eastbound | Entries tagged with original: bai mingyu

[ the video feed flicks on to a young man's grim, steel-eyed gaze. he strikes as a man who might be more attractive were he not so severe and dour, a natural softness to his features that does not take easily to his fury. rosy lips pulled taut in displeasure, he stares out as though scrutinizing an audience he has not yet gathered, who yet remains unseen. ]

It's Gabriel.

[ he states his own name with distaste, as though he would rather be doing anything but giving his name to these circumstances and that much is the plain truth of the matter. ]

I require the statuses of Beitang Moran [ insufferable know it all ], Wei Wuxian [ insufferable busybody ], and Five [ insufferable ].

As for the rest of you, would someone like to kindly tell me where the fuck we are and what the hell we're doing here?

foxable

Hey, um, everyone. So, I uh - I know we have a lot going on right now, but uh - we may have more? Going on? Soon? Though I really want to talk about the implications of body switching sorcery but that's not the point --

Anyway, so, uh, for those of you from Earth - and from a vaguely similar time line to ours - you might remember something called the French Revolution. Yeah? Where the upper class got in some deep shit and a lot of unrest went down and a lot of killing happened.

Anyway, um, so our charge - Tamaiu's niece, Eydis - she's uh, the belle of the ball. Basically. I can barely show my face at court anymore but she's got like a billion suitors, which is all great -- if you like that sort of attention -- but one of them gave her a pretty dire warning.

He told her to flee Taravast and go back home to Sa-Hareth - you know, place being run by our friendly neighbourhood undead guy with a bear for a pet, super safe place - because unrest is starting to 'mount in the streets' and the gentry are going to be a target.

I know this sounds like no big deal compared to literal undead invasions, but we do not want to ignore something like this. Not when we, thanks to our patronage, are not only gentry but foreign gentry. They may not be zombies but when people decide that enough is enough they can overthrow anything.

Anyway, um. Just. Uh. Food for thought.

descendency

Hello darlings, it's Bai Mingyu again. Some of you may know me as Gabriel. Do sound off if you're still alive. Also give a yell if someone you knew is now missing. It's important to keep these things up to date.

Also, Lee Chang and I have found ourselves in a position to infiltrate an exclusive underground event held by, I would guess, local necromancers and nobility. However, the fee involved to gain access totals 10,000 coins. Since I believe what we find there will be of benefit to everyone at least in some small way, help covering it would be much appreciated. Lee Chang's never heard of a nine-to-five in his life, and it's been hard to maintain my influencer lifestyle since we left Sa-Hareth.

[ Mingyu sighs a deep breath at that. Remember those days? The good old days where he was making money hand over fist? The next stop better have better prospects for whoring. ]

Beitang Moran, I'll expect your husband to be by with your contribution shortly. I'll make you kids lunch or something after we're back. Double date sound good?

Xie Lian, I also expect you by with some contribution of your own as every time I look at you, you're costing the group money.

People who contribute will be prioritized when we return with information.

Oh, right— Five, I'd like a meeting with you before we head out. I do hope your sanity is ranking at least a six these days?

jeoha

[[ ooc: during the two days barricaded into the tower by the dragon. ]]

Do not approach the undead if you do not know how to fight them - these are more dangerous than the ones we have met before.

We need two groups. With me, trained fighters who are confident in decapitation.

With others, those that are trained enough that they can protect and move those of you who are not.

Do not take the undead lightly. Do not risk yourself needlessly. We have healers among us - seek them if you are wounded.

Who will come to hunt?

descendency

I noticed several of you at my concert the other day.

[ Long, thoughtful pause. ]

I hope you enjoyed it. Do tell me if you have any feedback.

[ He meant to warn everyone of possible side effects and to get in touch with him if they need help, but once he started talking he changed his mind. Why invite trouble? If someone's suffering enough surely they'll put two and two together and seek him out, right?

