let's set d o w n some (
groundrules) wrote in
westwhere2022-05-18 06:35 pm
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Entry tags:
- 2ha: chu wanning,
- arc iii,
- arcane: viktor,
- asoiaf: daenerys targaryen,
- finale,
- harry potter: hermione granger,
- kingdom of the wicked: emilia,
- kingdom of the wicked: wrath,
- legend of fei: xie yun,
- mo dao zu shi: xiao xingchen,
- mo dao zu shi: xue yang,
- oh! my emperor: beitang moran,
- oh! my emperor: su xunxian,
- owl house: eda clawthorne,
- sword of frost: yun yifeng,
- the gifted: marcos diaz,
- tian guan ci fu: xie lian,
- touken ranbu: kanesada,
- triangle strategy: jens macher,
- umbrella academy: diego,
- umbrella academy: five,
- untamed: lan sizhui,
- untamed: wen qing,
- warcraft: anduin wrynn,
- warcraft: wrathion,
- word of honor: zhou zishu
the tithe
The Arc III finale stretches until 2 June — and it’s erupt to no good.
THIS HOUSE IS YOUR HOUSE
The Ke-Waicai believers prepare for human sacrifice rites to prevent the eruption of the Ke-Sanwon volcano. They will lead tributes to the volcanic crater, which is lidded by the grounds of a decrepit haunted temple — known as the House of Ravens.
At the heart of the temple is a trodden dais that comprises four slowly receding plates. Numerous temple columns and deteriorating walls offer overnight hiding places, but beware the flinching statues and irritable large ravens. Meat, blood or shiny offerings can distract the birds.
- ■ Use the three previously gained keys to infiltrate the House of Ravens at night through forest pathways revealed by the Huntress.
■ Entrants to the House of Ravens are fully or partially depowered. Their ancestral curse is immediately lifted. Their strength is pulled into the Ke-Sanwon crater, which brims with raw magical power.
■ Hide on temple grounds until dawns, when the dais plates fully open to reveal a 10-metre entryway into the volcanic crater.
■ Overnight, characters are relentlessly tempted by mirages that only they witness: the eerie voice of a loved one might coax them to commit their greatest sin, or they could repeatedly relive memories that led them to such follies.
■ Characters guilty of drunkenness and gluttony feel deathly parched, starved and drawn to a lavish spread that is constantly far out — and ends up comprising raw corn and stale water, when they finally reach it. The lustful find their companions irresistible, or trail after a delectable beauty, who dissolves when touched. The wrathful mull violence, while the envious suspect their companions possess what they most desire. The proud are contemptuously incited to prove their superiority or independence, while the slothful give in to callous indifference towards their peers.
■ The stone statues that decorate the House of Ravens retaliate once visitors succumb to their sins: smaller sculptures throw stones or throttle nearby sinners, but only move when you do not look into their eyes. Larger 4m-tall statues exit the walls and give (slow) chase, retreating after 10-15 minutes. The statues stop attacking at dawns.
LET THERE BE BLOOD
CONTENT WARNING: BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF NPC PAIN, TRANSFORMATION
By dawns, the believers of Ke-Waicai have rallied their tributes — each crowned with wreaths of branches and crops — before the open dais. Roughly two hundred villagers attend the rites, along with eight powerful priests who use elemental magic.
- ■ A first sacrifice walks a long narrow plank that starts from the dais and goes a few metres into the mouth of the volcano. The plank shivers under from heat, but withstands weight.
■ During 15 minutes of exposure, the volcanic magic enshrouds the sacrifice, who painfully transforms into one of the animalistic tar creatures housed in the labyrinths of Ke-Sanwon.
■ Magically sensitive characters can feel this tribute now hosts volcanic magic, and that Ke-Sanwon’s power has slightly diminished.
■ The rites are interrupted by the significantly weaker, but wrathful Beastmaster, whose xenomorphic creatures attack the temple and seek his missing son
■ Characters should free the remaining tributes during the skirmish. They can be as nerfed as you need (if at all) during the rest of their stay in the House of Ravens.
