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[groundrules]

This log covers 7-25 April, drawing from previous discoveries. Feel free to tag in here or make your own posts/logs!

Sign-ups for NPC threads remain open until 23:59 GMT on 9 April.

THE LION’S DEN

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WEN QING’S RESCUE | THE HUNTRESS’ CURES | THE HUNT | THE OLD MOUNTAIN

Image source.

SWEET HISSED NOTHINGS

CONTENT WARNING: MENTIONS OF SNAKES, SERPENT CREATURES

Prior to the Huntress’ arrival, the group’s healer Wen Qing is captured by a feral half human, half serpent creature. Characters might overhear visiting woodsmen who say a woman was heaved into the woods at night by a large serpent.

After journeying through the illusion-casting forests of Ke-Waihu, prospective rescuers discover that traces of struggle lead them to a 20m-deep, wide pit on brittle pale soil, close to the Fortune fetters ruins:

■ If you cross the Fetters, local prophetesses cryptically advise you to shed torches or clothes and to run to cold streams, if you encounter danger. A distressed Hyang-Tai pleads kindness for ‘ancients’ and ‘children.’

■ The surroundings of the pit are eerily silent.

■ Rescuers can spot a sleeping Wen Qing at the bottom of the pit, patches of her bared skin covered in a slick shine and showing the start of growing scales. She is surrounded by dozens of dormant snakes and nagas, tightly and peacefully coiled around her.

■ Wooden stakes have been thrust into the pit walls — serving as challenging, but workable steps.

■ Some snakes are poisonous — with many cures available in the forest or back in Ke-Waihu — but most bite viciously without venom. Some nagas emit phlegm that briefly impairs the vision or blinds.

■ Watch your step! The creatures are drawn to warmth, fire magic and sound. They stir and climb the pit to attack if they feel threatened.
■ Rusted weapons and broken shields litter the bottom of the pit, dropped in by previous… visitors.

OBJECTIVES

■ Remove Wen Qing from her dire straits.

■ Wen Qing is left with serpentine sensitivities, instincts and scales. To cure her, healers advise a seven-day brew treatment of widow’s lace — an opiate plant found in large forest bushes.

■ Grab a few flowers at a time and store them well — collectors exposed extensively to widow’s lace experience four-six hours of light euphoria, paranoia or bizarre visions — swindling foxes and philosophical parrots are apparently commonly imagined.

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THE MAIDEN’S WATCH

The Huntress joins the group, deprived of her powers and absent her steed. She pointedly stares at the ground, but those who meet her gaze may revisit harrowing moments in their lives.

Following group conversations, her shelter is rotated between two locations: a shallow forest cave and the now deserted snake pit that previously hosted Wen Qing.

Take turns shielding her from the animals that seem drawn to besiege her. The Huntress spends her time in tears or penitence and speaks in a maddened tongue. Voice coarse and wet, she summons the composure to share her knowledge:

■ The Beastmaster and she both seek to witness the imminent eruption of the Ke-Sanwon volcano, expected within a month. The Beastmaster will become more human as that time draws.

■ Ravens excepted, local animals obey the Beastmaster and spy for him.

■ To avoid the pull of the Beastmaster and his Hunt, seek out:

THE SHRINE

Trek through Ke-Waihu’s haunted forests and find the village’s only shrine devoted to ravens, outside of the elusive House of Ravens.

■ Wear pebbles or wood splinters from the shrine to disrupt the Beastmaster’s thrall on you. These items must be replaced after three days.

■ Fox spirits have raised dozens of illusionary copies of the shrine. The stone of the original altar is marked for ravens in a small wooden carving, while copy shrines worship foxes.

■ Young fox spirits imitate ravens or play distant bells to distract travellers from finding the raven shrine.

■ Sometimes, fox spirits swarm, offering to show the way if visitors perform a small dare or tell them a meaningful secret.

■ If asked, Ke-Waihu locals share the shrine was raised by a wanderer, who spent a month in the village many years ago. He was disgusted with the arrogance of Ke-Waicai’s zealots, who insist ravens are sacred and can only be worshipped in the House of Ravens.

