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THIS IS A MAN’S MAN’S MAN’S WORLD

But it wouldn't be nothing... nothiiiiiiiiiing... without a magical wombat or a talking caaaaaaaaaaarp!

Anurr’s emboldened followers begin to congregate more openly, as ruling warlord Unhalad’s forces within Sa-Haret begin to thaw literally and morale-wise.

The port remains closed until 31 May, after which it re-opens with difficulty for limited periods.

The supply shortages caused by the lack of seaborne imports leave some of Sa-Hareth's population more prone to impatience and violence, questioning Unhalad’s ability to provide. Perhaps some of the surplus farmhouse produce could assist?

Careful how you interact in Sa-Hareth at this time! Tensions are running high, and even a casual, ill-considered comment could get unfortunate characters briefly imprisoned by Unahalad’s forces under suspicion of fraternising with Anurr.

A group of young men from Sa-Hareth sets out in the wilderness to meet with their counterparts from the forest people. They all pledge to prove their worth before Anurr over the next few days.

Characters are welcome to join, but should prepare to pretend deep interest in Anurr’s cause. Those who have previously imbibed the fabled brew that shares Anurr’s strength will be willingly embraced by the group.

Once deep in the woods, characters can encounter traces and even members of the secretive, if not entirely unapproachable forest people — which number both regular humans and those who have been incompletely touched by the same unyielding cold presence as Anurr’s undead.

The forest people will look scantly dressed for the weather, speaking among themselves in a clever, bird-like dialect that the quartz pieces struggle to translate. Very few will take questions.

By midday, the convoy will be brought before an ancient, eerie and resistant tree that emanates a cold aura. Necromancers and magically sensitive characters may sense death and birth both attached to it.

The tree is scarred with marks of chaffing from where the forest people proudly proclaim previous challengers were bound to its bark to withstand the same trials as did Anurr. Stepping closely to the tree will reveal glass and silvered mirror shards at its thickened roots, sufficiently dirtied to suggest they were deposited some time ago. The tree bark also shows nail and teeth marks.

Characters will be invited to take some of the trials inspired by Anurr’s feats. Participation is optional but rewarded. The various tasks on offer:

riddle-me-this (SIGN-UPs): deep in the forest lies a small pond, barely the length and width of ten paces. To the burn of a day-long incense stick, an ancient koi carp will peer its head out every two hours and ask those who have gathered for one riddle from each member or from groups. If they can present a riddle the carp hasn’t heard, it will give characters the answer to one burning question, about the past, present or future — or they can take another turn, two hours later! This trial proves the wit of Anurr.

trial by magical wombat (MORE SIGN-UPs): in one of the tundra meadows, the forest dwellers will summon forth an oversized arctic, peaceful wombat to test challengers for tactical brilliance akin to that of Anurr. To win the trial and be granted one minor wish, characters have thirty minutes to protect an apple in their keep and seize a bell the wombat wears as its collar. It is recommended to work in pairs, but careful! If the wombat steps on your shadow, it will paralyze you in place and approach to claim its apple prize.

a night alone (SIGN-UPs, WITH FEELING): characters may agree to be chained in pairs (with other characters or NPCs) for one night, testing themselves for Anurr’s fortitude. This will be a particularly gruesome experience, subjecting characters to the intense cold, wind voices that madden and question them, along with visits from Anurr’s dead, who might taunt or mark them. By sunrise, if they are particularly suffering, they might hear a lone, bell-like voice asking, What would you give to be avenged?

These events are set to cover the period of 30 May - 10 June, though feel free to pick and choose whether your character will get involved with any of the trials, study the woods and forest people, help out Sa-Hareth locals or, well. Nap.

Plot out character involvement to your hearts' content below, but make your own posts/logs, please!

General questions not linked to the trials here!

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"Wei Wuxian,
My waters are warm now, but you have stained them. Your blood is of death, and you brought death in my waters. I will not forget."

He pulls his hand out, lifting his brows. "Really? In my blood?" He pulls his hand out and shakes his head. Makes no sense with his particular handlings with the dead, that's spiritual rather than physical, but he's mortal no matter how he cuts it. Mortality carries the touch of death, he guesses? Or else the carp! Wants a spiritual cleanse! "I apologise."

He also stands up with a sigh. "If you'd like, I can play music for purification for you; I'm well versed in the need."

According to some people.

Incessantly.

"Wei Wuxian,
I curse your name for seven years in seven tongues across seven seas. I curse you in seven skins, and I curse you under seven skies. For these are my waters, and you have sullied my waters."