■ The dais must stay open to access the volcano. You can take control of it and of the House by defeating the magically endowed priests, (literally) shouldering the head priest’s ancient white raven and holding its leash.
■ Pass the raven around and defend the bird’s current holder! Whoever carries the raven is often targeted by the village mob and the Beastmaster’s creatures.
■ The clashes last a few hours, until the Beastmaster and villagers exhaust their forces.
■ Diego Hargreeves, Xie Lian, Wrathion, Daenerys and Jon Snow apprehend the Beastmaster, slaying him, when he refuses to relinquish the Brotherhood. Decide who lands the killing blow. His last words: ”You’ve… seen this place. My animals… our dead… have more compassion than these living.”
FIRE AND BRIMSTONE?
The volume of magical energy and tormented spirits inside the volcano weighs heavily on the fracturing dark water mirror that has prevented Ke-Sanwon’s eruption so far. It’s going to blow, unless you:
- ■ Throw more dark water in to fix the mirror fissure. You can get dark water from volcanic cracks, dried wells and creepy crop fields.
■ Use ice / cold magic and ol’ science to cool down the volcano and help the mirror heal. Or lend Moiraine and Magnus a hand as they work with cold magic, and protect them while they cast.
■ Help Wrath and Wei Wuxian exorcise the volcano’s ancient spirits. Many have lost consciousness, reduced to memory fragments and feelings of wrath, pain and resent.
■ Guide villagers to bring sea water. Anduin (on top of the dragon Wrathion) and the harpy Eda are flying in supplies. Viktor is coaxing shipments from his werewolf friends of Ke-Waiar. Large phoenixes are also up for grabs for deliveries. Ensure couriers can safely arrive and quickly discharge their water.
■ Several characters are set to each absorb some of the magical power contained within the volcano, developing aftereffects. They must walk the wobbly plank and stay exposed to the volcano magic for under 15 minutes to avoid transformation: the longer they linger, the more power they take in, feeling as if they are burning from within. Exit quickly and rest copiously after. Those who spend over 10 minutes exposed suffer intense fevers and require immediate medical assistance to cool down.
WILL SOMEONE THINK OF THE CIVILIANS?
Beyond the House of Ravens, assist villagers who want to safeguard their possessions or evacuate by sea.
- ■ The gradual spread of Ke-Sanwon’s magic infects some villagers with temporary animal traits. These effects dissipate within three-four hours.
■ Characters who remain in the villages may feel more irritable and resentful, overcome by the feelings of the volcanic spirits.
■ Coordinate water and supply deliveries with those at the House of Ravens.
■ The Hok-Shinn are divided in their response: some resort to daylight robbery to secure the funds for their own safe departure; citing security, the men of Sairen unsympathetically rally commoners into designated parts of the village, often splitting apart families that then need help finding relatives; alone, Weisi’s followers keep the peace, but are frequently overwhelmed by waves of panicked villagers, thugs and animal hybrids.
■ The magical spillage overwhelms the forest fox spirits, leaving some enraged and prone to attack. Others assume the shape of beautiful wo/men and ask escort into Ke-Waihu for shelter, without disclosing their fox natures. These ethereal strangers betray their origins with cold smiles, glimpses of fleetingly sharp teeth, a fondness for chicken, and… is that an extra set of ears? No harm befalls those who bring a fox into the village, though s/he may insist on now being your lawful spouse.
THE AFTERMATH
With the clashes and Ke-Sanwon subdued, the villagers of Ke-Waicai request back their temple keys and white raven. They lead the party to the beacon of the House of Ravens — the beautifully carved and now-closed dais above the volcano.
- ■ Party companion Hatisse confirms the beacon can be revived within days.
■ She warns that an eruption was prevented by depleting the volcanic magic now, but that the threat could recur within five to 10 years.
■ All character curses (ancestral or individual) are lifted, and powers return completely.