THE BRIDGE

Ke-Waihu has briefly reopened its gates to the nearby village of Ke-Waiar — to which it is connected by a fragile and narrow bridge high above a misted abyss.

■ Wind gusts shake the ropes of the rickety bridge, and several wooden steps are putrid, dangling or loose.

■ Ad you near the bridge’s end to Ke-Waiar, you may find a couple of fox spirits are purposefully rattling the ropes to unsaddle travellers. Plead or barter: you can offer anything from riddles to treats, a good performance, a poem, a favour, a shouted confession of true love…

■ The village gates open between sunrise and sunset. Characters who arrive early find many villagers sleep until late in the day. By sundown, some locals become frantic, alert, increasingly irritable.

■ Water can be freely taken from any of the wells within Ke-Waiar to satisfy the quest. Villagers offer it gladly — they too suffer from resurging drought and dark waters.

■ If you arrive at sunset or night, you can see villagers turning to werewolves in various stages of transformation, between humanoid and large wolf beast. They are lured out of Ke-Waiar, gates closing behind them, and released into the thick, vibrant woods — with you.

■ Take cover in the forest, to escape the pack of werewolves and wolves. Some might prove lenient if they catch you, while others feel compelled to draw blood.

■ To wait out the night: climb the forest’s sturdiest trees with help of the ropes purposefully bound from tall branches. Some trees even host rudimentary treehouses.

Image source.

THE HUNT

The Beastmaster, his xenomorphic creatures and mutated animals arrive in Ke-Waihu to behold the ‘imminent’ volcanic eruption.

The Beastmaster’s creatures possess sharpened senses and hearing, intense speed and hard carcasses that provide additional but imperfect protection from blows and missiles. They often hunt in packs, but behave themselves in Ke-Waihu during daytime.

The Beastmaster excuses himself from the underground Hok-Shinn clan’s attempts at a welcome celebration, taking residence with his beasts in his village hut. He may be encountered walking the village beside five or six of his creatures, inspecting the markets and even advising new huntsmen — his manner slow, speech rough in a way that suggests oral injury beneath his facial bandages.

THE TRIBUTES

The Hok-Shinn and an envoy of Ke-Waiar each present 10 distinguished but eerily listless youths of their village to the Beastmaster.

■ These tributes are then held in groups of five across four abandoned homes, each closely watched by six-seven men of the Hok-Shinn.

■ Team up, rescue some tributes — and get out alive.

■ For easier infiltration, try the forest-facing back of the houses, or the generously large, defective chimneys. Beware slippery or broken roof tiles

■ Hok-Shinn guards possess great brute force… and gratefully accept liquor.

■ Some tributes might fight their rescuers and attempt to alert the guards. Some claim it is their privilege to join the Beastmaster, while others say they should be sacrificed to the volcano Ke-Sanwon for their families.

■ You can hide the rescued tributes in the witches’ huts or the Fetters — gather them coin so they can book seats on the next ship out of Ke-Waihu.

THE HUNTING SEASON

The Beastmaster’s creatures are mannered during the day, but join the Hunting season that kicks off after the full moon:

■ Participation is (OOCly) optional.

■ For five nights, come moonrise, some characters feel compelled to flee into the forests and run, hide or avoid detection — alternatively, they join the Beastmaster’s creatures as hunters, chasing this quarry and forest animals.

■ You can chase each other or ‘pack’ up against a common target or enemy.

■ Anyone can ‘hunt’ or ‘be hunted.' Roles can swap across the five nights.

■ Characters can develop overnight instincts akin to an animal of hunt or prey of your choice, and they will be helped by these animals for the night. Snakes and ravens do not participate.

■ Hunting can be vicious (seeking to injure, kill or consume prey) or symbolic (just violently giving chase).

■ Certain characters feel especially compelled to join the hunt and to protect the Beastmaster outside of it. These include characters who are given to war, hunting, violence, wrath, gluttony or feral/animal characteristics. It also applies to those who previously turned xenomorphic during the Beastmaster's trip in Taravast, or whom he marked.

■ To avoid the hunt, stay out of the forest, apply the Huntress’ cures or lock yourself firmly indoors.

A couple of fun locations for hunt participants:

■ A tree enclosure where characters can hide for up to an hour, invisible to their pursuers. They can still be heard or scented.

