text; un: stormborn

[thebrideoffire]

There is a great deal to discuss. Wrathion has provided much of the news that I have learned, but there are two further pieces of information that I feel is relevant. The last sacrifice to Sanwon was the child of Hyang-Won and Anui. She seems to have been from Waicai and while she moved past her beliefs, it never fully disappeared.

When the volcano started to heat again and it was time for someone to go, she gave her child. He was the last sacrifice. She waited until Hyang-Won was at hunt. When he returned and found his son gone, he was frantic and angry. He disappeared into the woods where a man that Hyang-Tai calls 'the Traveler' followed to calm him. It's not known what was spoken of, but apparently when Hyang-Won returned, he was changed, as were his beasts. They became as they are now. Not creatures of the woods.

Anui was gone and the villages were quiet. I think it may be possible that whatever curses this place is related to that and perhaps to the traveler. He is the reason for the House of Ravens, those that go in but never come out.

It might be possible to find a way to undo this curse, as we have had to undo the curses of ancestors here, but I am not certain how.

I do ask that someone accompany me to the House of Ravens, but only those that may wish to know more. I made a promise that I must fulfill and it may offer more answers.

Comments

un: white pawn; text

[chosenbylight]

Did they pursue the boy all the way to the House of Ravens? Is that what changed the man Hyang-Won into what we know him to be now? Something in the temple itself?

[thebrideoffire]

I'm not certain the House of Ravens was used for this purpose. From what I understand, it is here because it was Hyang-Won's attempt to change the method of sacrifice and appeasing the volcano.

When Hyang-Won went into the woods, the traveler followed and after, Hyang-Won emerged changed, as were his animals.

[chosenbylight]

From what I am now coming to understand, based on Wrathion's conversation with the Huntress, the House of Ravens was the traditional method of sacrifice. I had thought, when the villagers spoke of giving to Brother Sanwon, they meant literally.

I am not certain that giving a child to this temple is a better fate, in the end.

But what does the White Wanderer do, with his tributes? The Beastmaster does not approve of sacrifice, and no wonder after what happened to his son, so it cannot be that.

[thebrideoffire]

I think the Huntress was once Anui and so I don't trust her word. Not if she willingly sacrificed her child. It was to Sanwon that she gave him, when the volcano began to heat. But House of Ravens I doubt was the cause.

It would be only speculation to what the traveler does. Until we see what is at the House of Ravens, it would be guessing.

[chosenbylight]

I do not know that we can be so quick to judge her, if those were the customs of the village where she was from. While I do not approve of the methods myself... Even now, here in Ke-Waihu, where I understand they are less stringent in their following of the local customs, the people are still deeply superstitious in their beliefs.

The young jeweler, who we rescued from sacrifice himself. He told us that they would always sacrifice to the mountain, just before it began to heat too much. That they have not given it anything for years. How many years, I wonder -- since the White Wanderer offered them their alternative, perhaps?

[thebrideoffire]

She lived in this village content and without participating in such actions. To give away one's child? I care not if this was once her custom, she did not follow it in this village. She knew she did wrong when she sent that child away while her husband was gone.

Perhaps. That apparently seems to be the case. Though they seem eager for other methods.

[chosenbylight]

She knew that her husband would not approve. But she likely thought herself to be in the right, at least at the time. Your only son is a high price to pay, for the sake of something you do not truly believe in.

We cannot blame them. Whether the sacrifices worked to stem the flow of the mountain or not is besides the point. They are children. There has to be a better way.

[thebrideoffire]

I did believe it. I believed that she would save my husband's life with her magic, but she simply never clarified what the sacrifice would be. This situation is not very different. Regardless, this child was innocent and had no choice in the matter. His mother willingly gave him.

Forgive me, but such actions are not something to be tolerated when innocents are killed. It matters little how long this practice has been in place when so many suffer.