But none of that care can be said for the fields. Where normally, rolling empty earth would stand awaiting seeding, you spy churned dirt and massive pits.
This implies that it is the planting season. There should be no crops on the field for a Spirit Beast of the Cavern Bringer's size to be reasonably attracted to.
But while you are certain it dug up the fields, did it have something to do with the disappearance of all the farmers? Has it taken to snacking on mortal flesh? Moles normally dine on roots and tubers, but you suppose anam can change even the meekest of beasts into something threatening.
Highly doubtful that a Spirit Mole would suddenly shift its diet all of a sudden. Animals wouldn't go for our delectable, yet aesthetic meat if it meant they would get into a whole new level of trouble for it. Especially given that it is so far off from a mole's usual diet.
No, it would either wait for an opportunity, or it was already on site when an opportunity of food presented itself.
An enormous mole the size of the Spire is stretched out from one of it's tunnels. It's dark fur is stained and matted with blood from a thousand wounds, but no wound seems more severe than the one on its head. Orange blood drips from a deep gash and puddles beneath its skull, matting it's fur and flooding the field with still-palpable anam.
But that wound is not what killed it. The closer you get to the corpse, the more small wounds you notice. A thousand stabs penetrated the Cavern Bringer's pelt and each of them bled, telling you it was alive at the time. The wound to the head may have damaged it, but it did not finish the beast off.
A big bonk to the head and yet there was no follow up blow similar to it? This is not how artists destroy monsters.
So:
-A bunch of people could set up a trap to crack the noggin of the mole when it came up before running after it to finish the job could work fine here. With the lack of artists patrolling the area, a militia could do it, only they probably wouldn't know what to do with the corpse. Problem is, there should still be some sign of people that many to fight a Spirit Mole. Like people bitching about broken arms or sumthin'.
Big oof for us if this is the case though- a waste of good meat (and mats!)
-Some unusually strong, yet uncultured boi out there who's probably now
That had planned all of this for his time (and talents) to shine.
Prep an alpha strike of a tech and let it bonk the moment the mole pops out of the ground!
Only to discover said tech was a ripoff, get eaten whole, have his vestige pop out, and have that start stab its way through the poor mole's innards before coming out of either end of the mole's digestive tract.
Either way- we're fighting one stinky boi in that case.
Only to discover said tech was a ripoff, get eaten whole, have his vestige pop out, and have that start stab its way through the poor mole's innards before coming out of either end of the mole's digestive tract.
I don't think vestiges are combat-ready that soon after the artist they a part of gets exhausted and killed in a fight. I particularly don't think one would be able to win a fight against an enemy that just killed their artist, given that kind of enemy has already proven itself to be stronger.
edit: This is of course barring the possibility that an amateur artist made a really fucked up vestige that was half a step away from wearing them like a skin-suit, but that would be more like a wandering vestige than an artist losing a fight.
[X] Mei Daiyu raises a point: by leaving the body behind, you are not losing anything you have worked for and you will weaken your group. You will leave the Cavern Bringer to rot.
I'm worried that fully ignoring the mole might be a trap, like the wounds having infected it with a zombie virus, or something hiding inside the head gash... In any case, staying together is probably the best choice.
Besides, I'm not too keen on Earth/Mole mats (maybe something like Stalwart mats, but we have no indication there's anything like that here), and finding the culprit sounds much more interesting than a harvesting montage (and someone's gotta be ready to harvest the culprit when Zhuan Kun utterly obliterates it).
I don't think vestiges are combat-ready that soon after the artist they a part of gets exhausted and killed in a fight. I particularly don't think one would be able to win a fight against an enemy that just killed their artist, given that kind of enemy has already proven itself to be stronger.
Juniors seek his guidance because he seems to have wisdom beyond his years, yet the attention span of a squirrel.
The hammer by his side has experienced more in its short life than many lesser artists' decades.
His blood smells of stars and change.
Kong Zhi is the most interesting man in the world, and he doesn't always choose the mystery option... but when he does it's because he prefers the thrill.
I don't think the insides of a spirit beast, which regularly digests anam, can be considered peaceful. Or that vestiges come directly from the bdoy, come to think of it.
Zhuan Kun favors her with a look that, on another face, might almost be reproachful. "Such a fate was indeed visited upon a great number of city administrators," he states. "But it was no surprise that the Ying Clan was spared. The clan has long been known for its stewardship of Mockingjay. Under Lord Ying's eye, the city has prospered like few others."
He pauses and seems to consider something. "In recent years, however, they have proven to be somewhat reclusive. They still hold their public audiences, but any further contact has been rebuffed. Even the Zhuan have hesitated to reach out to the Ying; I am uncertain as to why. There has been nothing to indicate a change in the Ying's prowess."