■ A small lake, silvered at night, in whose waters you can breathe freely.

■ A fox spirit shrine, where a group of four-five vulpine friends defend you alongside their territory.

■ Abandoned wells and the forest streams previously touched by dark waters. The Beastmaster’s creatures seem very curious about the liquid, but ultimately pull back, as if obeying instructions.

■ Areas with strong fire or utter dark deter the Beastmaster's creatures.

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OLD MAN MOUNTAIN

Dormant volcano Ke-Sanwon shows signs of upcoming eruption: soil swells, increases in local temperature and small, low-grade earthquakes.

■ Characters with magical powers may find their strength sometimes fluctuates, suddenly swelling or briefly waning completely.

■ Dark waters fill out some of the ground cracks that follow earthquakes. The liquid is cold, settling as if it were iced. This dark water heals shallow wounds on any skin it touches, or gently revives vegetation over one-three days on any ground it is set on.

■ The strength of the dark water fades over a week’s time.

■ Digging through the ground cracks reveals thin rivulets of the dark water are present all around Ke-Sanwon.They are more numerous the closer you get to the volcano. Dark water also smears the mouths of hell.

THE JEWELLER

A few days after the earthquakes state (after 20 April, for network posts), characters wake to distant screams, as a group of 10 of Ke-Waihu's masked concerned citizens drag handsome young jeweller Dong-Yun out of Ke-Waihu.

■ The group is taking Dong-Yun through the predatory forests.

■ You can play out finding the captors’ convoy separately, or tag into the jeweller’s rescue here.

■ Bring the jeweller back to Ke-Waihu. Dong-Yun can share that his abductors intended to sacrifice him to the Ke-Sanwon volcano. One of the participants in the rescue: please share with the rest of the class!

”I’ve heard, but I’ve never — they used to, when my mother was young… she told, me even when she had me, all the mothers hid their young. She told me, they used to give them to Sanwon. The prettiest, the smartest, the most skilled. Give it all to Brother Sanwon, give it to… so it won’t take everything else. Give it our best, and it will leave us the rest. But this doesn’t happen anymore. The mountain doesn’t want it.”

Image source.

QUESTIONS

Comments

number five | open

[somebadnews]

i. the lead up ( open )

[ It always surprises Five when people agree with him. He's so used to his family fighting with even the simplest of requests, like focusing on stopping an apocalypse, that when someone actually listens to reason he doesn't quite know what to do. Their current arrangement with Anurr is a risky endeavor, especially on his end, and he expected most of those who remember him to refuse any kind of deal on principle. But the majority had miraculously seen a greater benefit to hiding the Huntress than to piss off beings far more powerful than any of them. It nearly elevated his opinion on their collective intelligence.

In no way did that decision simplify their situation. They have an opportunity with very little room for error and far too much out of his control. The Beastmaster's arrival, the volcano eruption, and the various magical inflections he's picked up all have the potential of putting them very far off course. And as much as he'd like to put his energy into plotting the demise of at least one warlord, his siblings are his first priority. Since he still doesn't know where the others landed, he can at least keep the ones here alive.

He finds time to eavesdrop on anyone who looks like they have a plan, and offers his opinion before they ask. Then he spends the better part of a day gathering boards and nails to better lock up his belongings. (Which is a pain when your hands are still bandaged, but he makes do.) When you can teleport, there's really no need to keep a door anyway. ]

ii. a safe space ( hargreeves )

[ After an exhaustive search, Five teleports Allison to where he'd left Diego. The safe room is marginally cramped with all of the supplies he's collected since they came to the village, but there's space enough for three people. There are still chairs and a bed in here somewhere, even if they're mostly covered by now with various boxes, filled with everything from medical supplies, to food, to books and trinkets. Maybe a few potions that he told Hermione he'd stop taking, but they really are better stored here.

He's still slightly on edge when he lets go of his sister's arm. Diego had been easy to find, but Allison took him hours to track down. He half expected to find her back in the volcano, but thankfully she only made it as far as a shrine. He didn't even get his rant out before taking her back here, but he wasn't wasting time on her protests. ]

How many times do we need to go through this? [ He keeps talking before she can answer — ] We need to stick together. I'm not going to be running all over the village looking for you if a major catastrophe happens, which it will.

