do not command the dead.

Two other keys remain.

[incantates]

I don't, but it doesn't mean I can't.
Besides, if we're talking about banishment, then that is something I very much do.

[downswing]

What becomes of the banished?

[incantates]

Ushered into a cozy afterlife where they can live out their days on a ghost farm.

Unless we're talking about wraiths or malignant spirits from Hell.
Then those go back to Hell.

[downswing]

( translation.exe: )

You appease or exorcise.