hatthevar | blood rains

[groundrules]

Drawn to undead creator Matthias, the party heads into Hatthevar — former wasteland of myth and superstitions, now city of ghosts.

The first log of Hatthevar spans until 31 January.

A small part of the event is open to players both in and out of the game, who can bring dead characters in the bazaar!

HATTHEVAR

---

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The party enters blood-rained Hatthevar during a daily one-hour truce between the citadel and the undead forces that assail it. At the gates is undead Lord Rathakku of the Brotherhood, keen to usurp his distracted maker Matthias; in the skies dart the forces of dead wind lord Anurr, who has no love for the Brotherhood.

Hatthevar’s ghostly champions — including enormous ghosts that consume men and floating spirits that strangle with chains — defend the grounds. Matthias neglects the war, persistently summoning spirits from various worlds and points in time to revive them.

KNOCK, KNOCK

Wispy, shadowy silhouettes closely watch the lone gate of Hatthevar. The party infiltrates at sunrise.

Characters who have died, practise necromancy or are death-touched enter freely. The living must consume Karsa’s foul potions that absorb their shadows and partly mute their powers to pass for dead. Holders of Matthias’ severed limbs or organs, or of dark mirror shards or dark water, are closely watched by the dead and perhaps pursued.

Everyone must create new names and stories covering their identity and circumstances of death. Crafty ghost sellers will try to learn your true name to capture you in slavery.

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Spend a few days acquainting Hatthevar, its constant rains, vicious gambling dens, bazaars, oracle halls, wish shops and nests of memory thieves.

Show kindness to the newly revived spirits who struggle to remember themselves and roam in the citadel’s bazaars of curiosities.

Optionally, some characters are struck by misfortune. Capture a crafty, palm-sized spirit rabbit to improve your luck… or stumble upon a larger, dark hopper to ruin it.

Most sleeping quarters are available at downtrodden inns or in lavish gambling dens, for exorbitant prices. You can’t shake the feeling of someone watching through holes in your walls.

MATTHIAS

Three days after arriving, the party receives a note from Matthias that reveals the origins of his pact with the dark water to propagate the dead in Akhuras. Matthias says he has been working to bring the spirit of his dead daughter Cosette through the beacon for revival. She materializes briefly in Hatthevar but disappears before he can find her. Retrieve Cosette, and he will surrender the party his power over the undead.

Full note

” Well, hello! Is it nippy beyond the walls? Not cold here, just… the rain. Tried wishing it away, but… waste of money, those wish shops. Not like, what is it you call it? The dark water? It’s ancient. Back in Ellethia, we thought it came from the sea. All began with a mirror shard. That, and constant pressure to race against decades of Taravast research into curing death. We got there first! That’s… my claim to fame: I wished death gone. It was work. Work ate me. Then, the dead woke up, killed everyone, and there wasn’t much of a profession left. Or of Ellethia. The dark water wants flesh, so… I’ve made it death lords and armies, and I’ve left parts of me to anchor it. In return… it gives me revival. But, look. I had a… daughter. Cosette? Blonde and eyes green and blue and like her mother’s, and only five summers old, but she thought she was so clever, kept telling her doll so. That’s all you’re left with. Memories. She died, of course. I’ve been working to resurrect her, and her spirit shows up every few days in Hatthevar. She disappears before I can find her. I’m not… good at bargaining. I’m a magical engineer, really. Tinkerer! But my time’s running short, isn’t it? Just look outside. And all I want is Cosette. You want the beacons? Have them. You can have my power whole. I’ll give it. Some of you will need to help hold the walls up, and others might want to look into the funny business in the lagoon, if it’s linked at all to Cosette, though I doubt it. But, truly. Bring me Cosette, and the deed’s done. You can have everything.”

The Merchant distrusts Matthias’ proposal, but sees potential leverage and urges the party to investigate the girl and the lagoon. From here onward, everyone heads to their assignment:

COMBAT

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Assigned: Bucky Barnes, Carol Danvers, Deimos, Emilia, Jiang Cheng, Luffy, Natasha Romanoff, Nynaeve, Stephen Strange, Wrath, Wrathion, Zoro

The first line of defence against the swarming undead, you must hold off swathes of enemies across three territories:

THE WALLS

Despairingly tall and uncomfortably narrow, overseen by Matthias’ ghostly cannibal titans, who neglect to discern between friend or foe in their broad, relentless strikes. Blood rains pour down thick and nearly blinding. From the skies, you face the frost-breathing 10-15 meter-tall wyrms of undead blizzard lord Anurr, unaffiliated with the Brotherhood. Stick together: when alone, Anurr’s winds speak to you of your deepest doubts and fears, compelling you to surrender — or to let go of restraint, briefly berserk, and attack your own.