■ Spend some downtime in the villages. Ke-Waicai offers the most luxurious, but frosty accommodations, while the werewolves of Ke-Waiar are tired, but thrilled hosts. Those who suffer from lycanthropy are now experiencing fewer and fewer ‘nocturnal episodes.’
■ In Ke-Waihu, villagers have now calmed and are grateful for help with reaping the fresh harvest and watering their crops, as well flows revive. Every other night, Hok-Shinn Weisi organises a bonfire with village musicians, hearty dances, fresh bread and ale. Villagers seek to marry off their… alluring spawn to their saviours.
■ Within days, Hatisse summons the party to the activated beacon: a pool of white energy, in which one must slowly descend. Characters who were dropped or AC swept in May enter the beacon first and are presumed returned to their home worlds. Characters set for a canon update follow in — but are spat back by the portal and return within minutes.
■ Inevitably, the remaining volatile magic of the volcano disrupts the beacon and ruins the dais. Happily for you, the Merchant will soon get in touch with your next ticket east.
no subject
Well, I'm really glad cultivator isn't just a fancy way of describing a farmer.
[ Like he initially believed, although the man's appearance should have told him otherwise. ]
That means there's more magic to draw from. Not that I don't appreciate farmers, but this is more of a spirit-cultivator problem. Speaking of which, have you tried talking to the angry volcano ghosts?
[ Magnus can only multi-task so much, and calming ghosts seems more like it falls under a cultivator's purview than a warlock's. At least, at the moment. They're probably raging about not getting enough sacrifices or about having been sacrifices themselves in the past, so naturally, there's a lot of condensed negative energy aggravating their volcano situation to untenable levels. ]
no subject
So he has no idea what to do, basically, except carry on with the conversation awkwardly.]
...there us too much resentment. They don't feel like complete souls anymore. [There doesn't feel like they can speak.] The only means I have to fix that would not work on so many spirits at once.
no subject
[ Even Magnus can't do that, no matter how hard he's trying to at the moment. He can barely hold himself together and has to rely on magic donations to keep from kissing the ground right now. ]
Every little bit counts, and I'm sure those one or two souls would appreciate being calmed and laid to rest.
[ Being made to wander in eternal agony in the afterlife is a fate he'd only wish on his father and greatest enemies. For others, he'd want them to find peace after death, including himself should he one day die... although, he's somehow managed to avoid it for a few centuries now. ]
no subject
[He looks at the volcano and the mirror and he thinks it keeps him from looking like he's avoiding eye contact. Without noticing though, the grip of his hand tightened a little.]
Tianwen's ability is Judge. It can draw the truth from the living when wrapped around them. For the dead it draws out their true self, free of resentment and anything else that corrupted them. The way the spirits here are...I cannot pinpoint where to fine just one soul to use it on.
[He speaks bitterly because he's unused to being helpless (because being useful is what he's good for since he's too cold, too short-tempered, too impersonable and too ugly to be good for anything else.)]
Jiuge's ability is Bewitch and it can calm people and put them to sleep at least temporarily, but I would have to stop lending you energy to summon it. [Because it is significantly stronger than Tianwen...but also probably because a guqin requires two hands to play.]
no subject
[ Really just the pesky ones. Most souls tend to peacefully pass to the next life on their own. ]
Have you consulted with any of the other spirit mediums and exorcists hanging about? I know a frowny one who might have better insight if you can manage to get him to use full sentences.
[ Or maybe he's just that way with Magnus and Magnus' Magnus-ness... ]
As for calming and sleeping, that could benefit a lot of people who are being chased right now, although I, too, am loathe to release your hand. Not only for the magic reasons. It's just nice to be held by a pretty young man.
[ He tosses a friendly wink his way, unsure if that really will just motivate his new cultivator friend to release him quicker. ]
no subject
But unspoken is that he would rather try helping first.]
I have not. [He gives a quick, pointed look at their joined hands as if to convey that he had been preoccupied.
Rather than blushing in embarrassment he instead looks...utterly confused for a moment.
Then, figuring this was a jab at his ugliness (which doesn't exist he's just stupid), he clicks his tongue in annoyance that is pretty genuine.]
