text; un: pillar of the heavens

[inkfire]

It turns out the conflict went further than Serthica. Or maybe the people just somehow ended up outside the city.

A friend tipped me off to this. Some people have discovered human remains. Some crime lords are looking to buy them up, so they can ransom the bones when they get to the city. Real fucking shitty of them.

He didn't say anything more than that, so I don't know where the bones are coming from. But there will be bones up for auction soon. Or otherwise available to buy.

Comments

un: protector izumi | audio;

[fushichou]

[...What.]

The hell they want bones for?

audio

[inkfire]

The crime lords want them to ransom them from their families, and make some money off them. [ which is bullshit, in his opinion, and the annoyance is clearly audible in his tone ]

Trying to get money out of grieving families. Tch. They'll drive up the cost to get the bones back.

[fushichou]

All right. Stupid question. Think we can outbid some crime lords and head this off before it gets out of hand?

/jack-o'lantern

[downswing]

We must.

[fushichou]

Yeah, but is it physically possible? Like, I'm making money pretty well on my end, but I imagine a crime lord has way more.

[downswing]

Then, we seek the bones out first.

[fushichou]

Oh, cool, grave-robbing. I'm sure karma won't come back to bite us in the ass.

But you're probably right. How many bones you think you can carry?

[downswing]

Between Zhou Fei and I, countless.

un: nutcracker (audio)

[snowcleave]

[ Cue a disembodied, dubious scoff. ]

[fushichou]

I mean, I hope so. Humans have a lot of bones.

[He pauses.]

Wait! Shit, I have a carriage. We can get you, this Zhou Fei whoever, and all the bones in there.

un : dappled peals of the parted seas (voice)

[beitangmoran]

How can hey even identify bones in any reliable way? There must be a reason why they think they know who these people are.

voice

[inkfire]

No idea. My informant didn't want to say much, and seemed a little nervous about it. Is there something that makes the people here special?

voice

[beitangmoran]

Beyond their apparent ability to keep moving after death, I don't think so. This could very well simply be a scam to lure families to pay up.

But if they have relaible sources, then we should try to track them down.

un: absterge

[downswing]

Your... friend. Seeking bones.

A murderer?

[inkfire]

Probably? He's a drug runner trying to work his way up the ranks, I'm sure he's killed before. Not something we talk about.

Don't discount his information.

[downswing]

You trust in him?

[inkfire]

I'd trust him to be a criminal. He'd sell my bones if I left them with him. Doesn't mean his information is incorrect.

[downswing]

The dead must be set to rest. We are in agreement?

video;

[deathcough]

Huh.

That so?

[There is a mysterious rattling/groaning death rattle type noise from off screen, Souji's face as straight as it possibly can be]

How much are the bones going for?

video

[inkfire]

[ that's not suspicious at all, nope. he narrows his eyes, watching him. ]

I haven't seen anything yet, but they'll try to get as much gold out of the families as possible. Why?

video

[deathcough]

No reason.

[He shifts his glance to the side when the rattling, shuffling noise gets a bit louder. He kicks at something heavy off screen and looks momentarily irritated, before he shrugs, looking casual again]

Just curious. Seems strange. I wonder what the punishment is for something like that?

[he asks, totally rhetorically]

text — un: starburst.

[valeas]

( this godsdamned place. )

Soon.

Do you have an inkling of how soon?

( blood and bones, how much time do they have? )

text

[inkfire]

He wouldn't give me any specific details. Not long, if these crime lords are so interested in getting their money.

[valeas]

I see plans are already being made. You can trust both Lan Wangji and Zhou Fei with such matters.

text; un:yuheng

[wooden_one]

[He's not usually the nosy sort but he kind of.....maybe.....read through some replies. This is his disciple after all and he has a duty to make sure Mo Ran doesn't get into trouble.]

Do what you think is right.

[As far as he's concerned, it's not stealing if they're taking it from people of this sort, in this context.

In other words, go steal the bones, Mo Ran. Your actions have Chu Wanning's seal of approval.]

If they have ways to identify the families of the deceased we can try to return them afterwards.

If you need help, I can come with you.