■ Serthica survivors may call their dragons to assist. Through Jon Snow, the party can also summon the giant, but slow and poor-sighted frost dragon Irenia to help on three occasions.

THE COLD PLAINS

Just outside of Hatthevar sprawls a desert-like cold plateau, where treacherous dunes shift to swallow you whole and the bestial forces of the Brotherhood’s most capable undead general, Rathakku, hide in wait. Hard-shelled, slippery and sleek his creatures lie buried and thrust up their arm-rows of hundreds of blades that cut into the legs of passers-by, drawing them into sand.

THE UNDERPASS

A series of subterranean tunnels connects Hatthevar with the cold sand outposts. Scour the myriad of dusty, tunnels and purge it of large scorpion-human hybrids that carry multiple weapons and whose sting leave men hallucinating. Oversized serpents abound, their venom prone to paralyzing their prey. You can make or procure antidote potions from Hathevar. Matthias’ ghostly titans are closing off all tunnel entrances to Hatthevar — don’t end up sealed in on the wrong side.

! Collectively, the party must kill at least one frost wyrm, one scorpion/serpent and one sand lurker to keep all three levels safe. Turn in your threads before 28 January… or let the citadel suffer in part II.

EXECUTION

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Assigned: Five, Lockwood, Mo Ran, Vanessa, Yelena, Wen Kexing, Zhou Zishu

Your objective is to locate Matthias and secure the beacons that are currently in heavy use. Securing one or more beacons will help you get home.

■ Your best bet for intelligence are the treacherous networks of underground memory thieves and slavers, who attempt to steal your freedom or your recollections.

■ Your next option is the gang of Erkul, who ruled over local oracles and Hatthevar whole before Matthias’ arrival. Coarse, slippery but cunning, Erkul sullenly nurses his weight in wine at the gilded Sanctuary, Hatthevar’s foremost gambling den. Street sources say the establishment’s passcode each day this month is a fruit name. Erkul’s crew sell highly potent opiates.

■ Ransack some Whispering houses for information, equipment, poison or arsenal. Small, dusty, cluttered and often creaking, Whispering houses hold a wealth of dangerous artefacts, from haunting poltergeists you might accidentally release by reading out their names from tomes to flying rope that throttles you. Large dread hounds instil blood-curdling fear in anyone who looks into their eyes.

■ The five beacons of Hatthevar are only briefly active each day as Matthias makes his summons. They are guarded by swarms of colossal leonine-shadow creatures that only attack if they feel any fear in your soul (of it, or anything else), pouncing to claw and shred you apart. To claim a beacon, Karsa may provide a cold, coal-like token that must be placed in the middle of the transport dais, within inevitable sight of the shadow lions. You must wait 15 minutes in place for the token to take root. Report your conquest before 28 January!

■ Every six hours, Matthias sends ravens to check on the shadow-lions. You must either trick them, leave the lions alive or capture the ravens.

CARE

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Assigned: Allison, Eda, Hermione, Kamala, Lan Sizhui, Sanji, Winnie

Carer’s have the lion’s share of all duties — and the party’s few lingering resources. You must look after the group and the ghosts of Hatthevar: meandering, disoriented and fragile, the spirits who were freshly wrenched from death’s snare become easy prey for the Undead Brotherhood, the elements and the ghost slavers. Rescuing or attending vulnerable spirits can gain you allies.

■ comfort ghosts who recover from revival or struggle with their memories. Many are stranded in the Whispering houses or chained into servitude in the gambling dens.

■ rescue spirits from the immense slaver clan of Ras’Kalur, which tricks newly summoned, dazed spirits in the bazaars to sign away their freedom, promising someone to look after them. Ras’Kalur’s people often raid streets and shelters, forcibly dragging spirits back into their camps at the outskirts of Hatthevar.