"Oh, prowess only in-" Mei Daiyu pauses, cutting herself off mid-sentence. When she speaks again, it is in halting, deliberate words as she forces them to remain under her control. "Perhaps they are naught but fair administrators," she allows. "But I have my doubts."
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that Lord Ying isn't a great host. Probably best not to accept any invitations from him as previous info seems to lead us to believe that Mei's master met his demise through them. Though I do wonder what has made them reclusive lately? Sounds like internal troubles going on.
Mei Daiyu and Zhuan Kun wish to search for whoever killed the Cavern Bringer, leaving the mole's body itself to rot. By doing so, you would pass up a veritable trove of valuable materials. What do you argue in favor of?
[] Your companions should go and you will remain here. You will not be able to harvest all of the Cavern Bringer before it loses potency, but you will still get something, and they will be able to watch each other's backs.
[] You should stay behind with Mei Daiyu. Zhuan Kun is more than capable of meeting any threat he may encounter, and her practiced hands will be of great use in harvesting as much of the Cavern Bringer as possible.
[] You should stay behind with Zhuan Kun. His raw speed will make him an incredible asset in butchering the mole, while Mei Daiyu's natural grace and speed will allow her to avoid any trouble that might befall her.
[] All of you should remain behind. You can hunt for the slayer later, but if you wish to harvest all of the Cavern Bringer, you need all available hands.
[] Mei Daiyu raises a point: by leaving the body behind, you are not losing anything you have worked for and you will weaken your group. You will leave the Cavern Bringer to rot.
For this, I'll say that whatever we do we shouldn't split the party and we should stick together. In horror movies, the cast usually ends up dieing when the group splits up because the killer picks them off. Let's not make the same mistake here. Don't split the party.
[X] Mei Daiyu raises a point: by leaving the body behind, you are not losing anything you have worked for and you will weaken your group. You will leave the Cavern Bringer to rot.
Still, as much as you would rather spare your friend whatever discomfort you can, you cannot drop the subject. You need to know as much about your next stop as you can, and since Zhuan Kun is apparently in a mood to speak, it would be foolish to miss this chance. "So the way the trees are growing is deliberate? I would think that separating the Forest so much would leave more of a trace."
"It was far less seamless generations ago," the noble responds promptly. "But when the Ying Clan took stewardship of Mockingjay during the reign of the Emperor-In-Glory, one of their first major initiatives was to better the area around them. They eschewed the traditional ax and torch usually used to thin the forest. Instead, they focused their own training on wood and earth, culminating in a gradual shift in how the trees themselves grow. Now, it almost seems like the Forest has taken a form that it itself desires."
"They must perform impressive work," you answer, glancing around at the trees once more. If your companions had not said differently, you would be certain that you are nearing the natural edge of the Forest. "But why did they go to such trouble? It is more harmonious, certainly, but why not simply clear the area?"
Possibly more evidence about the connections between Anam, Artists, and environment for the Scholars that Kong Senior was talking about. Affecting the landscape around an artist not because of any active uses of anam, but simply because of the nature of that artist.
This makes me wonder what other large-scale work has been done around the Radiant Empire. Outside, of course, of the major sects which seem to have the maintenance of natural wonders down. Is there a noble estate where bonfires are constantly fed and the fire anam is channeled to a specific location to boost the natural wonder artificially? Is there a section of canals and tunnels to funnel water and its anam to increase its potency? Are there areas where anam is kept out of for some reason? Just how much can you alter, degrade, or enhance the natural flows of anam?
Possibly more evidence about the connections between Anam, Artists, and environment for the Scholars that Kong Senior was talking about. Affecting the landscape around an artist not because of any active uses of anam, but simply because of the nature of that artist.
Scheduled vote count started by Vesvius on Feb 18, 2022 at 8:51 PM, finished with 98 posts and 68 votes.
[X] Mei Daiyu raises a point: by leaving the body behind, you are not losing anything you have worked for and you will weaken your group. You will leave the Cavern Bringer to rot.
[x] Your companions should go and you will remain here. You will not be able to harvest all of the Cavern Bringer before it loses potency, but you will still get something, and they will be able to watch each other's backs.
[X] Mei Daiyu raises a point: by leaving the body behind, you are not losing anything you have worked for and you will weaken your group. You will leave the Cavern Bringer to rot.
-[X] Bring the Cavern Bringer with you in your spatial ring.
[X] Mei Daiyu raises a point: by leaving the body behind, you are not losing anything you have worked for and you will weaken your group. You will leave the Cavern Bringer to rot.