So good talk, kids. You're on your own. ]

Well, good talk. Don't die out there. Or cost us money. Or else.

thesuspense

Those dead people-- They talk a lot. Always the same talk. [From the sound of it, he finds said talk pretty tedious.] Restless dead. Arha won't shut up. I think his woman is being a-- [The sound cuts out as something that sounds like a paper wrapper is rustled loudly right by the stone] Pissed him off. Someone did. So they talk abo--

[A sudden pause, and then there are some quiet sounds, much like a piece of hard candy would make when pushed into a mouth and moved around by a tongue.]

...it's not sweet.

[This, in fact, is way more alarming news than whatever else he may have been about to tell.]

Why isn't it sweet? What is this useless place?! Why can't I taste?!

[That went from zero to a hundred on the barely interested to intense anger scale, and then the voice starts getting quieter, as if its owner has just up and walked away.]

Daozhang? Daozhang! I need you~ Where is-- Ah, right.

[With that, the voice becomes louder again, evidently having decided this thing might still be useful after all. Together with the stone, he also pick up on his long abandoned train of thought.]

Ah! Right, right, I forgot to say~! They want to kill you. Dunno why. Loooots of blah blah.

weifinder

Bear!? Bear! There was a bear in the bath!

( So comes this startled and startling shout, as elsewhere in camp, Wei Wuxian is (unfortunately) streaking past in damp, confused glory, a bear of arctic composure lumbering after him, soap bar still in mouth. Come back! He was just handing the soap over, he wanted to help! )

weifinder

We've just heard from our friend Haltham about the fighting between Unhalad and Anurr forces nearby, so here's a question for everyone, brought up originally by our companions who got themselves drugged and fight-happy against the second living: what actions do you think we should or shouldn't take?

In Haltham's encouraging words, think wisely. Whatever we're doing or not doing has an effect by merit of choice. Also, a reminder that we still need to not end up in either's hands or revealing our location, given the reason we were summoned here has not changed, and our deaths can be a benefit to either side. Our lives benefit ourselves and our rescuers and the peoples here, by keeping us out of warlord hands.

( He's not opening up with his thoughts because he doesn't want it as a discussion against his take, but as people offering their thoughts after he asks the question. )

foxable

[ A cheerful voice comes on over the network the night before they are set to leave. To some of you it may be familiar already, to others a mystery, but thankfully he is not going to leave you in the dark for long. ]

Alright, sounds like we're rolling out tomorrow! I haven't even met everyone yet so this is going to be interesting, but, uh, Hi! I'm Fox.

[ There's a long pause... ... ... Just long enough to make someone wonder where the fuck this guy went when suddenly there's a sound of a bunch of pieces of paper falling loose everywhere and him scrambling to pick them up: ]

Sorry! Sorry, uh, where was I? Right, I'm Fox, I'm - ah - a mage, I guess, is the best way to put it. Wizard always sounded stupid. Anyway, uh, so this is all a little new to me, haha - uh - not that it isn't new to you guys? From what I understand, pretty new for everyone. Even the um. People who have been here a little longer. Still not totally clear on all that but - right, sorry, not the point.

The point is! I do a lot of enchantment magic. I guess here they call it thralling? Anyway I'm from Canada and while I can't say I'm from the tundra exactly, Toronto still gets pretty fucking cold so warming spells on clothes is like, a must have, for at least six months of the year. It's kind of like - um - you know those little packets that you can rub together and they heat up? No? Handwarmers? I can't remember what they're called. Anyway - it's kind of like that. But in your clothes. So you're just always warm. Which is good, in the winter. Obviously. Um--

Uh--

God I know I had something more to say but uh--

I guess if there's anything else you think you'll need, let me know? I'm not charging anyone for spells, but you will have to bring components. So uh for warming spells incense is great, or like, a box of matches or something like that usually does the trick. In a pinch, tinder wood, but you need like a good couple handfuls of it and then a way to burn it. Anyway. You probably don't care? You don't care.