■ barter to rent or buy abandoned taverns to give the party a resting space during their stay in Hatthevar. You may need to pay locals in favours, from helping them carry out petty acts of revenge to making up with a grudge-bearing wife or paying penance to their ancestors.

■ heal, cook and provide for combatants on the walls, taking care not to fall in the crossfire or frost wyrms or of allied but negligent 12-feet ghostly titans.

■ as the least suspicious party members, negotiate for information or supplies on behalf of the group: make friends with gambling den owners and the two-bit shady crooks who know their daily passcodes to enter, or with the regulars of the Whispering houses.

INVESTIGATION

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Assigned: Ben Hargreeves, Benedict, Caitlyn, Cal Kestis, Jon Snow, Merrin, Nami, Rin, River Song, Wei Wuxian, Wen Qing

■ You know from Matthias that, as a result of his beacon summons, the spirit of his daughter Cosette appears every fifth day in Hatthevar for a few hours at midday. Despite this, a young girl matching Matthias’ description (5-6 years of age, green-blue eyes, blonde, prone to laughter) is never seen. Matthias alerts you whenever Cosette appears.

■ Day of first appearance: Matthias feels her presence in the bazaar, where the day’s main attraction is a puppet show that draws a heavy crowd. At midday, a chime sounds, and the puppet show performs the sad story of a daughter quarrelling with her father over his absences. The daughter-puppet flees into the woods, while the puppet-father refuses to reconcile and follow her. The girl is killed by animals, and the puppet-father grieves, heartbroken. All the women or girls in the crowd, including you, find they burst into tears.

■ Day of the second appearance: Matthias senses Cosette is in the alley of Whispering Houses. You notice the typical bustle of the alley and shady movements, as discreet, embarrassed, or desperate patrons scuttle. You see no small girls but hear of three trades that took place at the Whispering Houses, carried out by different women: one bought a memory, one sold one, one had a memory replaced. Pay for a memory trade to learn more.

■ Day of the third appearance: Matthias feels Cosette near the Oracle Hall. The hour passes by the time you climb the stairs and are received. The Oracle confirms only one person has visited — a blonde woman — and says to “tell your master that an hourglass keeps track of new time, but can’t give the old one back.”

You get three clue questions/character and should communicate with fellow investigators. Please share key findings by network before 25 January!

EXPLORATION

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Assigned: America Chavez, Buggy, Connor, Elayne Trakand, Lan Wangji, Licyn, Red, Wen Ning

The river Liu neatly divides Hatthevar, its clean waters progressively darkening towards the edges of the citadel, where they pour into a vast, serene and heavily misted lagoon. Veterans sense an eerie chill from the familiar dark waters that so often accompany the undead.

Like Matthias, Karsa says a strange power sleeps at the heart of the lagoon.

■ travel by raft with a companion through the lethargy-inducing fog, as tar-like people peer up from the waters or swim below, never quite attacking you unless you fall into water. They (and the currents) try to upturn your boat.

■ Scattered lit candles drift on water as you advance. Pick one up, and you find one of the floating creatures of Hatthevar has joined your raft, carrying a rope-chain. It says it and its kind are former oracles and truth-speakers of the citadel — and urges you to speak, pledging to kill the first person who lies before you leave water.

■ Farther out, you discover four half-sunken ships that have crashed into each other over time, their decks now forming a rocky square-like structure. You can carefully navigate your raft to reach this construct, or make your way by hopping onto floating deck parts and the debris of other rafts.

■ Once aboard the square structure, you find all the decks are heavily rotten, creaking and prone to collapse. You hear a maddening, shrill scream that steals control of your now convulsing body, until you find yourself driven closer and closer to the end of a plank or a deck hole against your wishes — unless you are physically detained until the shrieking ends.Sharp-toothed mermaids swim below.

■ Reach and explore the curious ships’ graveyard, to peer into the black well in the middle of the square infrastructure.

QUESTIONS

NPC INBOX

Comments

wen kexing ( word of honor )

[wifedup]

a. Knock, Knock

Your name.