-[X] Ask Zhaun Kun if he can store the Cavern Bringer in his storage ring. Perhaps his ring will be able to store the entire body and prevent any meaningful loss of Anam.
[x] All of you should remain behind. You can hunt for the slayer later, but if you wish to harvest all of the Cavern Bringer, you need all available hands.
It looks like we are going to go hunting for the mysterious stranger who slew the Cavern Bringer! Who, or what, will we find in our quest to uncover the mysteries that thrive in the unseen areas of the Mockingjay countryside?
[x] Your companions should go and you will remain here. You will not be able to harvest all of the Cavern Bringer before it loses potency, but you will still get something, and they will be able to watch each other's backs.
Fractal Possibilities: Dear Sister's Ambition Swinging her legs beneath the bench she was sitting on, Kong Hua carefully leaned back to place her ear against the wall. While the sounds on the other side became a bit louder, it was still unintelligible. Which was a shame, she wanted to know...
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Leaving Elder Yixue's instructional class on refining and charmcrafting with quickly moving feet, Kong Hua dashed towards the Sect's docks. She had a friend to meet after all! Surely that would ease the irritation at not even having an idea yet for her first charm in the sect, even if snagging two materials had been the result of her troubles. A short smooth cylinder of driftwood brimming with water anam and a light sphere of stone containing wind anam. What to make… what to make. Ideas were rapidly proposed and just as rapidly discarded within the churning of her mind. A wand to generate a freezing wind, a baton that would create a prehensile appendage to give her longer reach, a sculpture to soothe troubled thoughts. None of them felt… right. She didn't need any of them, and they didn't really do anything her knife, arm, or a goodnight sleep wouldn't do.
Skidding to a stop, Kong Hua looked around and let out a soft sigh. She had overshot the tunnel leading to the dock. By quite a fair bit by her measure. Now it was going to be even longer before she met the dolphin. Damn it. The sound of hammer on chisel echoing down the corridors made her hesitate though. Maybe it was a senior who could help her out? Probably not.
A quick turnaround and a bit of jogging later got her to the docks. It flourished with activity, boats docking and being unloaded. Fishing nets and lines littering wooden piers with surly men repairing them. Brothers and sisters from the sect worked here, helping unload particularly troublesome cargo or conducting minor repairs on damaged ships, and even one that was simply sitting there weaving rope together. There were also, unfortunately, many branches and routes leading off to the port. Picking one, that looked a little less used than others, she dashed down it, hoping to find a dolphin and a new friend. It was a dead-end, a crusty, awful-smelling refuse pit for the rotted and unwanted. Turning around, she tried another pathway only after a few moments finding herself on a cliff overlooking the main sect grounds. This… this might be harder than she thought.
It took a few more failed attempts and kicked rocks before she saw a small crevice hidden by an overhang of rock. Crawling through the crevice, Kong Hua's breath was taken away. Trees grew thickly at the shore of a small grotto, their canopy arching over the water like a ceiling of leaves. White and black vines crawled up the trees only to hang down and brush the water, like strings of rope. It was beautiful, but it paled in comparison to the creature happily cruising around the grotto. A dolphin. A real live dolphin.
"He… hello!" Kong Hua yelled across the water. With her sudden yell, the dolphin dropped under the water, before popping up right next to her, furiously moving its tail to stand on the churning water.
"Hello!" Came a chirping squealing voice from the dolphin. "Are you third land friend? Oh, I hope you are third land friend. First land friend said that he was going for a bit but that a third land friend would be stopping by shortly. Then second land friend gave me a neat treat. Second land friend told me to tell third land friend that third land friend shouldn't be late meeting me otherwise second land friend would be sad. You wouldn't want to make second land friend sad, would you? Oh, have you seen Blubby Fat Tub, the big fat catfish down the way? They told Sparkly Fin Spinner, a fancy too good for her own shoes carp, that I was looking particularly fat. Can you believe it? Blubby Fat Tub calling others fat. The gall. I have half a mind to swim down there and give him the fight he's looking for. But first land friend told me not to go down that way because of all the nets and hooks. Speaking of first land friend, are you sure you aren't third land friend? You look like you could be a good third land friend."
"I would be delighted to be your friend," Kong Hua said with a blooming smile.
Doing a flip, the dolphin let out a shrill cheer before churning the water again with their flippers. "Yea! I can't wait to tell Old Cranky Long Neck, that's the snapping turtle at the Sun-Bathed Grotto, that I met third land friend! He'll be so surprised. He was confident that first land friend was pulling my flipper and that third land friend wouldn't come, but this will show him! Speaking of showing, I found something I wanted to show third land friend! Something first and second land friends haven't seen yet!" Diving down into the water, the dolphin continued their rapid-fire chatter, "Come on, it'll be fun!"