I apologize for neither being pretty nor young.
[.........Chu Wanning you are literally in your late twenties.]
no subject
[ He's yet to meet anyone younger than himself but is still holding out hope that he might not be the only immortal in this world. ]
You know how many would kill for the long, flowing locks and a face free of scars or pock marks?
[ He wonders about whoever made this poor guy feel so down on himself. A true shame, but people are often cruel to others out of envy. ]
no subject
[He doesn't look surprised or disbelieving to hear that. It's not exactly unheard of where he's from.]
Being free of scars doesn't mean beauty...nor does the presence of them make someone ugly. It's impolite to imply otherwise.
[As for what happened to give him this lack of self-esteem......it's a long story.]
no subject
[ Also he may have just stopped counting years at some point... ]
And I stand corrected, but the point remains –you're very handsome throughout. I fail to see why anyone would think otherwise. Beauty standards are arbitrary and change every decade. I only find the cruel, violent, and intolerant to be ugly people.
[ If only others were as open-minded, but he's experienced his own fair share of insults over time simply for being half-demon and having demonic traits. ]
no subject
[He prefers it when people are direct.
...
He hadn't been embarrassed because he was sure the compliments were mocking. He wasn't handsome--not even "a little" let alone "very".]
Is there something wrong with your eyes? I am-- [He trails off, the space between his brows pinching tight. There is an uncomfortable tightness in his chest. He had a sinking suspicion he knows what it is...but is he going to say anything about it? Of course not.]
I am short-tempered and cold. Those who know of me would tell you that cruel and violent are not far from the mark when it comes to me.
[He isn't sad about it. At least. He tells himself he's not. But his hand tightens again, because, really. Who would want such a reputation?]
no subject
He shakes himself out of it a moment later. ]
That doesn't sound terribly off from my boyfriend when I first met him. Actually, some people where he works with still tend to find him rather ill-tempered, but he's very sweet on the inside, as I'm sure you are. Deep down.
[ Never mind the crack about Magnus' eyes. He's sure he didn't mean it that way. ]
Are you still going to argue with me over being complimented? You know I'm just going to compliment you harder.
[ If only because Magnus enjoys winning any battle of wills. ]
no subject
I am not sweet! [He sounds so offended. He might have thought this was all just mocking him but that seemed less likely if the man is talking about his friend.
Still, the alternative was even more embarrassing so he scowled.]
Stop speaking nonsense.
no subject
[ Except he might pass out before that since his magic is likely to waver at any minute from trying to aggressively calm a volcano. ]
You can thank me by finding someone else to donate more energy. Surely, you can be a dear and manage that much?
[ For the fate of the world or just the fate of anyone within a certain radius of an active volcano site. ]
no subject
[It comes with a blush and a scowl because he's deeply, deeply embarrassed. And it was probably a good idea to pass this off to someone else. Even despite how much spiritual energy he has this endeavour still requires a lot. And he was...fairly certain the sap of the Heart Plucking Willow was acting up again...and he did not want to shrink down into a five year old in front of others.
And yet...]
Fine.
[He lets go, but doesn't go immediately. Instead, with some energy left to spare he raised a hand,] Jiuge, come forth.
[There's a glow and then a guqin appeared on his hand, the wood was black and one end curled into a flowering branch.] Take this. You can borrow it's energy until I find someone and bring them back.
no subject
I appreciate it. Be careful wandering out there. I'll continue ...supervising this situation, I suppose.
[ Someone has to, especially when the volcano is liable to kick up a fuss again, but he trusts Chu Wanning ...who he just met, which makes the whole ordeal feel a little ill-conceived, but if Chu Wanning wants to live, he better be nice and follow through. ]
Think we can wrap up here?
Even though it is powerful, even though it is clearly special, he leaves it in Magnus's hands with no hesitation.]
I can take care of myself.
[He sounds so annoyed to be worried about. In truth he was only embarrassed and uncomfortable. He wasn't the sort of person people worried about.]
I'll send someone along as soon as I can.