OH-- [ For a second it seemed like he was done, but he wasn't. sorry. ] -- one last thing. Um, magic? Other people's magic? Your magic? I'd really like to take a look at it. I'm real quick at picking stuff up and I'm happy to teach my own in exchange if you want? If that even works here. Still experimenting with that! So if you're up for experimenting that's good t--

[ He gets cut off by someone's screaming orgasm. ]

-oo... okay. Okay! Yeah, anyway, hit me up! Cheers!

aprescoup

He... llo? Hey-ho! Hello. Got the hang of it now —

( But does he? A sudden spell of background laughter would indicate the channel remains disrupted, until… it suddenly quiets down. )

...there we go! How’s you lot? This is Haltham. Me? Been good. Real swell. Got me a... got a goat now. She’s a handsome one. Met’er coming down from the mountains, minding my own business, might’ve had a little to dri — ...but keeps the body warm, don’t it? And there I was, and there she was, and I think she’d just killed a man? Can’t be helping it, happens in a mountain. And we looked each other up, then down, though she’s mostly sideways, think she’s, hm... her eyes sort of cross, but you know, she’s a looker, and she walks the leash right, and we headed on together, so. And now, I take her everywhere.

( He seems, suddenly, to remember the point of his outreach: )

Anyway. You’ll have your own goat! Maybe. We’re taking you. Taking you elsewhere. On a walk. To a new place, better place, for living. Mostly better. Well... right, it’s not all that better, but it’s a home, a farm. And... look. Can’t be having you at the… ladies’ house no more. There’s trouble in the city now, with all them folks rising for Anurr, and... heard some of you got involved with all that. Keep your heads down! Oi! Oiiiiiiii. Down. Don't be dying before I even see you.

( A pause, then: ) So, this farm. Used to be a woodhouse. It’s... closer to the forest, where the old blood live, and it’s farther out, but… you can still walk to the merchants’ places, and it’ll do you good. Proper, honest stroll each morning. Works an appetite. Old man thought it might be rough, but I talked him into it, and it’s all yours, now! You can head on tomorrow, and Karsa’ll even... you know, sort out your speech pieces, so you can talk smart there too.

Now, it’ll need some cleaning... and some urging along of the wolves. And rats, and... the trouble with the... you'll see. I don’t think some walls are holding, but you’ll prop them, won’t you? Bit of sweat and mud and snow, and it really is all yours, once that’s done! And no one will come along to bother.

Just... don’t open your doors at night, no matter what the wind tells you. Or people. Them’s not people, in that forest.

( ooc: A mission log for the move-out and the delights of the 'farm' will be up tomorrow :) Characters with jobs at the House of Dew can hold on to their posts, even after they relocate. Translation devices will work throughout. )

darkeststars

This is Darth Imperius. I will be brief.

By now you've presumably all heard the details of Karsa's proposal. I don't have her ability to block out extra ears, so if you haven't, take it up directly with her.

I intend to organize our half of this operation. Some of you have already told me you're coming, but I would like a count of heads to know the size of our force and what skills we'll have at our disposal. We will likely be taking point on the more dangerous part of this op, so if you cannot fight, stay home. I will speak with you all about the schedule in person and deliver a full briefing on the day of.

Any actionable details or useful intelligence are welcome, preferably not over the quartz. Bai Mingyu or Eleven generally know where to find me.

[ Anyone is welcome. If you already signed up OOCly to participate, feel free to assume your character volunteered offscreen rather than replying here. Arche will be delivering info about scheduling and operational plans to everybody offscreen for players' convenience.

I will have to pause tags on this at some point but I'll be back tomorrow (Sunday)! ]

aprescoup

( She is heat and storm and hissing anger: ) You fools. And me, fool, listening to the master, helping! ‘Who could have known, Karsa, who could have known?’ I could have known, you could have known, any woman with sense could have known! Men? Men know nothing. You steal from a merchant, what does he do, eh? What does he do?