[ He's done that more times than he can count, and he's already tired for as much as he's jumped around today. Actually finding and getting them both in one room seems like an impossible accomplishment. Looking between the two of them, he takes just a moment to be satisfied that he managed it. ]

We were lucky to get a warning this time, so the best thing to do right now is to ride it out. I already sealed the doors and windows, so nothing can get in. There's plenty of food and water to last us. We're not having another Taravast. [ Pointed. They don't have to like it, they just have to stay. ] Any questions?

iii. the hunt ( open )

[ Five was never one to follow his own advice. The forest seems to gain more of a presence as the days go on, up until it's impossible to ignore. Five was never meant to live in the village, and beyond that, he was always too far removed from society to find a place in it. When he inevitably leaves, he finds a welcome moment of clarity that goes hand in hand with the most basic need to survive. The woods are a stark contrast to the wasteland of the apocalypse, but the challenges are all familiar to him. Some nights he follows an oppressive need to prove his skill and naturally honed inclinations, and others he seeks refuge from threats that lurk in every shadow.

The nights he disappears into them, he doesn't return until morning, quieter and eager to rinse the blood from his hands. ]

iv. after tributes rescue ( open )

[ The story of the tributes to the volcano, and their subsequent rescue, reach Five not long after his extended stint in the woods. Along with the rest of the village and anyone with eyes who saw the fire and made the logical conclusion. And good for them, but now that their drama has subsided, he sees the chance to finally take care of one thing plaguing him.

He's exhausted and more than a little bruised when he tracks down any of those who were involved. If he's supposed to atone for human sacrifices, fine. He's got plenty of witnesses to choose from. When he finds some of the usual suspects, he appears beside them with little preamble and probably more force than necessary. ]

Where are they now?

iv. wildcard

Anything else! Yes, he did lock his siblings in a room, and they may or may not need a hand. Choose your own adventure for the hunter/hunted scenario and I'll go with it. Also happy to make starters related to the serpents, hassling the Huntress, and any awkward post-hunt scenarios. Plotting comment here as you like! (Action/prose/whatever you want I'll match.)

iii

[beitangmoran]

[Moran isn't even sure how he ended up in the forest. He has a deep dislikes of anything that takes over his mind, and this is no different, and once he realizes where he seems to have wandered to, his only preoccupation is getting back to the village.

It's in time like these that the soldier he actually is rises to the front, in spire f the fact that he is wearing long flowy silk robes and not his usual armor and sword.

That, and his power, who seems to have decided the situation is dire enough to activate in short bursts the way it sometimes does in battle. So it looks like it won't be easy on the way back.

After the first burst, he stops walking. Closes his eyes for a moment. then, very deliberately, turns to his left, eyes unerringly looking for and finding their target.]

Good evening, Master Five.

[somebadnews]

[ It could have been anyone. The forest is full of potential, and Five bends easily to the whispers of violence on the night air. When he comes across Moran, walking alone, his only thought is how fortunate he is that the opportunity presents itself. Nostalgia washes over him with the familiar rush of anticipation. When he was an assassin, efficiency was essential to predicting every ripple in the timeline, and he'd lie in wait for moments exactly like this.

It's not often that someone sees Five coming before he intends. Less often that he's invited, but he obliges and steps forward. Even in the shadows of the trees, the contrast between them is laughably stark. One dressed in silks, the other, smaller but covered in the marks and stains of previous encounters. There's already blood on his hands, but that much could be attributed to the curse, with the remnants of torn and dirty cloth still loosely wrapped around them.

His formality sparks amusement in him, and his mouth splits into a wide grin. ]

Hello, Moran. [ The name comes easily to him, and he continues to feign polite conversation while he starts to circle around. ] Out for a stroll?

[beitangmoran]

[Moran's eyebrow... twitches at being addressed by his first name. No one should be calling him that except those closest to him, and as agreeable as he finds the company of Master Five's brain, he still wouldn't count him as that.]

I was lost in thought and apparently wandered farther than I believed I had..