( The ghost at the market stall is taller than Wen Kexing, who had ducked beneath the canopy for only a moment, the feeling of eyes on his back. It bleeds a little at the edges like smoke, formless and black. Wen Kexing's nose wrinkles but he does not reply straight away. Instead he pauses a little, pursuing the wares, face morphing quickly from deadly worry to easy charm. ) I haven't even said I'd buy anything yet! Can't a man simply look? No. What if these - ( A pause, eyes lingering on a bracelet depicting a woman being swallowed by a snake. Another twitch of his expression and then just once, the glance behind. ) - what if they don't suit me, mm?

( He's being furtive, even for Wen Kexing, and the first person to step up to the stall beside him gets the full force of his dramatics, flinging an arm around his companion like they're old friends. ) Ah, there you are. You won't like these either. You're more a silver, aren't you? I think I've seen something better a few stalls down.

( He tugs the newcomer along with him, out into the open of the market. ) That one doesn't seem to be trading in coin, better avoid it.

b. Sanctuary

( The gambling den is loud, boisterous, full. Wen Kexing is glad for it, stalking his way slowly around the edges. It had not been hard to find out the passcode, or - it had been for the person he'd beaten it out of - and his entrance had been quick and slippery. Now he nurses a drink in one hand, the slow fluttering of his fan obscuring his face with the other. He's deep in thought, shoulders taut underneath his colourful robes. There are options, of course, he sold opiates long enough in Ephes that he could try and make an in-road there ( he has some still, squirreled away in his supplies, kept back at his room ). He could always try his hand at gambling too, something showy enough to garner attention. And there might also be a scene to cause. He thinks he could take on a whole gang, but these days he's aiming for subtly.

Plus, he doesn't exactly see the beacon. Better to be sensible.

And so he finds his way back to the bar, emptying his cup as he comes and sliding up onto a nearby stool. A quick glance to his right and his left and another drink secured and Wen Kexing sighs gustily. )

The décor could do with being better. What do you think?

c. Whispering House

Oh, this is disgusting.

( The dust stirs with the hem of his robes, and Wen Kexing makes another irritated noise, hand smacking to remove a caught cobweb from his skirts. ) I know there might be something useful here, but do they have to make it so cramped? I can't even hear myself think.

( He almost knocks a stack of heaped books flying when he sidesteps them, skirting the edges of the room with one eye fixed upon the entrance. Whatever fussy attitude he's putting on, it does very little to hide the level of alertness that's currently zipping through his body. He's aware - of something - anyway. ) I thought the jungle was upsetting but I think I'd take being hot and sticky over this place. If there are organs in any of those jars I'm leaving!

d. OOC

( I'm at discord: sadgaydna or qingya if you want to plot. )

B

[somebadnews]

[ Let no one say Five isn't putting his efforts into finding Matthias, between his vigilance over his family and the absolute disasters he keeps stumbling on whenever he runs into someone from their group. It feels like he's always pulling someone out of the fire, and it's already starting to run him ragged. What was wrong with the buddy system? He wouldn't care so much, but seeing them locked into slavery or losing all of their memories hits a disturbing chord with him. So he keeps at it.

Five's appearance in the gambling den has nothing to do with the gambling and much more to do with the gang he was tipped off on. His physical appearance makes him stand out more than he'd like to, but that's nothing new. The crowd makes it easy enough for him to hide in. He's just getting comfortable at the bar when he recognizes the man taking a seat next to him. Points for not being in immediate danger, but he still scoffs and shakes his head. ]

Brilliant observation. [ He eyes his drink and his expression softens. His teleporting has been off, so getting served alcohol might mean cutting some slack. ] What are you having?

[wifedup]

Ah, wine. Whatever they have, though the more potent the better.

( Wen Kexing doesn't seem all that surprised by Five, he's seen him on the network from time to time and the youthful state of his appearance isn't that alarming. In fact, there's a certain level of comradery in his posture as he leans against the bartop to wave down a server, pulling coin from a pilfered purse to ask for a bottle and two cups. It might be useful, having someone else around from their company! Who knows. Or maybe, and more likely, he's bored and scheming alone tires him out. )

Do you want some?

( He pours his own cup first, easy, lifts it to his nose to sniff. The face he pulls is only mildly perturbed. ) It's not as good as the barrels in Ephes but I'm sure it does what's needed.

[somebadnews]

[ Five doesn't know why people think he's so difficult to get along with; all they have to do is treat him with a modicum of respect and offer him a drink without making a fuss. He's been aware of Wen Kexing the same way he is of everyone in their group, but when he takes the glass, he thinks maybe he should have made an effort to introduce himself.