( A pause, as if she nearly expects an answer — before continuing, impatiently: )

He makes more coin. Do you know whose gold you took? Whose gems you took? Who made a large deposit at La Rea just when you all broke in? Do you know? Do you know who? Torsten. Congraaaatuuulaaaaations. The high merchant. The Torsten who won the auctions, the Torsten who inked a grand salt supply contract he needs that money to pay for. The Torsten who is bringing the great-bellied best, that ship Imperious in a few days. To make up for it.

( But she’s quieting, at least. ) And on it, he brings something powerful. We hear… the master hears. A commission. Because when merchants lose money, pah! They turn into smugglers. They say Unhalad’s brothers hired Torsten to bring in... help for him. Everyone heard about the bodies on the pillars two weeks ago. Unhalad’s own people picked out and killed, no, they can’t have that. No one… no one in the east sent help to Sa-Hareth when the dead took us over, but the dead, eh? The dead help each other. Funny, no? The world. And funny, you. What are you doing? Wasting time, with tales since grandmother was too young to even open her legs. ‘Arne the Red,’ who cares? How can a man survive three days and three nights in the tundra cold? He doesn’t. But you waste time on that, instead of —

( Bitterness and bile and she pieces herself together again. )

There is one matter of gladness. Unhalad’s allies sent him... some sustenance, as well as his weapon. More like you. Hopefully better than you, ah? Not fools? A handful of captives. Every man and woman and child deserves freedom. We will cut them loose. And tell Haltham, if you see him, there is work beyond sniffing the salt.

( Determined, then: ) Now. My people, we infiltrate. And we brave the instrument. But we are few. Eight? And... maybe exercise will do you well, ah? Keeps you from other foul business? Help free your fellows from the Imperious. We go together to the ship, but we each do our part. And we succeed.

I have more of the quartz for speaking, when you free them. Ten pieces? I will send them. Like I sent you quartz to... visit La Rea. And you made gain. So now I ask my cut: some 7,000 coins would provide us enough supply to make a few men friends, to procure some sailor garb… while, alternatively, 13,000 pieces would get us... a more substantial distraction. Who is coming? And how much gold can you give?

( ooc: This is a precursor to the ship rescue test drive & game event that our resident Sith Lord player proposed. Full event details will go up on 27 April! )

jeoha

It has come to my attention that some of us have had more difficulty earning coin in the city than others.

[ Translation: He's broke as fuck and can't pay the portion that Mingyu mentioned in his last post that they would be expected to. ]

My companion Ylsa has informed me that the fur and beast trade in this city can bring coin, and has reluctantly agreed to accompany me outside the city to hunt. If any of you have similar skills and have yet to make your contribution to our shared cause, you are welcome to join us, but I must insist that you are capable of handling yourself not only with the hunt, but with any deathless that we may come upon outside the city. This is not a risk-less venture, and I have no intention of allowing anyone to put themselves in harm's way unnecessarily. So no, there will be no training on the hunt, at this time. If you wish to train, we can do so here in the House.

If anyone requires furs or skins to make warm weather clothing - and if you do not have them yet, you will need them - you may request them for a far smaller sum from us than you would find on the market. [ A pause: ]

And that includes you, ladies, as thanks for your gracious hospitality.

[ There's a tittering over the channel that indicates that someone, at least, is listening. ]

Also - I think it may be wise for all of us to meet. In person. At once. Mingyu's step toward organization was a wise one, but from the moment we arrived here we became brothers in arms. Our survival and our success will rely solely on each other, and that requires knowledge and trust.

I expect most of you will agree.

descendency

Good day, fellow hapless idiots caught up in this mess.

Some of you may know me. My name is Bai Mingyu for those who speak enough Chinese not to butcher it and Gabriel to those who don't. I'm 25, Canadian, from the year 2018, and a Taurus.

I understand we have some pressing financial concerns.

We also have organizational issues, of the 'we don't have any' variety. So I propose a census.

Please state your name, age, and whatever other information you feel pertinent such as place and time of origin and skills, and I will add you to a roster. You are welcome to opt out, but in that case I will promptly stop what little investment I have in your personhood to focus our collective resources on people with a willingness towards cooperation.