A blank stare. He'd be more offended, but if he's here for seven years, he's probably already more screwed than anyone wants to contemplate. Also, cursing his name to what? Can't be worse than two decades of being the monster lurking in everyone's shadow back home.

"So that's a no on the purification music?"

"Wei Wuxian,
I asked you to turn ice pieces with your hand. Why did you sully my waters?"

"... Because you also said to warm the waters, and without a talisman I can affix to anything, that's the only way I can?"

The problem, in this instance, being he could warm waters in a very unorthodox way, so was not then presuming... the fish was going to use magic.

"Wei Wuxian,
You have brought chaos. It is your nature. And men betray. It is their nature. You should go east with men, for your nature is wicked, as their nature is wicked."

"..." He could not, in any state of mind, argue about his nature or touch being chaotic; it is! For better and worse. "I'd say half of that is unkind, but I can understand the present reason for the feeling. Are you saying to trust in wicked natures and assumed betrayals?"

Another pause. "... And you really don't want musical purification?"

"Wei Wuxian,
With this breath, I start my curse!"

Hands up, he's ollying away!

With this highly... unspecific... curse.........................

(Lo and behold, he does send Sizhui over to purify the waters, let me know should I need to tap Kiki and have her come comment here!)

( Sizhui is welcome to interact with the fish in this thread, if Kiki wishes him to. He might gain their favour! But it is not mandatory, and it can be handwaved, if it is too much. )

Please excuse me.

[ Sizhui cups his hands in the direction of the pond, after a brief... more specific words from senior Wei about what happened. ]

I was told that there was some blood in your pond that might be better cleared away. Would you wish me to try to do that?

[ He... was not going to get involved in the trials at all. He is prepared for riddles, if such are to come, but maybe let's try to do things the easy way first. ]

The carp, for its part, seems agitated, roiling and batting its tail and pointedly avoiding the core of the pond, where its waters appear to have pinked faintly.

"Lan Sizhui,
My waters have sickened. I asked the help of man, and man defiled my pond. Break ice further in the lake and set me down in fresh waters, and I will reward you well."

Oh!

[ Sizhui actually brightens. ]

That will be good, I was thinking I might be able to purify the water using spiritual energy, but I had no idea how it would feel to you. If you are all right with being relocated for a little while, that will be much better.

Please excuse me a moment, I will go make a temporary place shortly. Do you want it this large, or a little smaller will suffice? ... and are you alone to move, or are there more in this place?

"Lan Sizhui,
Break ice for me, the span of four palms each way, and I shall thrive. There is but one left of me. I am old, and my waters are cold."

Senior Carp, I will do so.

[ There is sadness in Sizhui's eyes, but he has work to do. He doesn't go far to dig up a small opening in the ice to the size the fish asked, and uses a quick fire talisman to melt water to go into it. Then he melts the upper part of a larger chunk of ice to make a bowl of water, and carefully sets it next to the bloodied pond. ]

May I pick you up to set you in the clear bowl, Senior?

The carp, blessedly, has no recourse but to wait. And lo, it is still there and circling impatiently upon Lan Sizhui's return.

"Lan Sizhui,
You may lift me, and move me to my new home. Then, you may ask a wish of me, or take a loose scale of my body. When you are in need, set it in warmed water, and I shall help you, as you have helped me."

[ The young man carefully plucks the carp out of the water and settles it into the bowl, then carries that to the new pond and tips the bowl so the fish won't have to deal with being touch more often.

Then he gathers a few rocks next to one of the corners of the pond, and sets a fire talisman on. ]

I will bring a proper brazier and keep it going while we are nearby, if I am able. It should make the waters a little warmer on this side, but not too warm.

As to a wish...

Could you forgive Senior Wei? What he did, he did not do to sully your waters, but because he thought it would help, bring up the waters to a temperature that would suit. He meant to give, not take, just did not think it through.

The fish... is pleased, in the way of creatures that lack true and honest expression. It It coils into itself when it is lifted, then stretches out sullenly in the bowl, before it is set in its new waters. It dashes from one end of the of its new pond to the next, seemingly at ease with its new surroundings.

"Lan Sizhui,
For your sake, I will forgive your father, and your wish be done. I shall not curse his name seven times for seven years. He will live as he has lived. But he will not learn without fear. You may tell him no sooner than a month's time, or our covenant is broken."

Yes, Senior Carp.

[ Sizhui... has his own opinion on what works and what doesn't work on teaching Senior Wei, but in the end, if he's not going to get hurt, that's enough for him. ]

I will see you later when I bring the brazier.

[ ... and possibly some carp food, if he can find anything suitable at the farm. He does know what carp eat, at least. ]

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