Or maybe he's just had a long day, and despite the many times alcohol has betrayed him, it still does wonders for taking the edge off. He pours himself a glass and lifts it briefly to cheers before drinking from it. His face pinches briefly and has to work up from a shrug. The wine he found in the apocalypse might have given him a different taste for it, but his tolerance has been slow to build back up. ]

I don't know where the dead import their wine, but it's probably harder for them to tell the difference. [ He keeps the glass in hand. It's good that it's strong. A reminder to go slow this time, and he regards the other man for a moment before nodding to the crowd. ] Made any new friends?

[wifedup]

( Wen Kexing has no such qualms about the strength of the liquor, knocking it back with practised ease. Five's question makes him laugh after, a sharp chuckle. )

Ah, there have been attempts at fraternity. A fine fellow with tusks told me I have lovely long legs. Though I'm not sure if he wanted to eat them or ensnare me into servitude. ( Splashing more wine into his cup, he keeps his posture easy, open, though there's a very slight narrowed edge to his gaze as he sweeps it over the gambling hall. ) A shame, but I think his days are numbered. There are so many nefarious people around here.

( Wen Kexing one of them. But he smiles, cheerful. )

You? Notice anything useful among the rabble selling their souls?

[somebadnews]

[ Five hums as he answers, no judgment coming from him, partly because Wen Kexing immediately reminds him of one of his more hedonistic brothers. Misplaced humor and all. He follows his gaze to eye the gamblers in the crowd. As he might guess, it's harder for him to get close without them immediately assuming he's some lost orphan they could just as easily kidnap. It takes an annoying amount of effort to intimidate them, and then he's suddenly drawing too much attention.

The outskirts are a better place for him, when he's not hiding somewhere to eavesdrop. He takes another drink before answering. ]

Haven't been here long enough. [ He did only just blink in. Who needs a password when you can teleport? ] Anyone offer you something else or was it all prepositions?

[wifedup]

Nothing useful.

( Wen Kexing is a schemer, he is used to moments like these. That doesn't mean he can't be frustratingly bored by it all. He doesn't like being a pawn, that much is true. And so he nurses this cup more slowly, watching the fast exchanging of money around him. In the corner a fight breaks out, he doesn't blink.

And then, conversationally. )

I'd thought maybe a bargain could be met. ( If his reign had been usurped by someone else he would be angry about it. Erkel must be. It's just the getting close enough. A sigh, and he pulls his fan from his sleeve, flicking it open. ) Had the young master a plan when he arrived here? I'm assuming we're on similar ventures.

[somebadnews]

[ His answer is disappointing, but he knew going in this would be the more difficult lead for him to follow. It isn't entirely out of the realm of possibility that a well-informed gang member would offer to sell someone who looks like a kid drugs, but unlikely. Better to catch them in the act and see where that thread takes him.

He gives him a withering look the second he says 'young master' and shakes his head. As much as he's come to accept that he's going to have to tolerate that until he's well into his 70's, it still grates on him. ]

It was either see it for myself, or trust one of you to stay on task. [ He's here, so it's obvious what he decided. ] I'm here for the same reason you are. Identify a member, then get information by any means necessary.

It's not much of a plan. If word gets to him, it could wreck our chances.

[wifedup]

( The fan moves lazily, uncaring. )

I've worked with men like this back in Ephes. If you have them believing that you have something they're missing out on they're more than likely to try and win you over. Get them desperate enough for a reward they usually show themselves up.

( The fan stills, and from Wen Kexing's voluminous sleeves comes another object, this time a clay jar that makes a slight noise as he shakes it, as though filled with sand. )

Do you imagine the narcotics they have here are of a high calibre? Doubtful. But this? This will have you debating with whichever god you believe in. ( Pleasant, still conversational. Wen Kexing cannot personally vouch for the drug, he avoids them, but this was the choice of half the senate and therefore of a fine quality. He'd kept it in case it might be useful. ) I wonder if a deal can be made.