[somebadnews]

[ He comes to a stop on the other side of the path and tilts his head at his lazy attempt at a lie. That very unlikely scenario tugs at his well-honed paranoia, and he's reminded of how easily he spotted him. It isn't the first time. ]

I see. [ Shrugging lightly, even as he continues to eye him. ] That's quite an unfortunate coincidence. It isn't safe to be separated from the pack.

[beitangmoran]

[The most hilarious thing, though, is that it's not even a lie. Moran did get lost in thought and wandered somewhere he didn't want to. He can believe some it is probably due to whatever is going on right now with the Beastmaster's presence.

The words said to him carry some clear meaning, but Moran just shrugs back.]

I can take care of myself.

[A few people have seen him fight, but maybe Five wasn't among them. he doesn't necessarily hide the fact that he is an Army general, but it's true he doesn't advertise it either.

He's just hoping his power won't decided to stop helping, because if it does, he is for sure in trouble. Fighting in those robes is already going to be a pain.]

[somebadnews]

[ That's a phrase he's heard from others here before, and every time, it grates on him a little more. It's their way to dismiss the advice of someone who generally should be listened to, because he really knows what that means. Tonight he takes it as more of a challenge. He doesn't make the same point to Five, so he wonders if he already picked up on his suspicion. If not, he'll figure it out soon enough.

It doesn't really matter that he doesn't listen. He's seen all of them fighting for their lives at one point or another, but never been the one to test him.

He leans forward. ]

I'd hope so. Otherwise we'd just be wasting time.

[beitangmoran]

I don't see how any of what I am doing could be wasting your time, Master Five. I'm just planning to go back to the village and my bed.

[Of course, he wagers things aren't going to go as smoothly as he plans, but one never knows. maybe Five can still be reasoned with.

And if he can't... Well, that's another hurdle. Were he entirely without his power, Moran isn't sure he'd be able to overcome it. Even with it, his main goal is not to win a fight, but simply to escape relatively unscathed.]

[somebadnews]

[ It doesn't seem like he should care, but he just keeps waiting for something to shift. The same thing that he suspects Moran is waiting for. Most people would have overlooked the subtle threat Five was making, but he'd always been a little smarter than the rest.

That's what got his attention to start with. Only someone with something to hide would be trying this hard to convince him of his innocence. ]

What's stopping you? [ He could have kept walking. He should have. ] Did you have a vision of how it would go?

[beitangmoran]

I don't need a vision to know how it will go, Master Five. I have commanded armies before.

[And it doesn't take a genius or even a military mind to see you're waiting for an opening.]

Clearly, you have something in mind, and I don't think I can dissuade you of it, so why would I even try?

[somebadnews]

[ Five hums at his ploy to sound overly confident, because he already seems to have jumped on his assumptions. Which is interesting, for someone who claims to have been out here for no other reason.

He takes a step closer and holds open his arms. Not a weapon to be seen. He's eager to see what he'll do when he's challenged, but there's no reason for it to be over too quickly. ]

What's on my mind?

[beitangmoran]

[Moran doesn't answer. Instead, his gaze flicks to Five's hand, and the blood there, and then back to his face.

He's not going to attack first, Five. He knows better.]

[somebadnews]

[ He follows his gaze, looking down at his blood-covered hand like he's surprised it's there. It might seem alarming to some people, but not Moran, and his smile grows when he looks back up through the curtain of his bangs. He's assuming it isn't his blood, but doesn't ask. What more of an invitation does he need? ]

Always a good talk, Moran.

[ Five disappears in the next blink, and a second later he's behind him rounding a kick at his feet. Nothing immediately debilitating, but sometimes they need motivation to get moving. ]

[beitangmoran]

[And as soon as Five disappears, the sigil on Moran's forehead glows again, and he takes a side step.

He misjudged the distance a little bit, so Fives kick still hits his ankle, Which does hurt, but at least he's still standing, which wasn't Five's plan, he is sure, and he's also facing Five again, which definitely was not the plan.]

How aggressive. What exactly have I done to deserve this?