In other words, I'm not going to bother with you if you're going to be a pain in the ass.

You may find me in my quarters if you would like to look at the roster at any time. I consider it a matter of semi-public record, at least as the people in the roster are concerned.

Once I have a tally, I will update with an expected minimum contribution per party towards the 100,000 pieces necessary to take our next steps.

I believe we should also have a forum to share what we know of our situation thus far. Just to very briefly skim my own knowledge, I know few of us are from the same time or even same planet. I've met approximately one person who could place Canada on a map, which actually isn't that odd, the worse bit being no one will understand that joke. The census should help gather more of that data and we can decide how to proceed from there.

Thank you for your time.

pulvisetumbra

( Moaning, laughter, lewd innuendo — the fixtures of the House of Dew's channels. Until, a steeled voice cuts way: )

Tamaiu, if you please. Impress on your ladies the virtue of silence for the next hour.

( All too suddenly, betraying how often the mistress of the house listens in, the cacophony of sound dispels. He continues: )

Good afternoon. You’ve made rather a mess of things, haven’t you?

I made my first fortune in Sa-Hareth. Inevitably, through sales of salt. Now, this was before, when death was still a reliable constant, and trade margin weren’t unhelpfully eroded by the competition’s ability to deploy dead contingents that require no rest, no feeding, and minimal attendance while they operate the production line. I assure you, immortality is infertile ground for business.

( A moment, for amateurs to appreciate this economic downturn. )

At this time, I volunteer no name. You do not require it. Allocate me one as you please. I am a merchant, by trade. I am accustomed to a degree of discretion. But I have no guarantee that you would offer me the same courtesy in the event of your capture, and the ambitions of this enterprise frankly surpass you. It is of utmost importance that I survive.

It is of secondary relevance that you do the same. But my collaborators and I have allocated a not insubstantial volume of coin, sweat, blood and personal sacrifice to progress your escape and survival. The hope, the gain, and the only purpose of this operation is to remove you from Akhuras and direct you to pastures new. Any alternative allows for Unhalad, his siblings and their masters to utilise you in a war that has devastated our world.

( Another pause, measured. He is accustomed to the protocols of rhetoric. )

To be clear. You are not so naïve to assume our first efforts didn’t study the merits of your murder. We tested this on a batch. Regrettably, our enemies proved sufficiently apt to resurrect their captives and use them after.

We will therefore proceed with extraction. Some of the standing eastern portals still offer the possibility of transfer to other worlds. Although… most have not been tested in generations, and we may need to deepen our voyage east, if and when the beacons cannot accommodate us. The safety of portal transportation to your persons is candidly immaterial to us and remains your concern.

( Be that as it may. Another moment's hesitance: )

My part in this endeavour is to secure information on the portals and their location, along with facilitating transit, on occasion. You will contribute with coin, with labour, with discipline. Begin by assisting Haltham and Karsa as much as possible.

Now. If you attracted Unhalad’s attention, it is not unfair to assume you were all previously situated in a position of power. You are used to being heard, perhaps also heeded. Some of you may have commanded every room you stepped in.

Except for this one. I am master here. You are merchandise. I have no interest in hearing objections of stupidity, vulgarity or sentiment. Any other questions, proposals or comments may be submitted in an orderly manner.

( And perfectly civil once more: ) Tamaiu, if you please again. My thanks and regards to your ladies.

darkeststars

[ There's a businesslike voice on the network that only some of you will recognize -- clearly filtered through the translator, and fortunately not interrupted by too many moans. ]

So I imagine I probably know the answer to this, but hope springs eternal: Did anyone else come here with technology?