[somebadnews]

[ It's becoming clear he should have given him a chance sooner. Granted, Ephes was full of extremely easily swayed corruption, but it takes some initiative to seize on opportunity. Five eyes the jar he pulls out with interest. At least someone out here thought to plan ahead. ]

You could have brought that up sooner. [ Beats Five's 'drink in a corner and watch for something to happen' idea. Which begs the question why he hasn't already tried it. ] What are you waiting for? I'm sure there's a bartender just dying to point you in the right direction.

[wifedup]

( A laugh, bright. ) Ah, where's your patience? These things take time, if I rush in bull-headed then they'll think I'm desperate.

( Which is boring. So instead Wen Kexing tops up Five's cup with more wine, sloshes more into his own. When the bartender catches his eye Wen Kexing smiles, all charm, the kind that oozes. He doesn't wave him over though, goes back to fanning himself lazily, the slow easy flutter of movement. )

We want to get as close as possible, don't we? No point hooking one of the smaller fish if the biggest gets to swim on passed. And this won't last. So we need a better plan. Enough to get the bait closer.

[somebadnews]

[ Five narrows his eyes when he laughs and calls him impatient, but holds his tongue when he refills his cup. Smiles. He can already feel a buzz from what he already had, so he should pace himself. Especially after what happened the last time he overdid it.

He picks it up and takes a drink. ]

This isn't Ephes. We don't have the luxury of time to work our way up the ladder. [ It's almost a shame they didn't take Alir with them. A shapeshifting demon would have come in handy, even if he was hard to keep fed. He considers their other options to fast track this that don't involve kidnapping and torture. ]

...We know they have a reason to hold a grudge against Matthias taking over. Say that's who you got it from and maybe that'll get you a meeting.

C!

[soulsrob]

[She laughs brightly at his fussing, grinning broadly. Despite the smudge of dirt against her cheek and staining the hem of her dress, she looks, somehow, like she belongs here. ]

Oh, come now, it's not so bad! A bit of tidying up and it'll look downright homey! [She moves things with abandon, no qualms about upsetting something or someone that might be lingering.

THe mention of organs makes her pause and she looks at one of the jars with open curiosity, turning it this way and that so that whatever barely-liquidy sludge inside sloshes to and fro] Oh! Do you think they might be? How dreadful!

[She says, with a smile. She's not even involved in the execution things, she's just very nosey.]

[wifedup]

( He briefly considers there might be something dreadfully wrong with the young woman in his company, her ever-present smile doesn't seem to fade despite all the Horrors, but. Well, they call him a lunatic so who is he to judge? )

Yes, dreadful. So let's not touch them, who knows what kind of infectious diseases you could catch from a place like this. And if the state of their vendors is anything to go by, a doctor would require much worse from you for healing.

( #trustnoone

And then, helpfully. )

That's probably someone's viscera. It definitely looks fleshy.

[soulsrob]

Oh, I'm not worried about that. [Well, she should be, probably, but it hasn't been a problem before, so why would it be one now?? She turns the jar and sets it down, picking up another, then setting it down to pick up a worn book, flipping through the pages.

She looks up though, eyes practically sparkling] Oh! Viscera, do you think so? [She laughs, a bright, bell-like sound with an exaggerated shudder and shaking of her head, as if a thrilled school-girl being shown a particularly warty frog.

Still in a good mood, she smacks her hands together to dust them off]

Well! There isn't anything good here, is there? Bit disappointing. I thought a place called 'whispering houses' would have something more... more.

[wifedup]

At least someone to give it it's name, yes.

( He pulls a face, half disgusted, half disappointed, reaching out a pale hand to drag it along a dusty sconce in the wall. There is no give to this one, and so it's probably not a secret passageway. Another sigh, and he sweeps further in to the room finally, hands on his hips so he can scan it. )

Though there has to be something here. ( More dusty bottles, the liquids inside not ones Wen Kexing recognises. Still, from his sleeves he produces a pouch. Zhou Zishu might find them useful, he's good with poisons. To the girl. ) If you want more excitement the market might be your thing. I think I saw someone selling toes. Though I'd be careful. They seem to like pretty young things. You wouldn't want to end up on the table.

[soulsrob]

[Oh, is he taking a bottle or two? Should she be taking one too? She doesn't move to do so, but she watches him curiously.]

I did want to do some shopping before we left this town... [She trails off, looking thoughtful, then laughs and waves her hand dismissively at his warning]

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that! I won't die here. [Said with no small amount of self-assurance] And besides, like you said-- I'm pretty. [She winks playfully and grins] Someone will rescue me.