[somebadnews]

[ Moran's reflexes are sharp enough that he doesn't land on his back, but he can tell in an instant that they aren't going to save him; not if he thinks he can rely on familiarity. Even if he weren't in a heightened state, Five doesn't trust anyone who holds his secrets. Dimly he still thinks that meeting out here is no coincidence. He should have known better than to come alone.

His question is one that Five has heard before, from countless targets who never got an answer, or understood why their existence became a threat to the timeline. He's not any more inclined to give Moran that satisfaction. They're dragging it out as it is. When he makes no move to counter, Five straightens and holds his fists in front of him. ]

Do you think you've earned a head start?

[beitangmoran]

I'm not going to run, Master Five.

[Once again, Moran's eyes glow silvery purple, and his sigil appears briefly on his forehead.]

It's not the right time for it. Not yet.

[somebadnews]

[ Five narrows his eyes at the subtle glow, after which nothing follows. He was hoping for more of a challenge, but maybe he's already had a good enough look into how this ends. Unsatisfying, but the night is still young. ]

Not yet. [ He scoffs and is about to roll up his sleeves and put him out of his misery when a shadow enters the edge of his vision. Another predator has been stalking them. The forest is full of them, and for as long as they were standing around, it was a matter of time before they grew impatient.

He doesn't need any gift of foresight to know when the creature is ready to pounce, and at that moment Five blinks away again, leaving Moran to face it alone. ]

ii

[rumorate]

[She's disoriented from the jump, and it takes her a second to process what he's saying before everything settles into place. One second she was bribing foxes with Lan Wangji, the next she's in what looks like Five's personal crazy room with her brothers, and Five is giving a lecture on what they're going to do.

Then he says "seal the doors" and she holds up a hand.]

Wait, wait, wait. Are you pulling a Luther?

[somebadnews]

[ He had offered, but of all the questions that could have come out of her mouth, that one gives him pause. He glances briefly at Diego, then continues like she hadn't been listening to him. ]

You'll be fine not jumping into volcanoes for a day or two. [ Or however long they need. ] I've taken care of everything, so you can relax. It's better that I know where you are before the usual shit goes down.

[gladiokinesis]

Why the fuck do you think we're going to relax? And since when has you handling things on your own ever turned well?

(yeah that...is going to help diego. sure.)

[rumorate]

[She sees his pause and then shakes her head because of course he doesn't remember.]

When Vanya's powers emerged Luther got the bright idea to lock her in the panic room under the house. It didn't end well, Five.

[And she doesn't think this will end well either.]

[somebadnews]

[ Five tries to let Diego's objection just roll off his back, but he's hitting at a very sore spot. Why does he think he's trying to make up for it now? ]

This is different. I'm not taking any chances on you morons getting yourselves killed. [ He turns back to Allison, and his jaw clenches. The way she informs him of Luther's idea makes it seem like something he should know. ] I'm the only one who can get in. It's safe.

[ As for the implications of locking up Vanya... he wants to ask about her powers, and the rubble of the Academy, but this isn't the time to get into it. ]

...I'm not Luther.

[gladiokinesis]

You're not Luther but you're taking pages out of his playbook -- never a smart call.

(and diego is worried about five.)

You think we want you to get yourself killed? Let us help you for once, Five.

[rumorate]

We'd do better if we worked as a team. Like we were supposed to.

[But Five had never really been the best at that. When they were kids, he was always trying to push the limit, take the short cut. When they were older, it was out of sheer desperation to keep them safe. Allison isn't indifferent to that, but she can't just be a trophy in a cage.]

It's not just you against the world anymore.

[somebadnews]

[ Five only has a vague impression of what Luther did to Vanya, that he could ask about if it wasn’t something he obviously should know, and he can feel the edge of a budding headache starting to form. He expected objections, but they're taking it a little far. The one time they decide to team up.

Their lack of faith in him is really becoming a problem, and he raises his voice more than necessary in the small room as that starts to hit home. ]

How many times have you actually come when I've asked you to? If you haven’t noticed, we’re not doing that great. Barely surviving isn't good enough. Not to mention... [ and this pains him to say ] ...apparently, I already found and lost two of you.

One of us needs to keep an eye on what’s happening, and as the only one who can teleport us all out of a volcano eruption, that’s going to be me. If you have any better ideas, I’m happy to hear them.