Not all of my things are useful at the moment, but they do appear to be working. We should continue to keep proper tabs on our collective supplies.

weifinder

( this, sadly, starts with a moan. a very protracted one, where someone starts to speak when the moan seems done, and then: nope. onward it goes. there's an audible sigh, tapping of something against wood, and when the interference finally ends, Wei Wuxian speaks. )

Aside from a few voices advertising one means of obtaining coin, here's my question for the rest of us on this voice communication: who has anything they're willing to part with or make to sell at auction? For exaggerated stories about their origins, of course. I have somewhere lined up to store things leading up to, and there are people to try and talk with if we want to get anything into an exclusive auction. If we can invent a convincing enough background for something to make it.

( he pauses for long enough it seems like he might just have ended his talking there, before waiting for anyone to speak back. instead, he eventually adds: )

Is there, ah. Hmm. Anyone willing to help with posing for a few paintings? I'm a decent enough artist, but I've never been great at drawing from imagination, which is that or memory, really old memory, not going to cut it for what I'm thinking!

( what he's thinking: sex sells. can a guy get some clothed models for unclothed artwork, thanks? also he's not painting Lan Zhan for this, he would rather walk out into a blizzard filled with undead, thanks. )

( ooc: this is all optional for responses, but here's an ooc thread for anyone wanting to submit something for auction! i'm collecting a possible donation list (things characters can make count as donations!) so i can get it submitted for an idea of what might get bankrolled out of playing the auctions in the end! )

jeoha

[ There's a pause, as he remembers how to use the magic, and then his voice comes through - crisp, low, commanding. He has his Prince voice on and he doesn't even notice. ]

You must go for the head. Decapitation is best, if you can manage it. Caving in the skull second best. Slice open the throat, third. No fancy footwork, no finesse. Your first priority is to keep yourself from harm, so only go for the kill that you know you can take. If you can't take it, escape.

[ He pauses, breathes. ]

We have been told to kill them, if we can. If you cannot, come to me. I will teach you how to fight.

We do not have the luxury of being ignorant.

descendency

[ That sure is a soft, somewhat bored, deeply unimpressed voice coming in over the magical network. ]

Has anyone seen anything like a spray bottle being sold at the markets? Some kind of water receptacle connected to something that will spray water out when compressed. A perfume bottle would work. Anything that sprays water will do.

I'll pay for one to be brought to me. Thank you in advance.

groundrules

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descendency - video; un: peekaboo
foxable - un: fox rain [voice]
descendency - un: anglicized | audio (a small matter of money)
jeoha - un: azure stream || voice
descendency - un: anglicized
thesuspense - audio | un: chengmei
weifinder - audio | un: xianxian of yunmeng jiang
weifinder - audio | un: yiling patriarch
foxable - un: silhouette among silk spreads
aprescoup - audio | username: haltham
darkeststars - [handmaiden of unsheathed swords] voice posted:
aprescoup - username: lady of the willow tree | audio
jeoha - un: drenched kitten of heated purrs, voice;
descendency - un: angelicized
pulvisetumbra - audio | username: raven master
darkeststars - [handmaiden of unsheathed swords] audio posted:
weifinder - voice: old dog turning new tricks | set after everyone's things have been secreted back to them
jeoha - un: drenched kitten of heated purrs, audio
descendency - un: undaunted snake in lonely gardens
groundrules - tag index;

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Page generated Jun. 3rd, 2025 10:59 am

exit, stage e a s t

Entries tagged with original: bai mingyu

video; un: peekaboo

un: fox rain [voice]

un: anglicized | audio (a small matter of money)

un: azure stream || voice

un: anglicized

audio | un: chengmei

audio | un: xianxian of yunmeng jiang

audio | un: yiling patriarch

un: silhouette among silk spreads

audio | username: haltham

[handmaiden of unsheathed swords] voice posted:

username: lady of the willow tree | audio

un: drenched kitten of heated purrs, voice;

un: angelicized

audio | username: raven master

[handmaiden of unsheathed swords] audio posted:

voice: old dog turning new tricks | set after everyone's things have been secreted back to them

un: drenched kitten of heated purrs, audio

un: undaunted snake in lonely gardens

tag index;

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March 2024

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