[She'd be a damsel in distress, how could anyone resist? That said though, she turns and sticks her hand out to him]

My name is Winnfired-- But please, call me Winnie!

[wifedup]

Wen Kexing.

( Distracted, gaze lingering over the spines of books. But he does look back her way, one eyebrow raised. ) Do you often rely on the kindness of strangers to keep yourself safe? Not that I'm judging! Confidence is key. Usually people demure, however.

( There is something about her. He can't quite put his finger on it. Maybe his madness is catching. )

When did you arrive in our company, Mistress Winnie?

[soulsrob]

[She retracts her hand and shrugs, smiling] Oh, I don't normally give them much of a choice.

[If someone tries to protest helping her, she just steamrolls over them.] And if I truly can't, I do have a knife. [She rests a hand against her cheek, pouting slightly] I do so hate having to resort to that, the blood gets everywhere.

[She sighs again, a Much Put Upon sound, her life is simply so hard, you see.]

Oh, I've been here since the beginning! As long as Five and Wangji and some of the others. Just... off and on. [A little flutter of her hand, as if it's not a big deal.] I come and I go sometimes, I suppose. What about you?

[wifedup]

( A beat, a bark of laughter. )

You're a strange one.

( Delivered, good naturedly enough. She reminds him a little of Gu Xiang, the guileless way she wears her nature, or a Gu Xiang if he'd dropped her on her head a lot more as a child. Wen Kexing can appreciate someone who treats violence like a plaything anyway. He peers at her for a moment and then shrugs, easy, goes back to the ransacking of a vanity. )

Ah, a few months now. Though I've been told that this is not my first venture here. I don't remember any of it, so if we knew each other you'll have to forgive my ignorance. Did we?

a.

[redhourglass]

( natasha is no stranger to a quick turn pivot; she'd been intending to check out the wares at that particular stall, but when an arm is thrown around her shoulders, she plays along. she doesn't have much of a choice, anyway. as it happens, wen kexing has happened to choose a superb actress out of the crowd. )

Oh, you know me — I'm so much more a silver. ( she simpers, look on her face vapid and empty. ) I thought you said you were going to buy me something sparkly! I want sparkles!

( she decides that stamping her foot might be playing it a bit too seriously, and allows herself to be tugged out of the stall. once at a reasonable distance, the act drops like a curtain and she glances behind them, eyes narrowing. )

What did he want?

[wifedup]

( He's glad she's not so stubborn to fight him as he steers them both through the crowd, throwing a glance over his shoulder once they're away. He's amused to see her do the same thing though, smile twitching into place as he waves a hand -. )

Oh, who knows. A piece of your soul, probably. I think that's how they trick you here. Bartering for information instead of coin. Nothing good!

( He pauses, straightens himself out. )

Besides, the stall stank of blood. ( Nose wrinkling. ) I didn't want to get too close. Baubles aren't worth that.

[redhourglass]

( he’s being very blasé for them to be talking about a piece of his soul — brow furrowing, natasha shakes her head as she turns back to her companion. good to know that those are the stakes in the marketplace, though she can’t imagine why — even now, more stall owners and vendors watch them with hungry eyes. )

Nothing is worth that. ( she corrects, before it dawns on her. ) I didn’t smell anything. You think that cheap stuff had blood on it?

[wifedup]

That, or the vendor themselves. Either there's something left from whoever originally owned the trinkets, or he takes many forms of payment.

( he's known enough terrible monsters in his life to be able to recognise them, the same hunger in these ghost's eyes that resides his own. But Wen Kexing doesn't think it's worth wasting the energy in being appalled, and so instead he just shakes out his sleeves, )

Besides, they were ugly. If I'm going to pay a blood price for some jewellery it at least has to look nice, right? I have exacting tastes.

[redhourglass]

( her nose wrinkles and it takes effort to not turn around and stare at the vendor again — or worse, go back. whatever the answer is, she's fairly certain they don't want to know the answer. besides, she's too busy raising her eyebrows at her companion. )

Oh, sure. Don't want all the mess for something last season. ( there's an edge of sarcasm to her tone, but she smooths it over with a shrug. ) This place is giving me the creeps.