Looking at the water, she frowned. "I don't have my swimwear with me," she said hesitantly, "and this is the only robe I own right now. Could I come back in just a bit ready for a swim?"
"Oh, silly Dashing Dart! I forgot that land friends can't swim! Or, well, not nearly as well as non-land friends. But leaving and coming would take too long! We just met, you might forget about me, third land friend! Land friends have terrible memories after all. No, no, I have just the thing!"
With that, Dashing Dart dived under the water and began to blow a bubble. And just kept blowing until it was big enough to hold Kong Hua.
"I used this to help second land friend talk to first sky friend, a funny-looking bird who thought it was a fish! We all had a good laugh when they learned they were a sky friend and not a fish. This should keep you nice and dry, and breathing, while I take you to what I want to show you!"
Stepping out onto the water, just above the bubble, Kong Hua steeled her nerves and committed. She slipped past the water's surface and into the bubble, but instead of falling through she just floated in the middle. The light was distorted here, and the seaweed growing up from the bottom of the grotto's bed looked more menacing. Like fingers trying to drown her. But Dashing Dart proved their name accurate, grabbing hold of her airball with some water tether and then dashing down to a submerged exit. In no time at all, they were in the river proper, moving at a speedy clip away from the sect. Colorful fish blew past them in schools of shifting shapes, jagged black rocks cut at the water from below, and once the shadow of a ship darkened the little light coming from lanterns evenly spaced above the river. Then they took a turn straight for the bank to a little tunnel of darkness. Down and down into the darkness they traveled, with the walls almost seeming to press against the air bubble that seemed dangerously fragile now.
If it popped, she realized, she would die. It would take too long to swim to the top of the river. She was completely and utterly at the mercy of a spirit beast she had met this very day. She had no tools to survive, her robe would just drag her down into the inky blackness, and she couldn't even see anymore. Then Dashing Dart stopped, and Kong Hua felt it. Anam. Powerful and thick, even more so than the natural wonder at the center of her courtyard. It tasted of water and something else. A depth, a weight, a darkness. It was the crack at the ocean's bottom, where sunlight never approached and dreadful things lurked. It was where forgotten things dwelled, terrors of the sea terrified of the light. It was the deeps.
Natural Wonder discovered: A River's Unfathomable Depths (Water/Deeps anam)
She couldn't remember the trip back out, but the memory of Dashing Dart's happiness at showing a friend the wonder remained. Which was good because the creation of her new tools were more foggy memories than crystallized moments. A regret for sure. But she was happy with the results! A slim rod made from the piece of driftwood joined with the two halves of a rock weathered by the wind on either end. Using Angel Tears of course. Then, the piece was wrapped in thick leather so that her teeth wouldn't scratch the runes inscribed on the driftwood's smooth surface. Holding onto the rod with her mouth so that the ends framed Kong Hua's face allowed the ingenious charm to work. To transform water being pulled past the rod by an inhalation into pure air and transform air being exhaled into pure water. A simple elegant sage charm working on the elements outside of her body. As long as she had even touches of anam in her body, this charm would allow her to stay under the water. Indefinitely.
Her other tool was made from a simple crystal holding an inner light purchased from the market for a measure talents. Broken into smaller pieces and woven into an armband, it was extremely simple. Barely even deserving of being called a charm. All it did, was glow, providing light where it would otherwise not be and where fire couldn't be brought.
Charm's Gained: A Breath of Water and The Undimmed Glow
With these the river was her's to explore! Well, once they had been infused. Which took a bit of work since the natural wonder at the center of her courtyard had already been taken over by a gang of disreputable, antagonistic, unkept thugs. Fortunately, a tunnel off shooting the river held a gorgeous natural wonder, formed from rocks that seemed to have been gently swept and eroded by wind. Containing beauty anam, it was here that she infused her charms.
Natural Wonder discovered: The Windswept Gallery
Exploring the river, talking with Dashing Dart, practicing unarmed and knife katas underwater, constructing charms, cycling the anam of the world. All of it left her very disconnected from the goings-on in the Sect at large. Even if it had been less than a week. A very productive week mind, but making… land friends had not been a priority. Which was why Kong Hua found herself very confused when she agreed to Xu Chao's request. She didn't know why she had agreed. But it was nice to run on land with someone else. Even if they were perpetually angry. What wasn't surprising was when Xu Chao broke the silence.
"I need your help," Xu Chao blurted out, eyes squarely focusing on the ground.
"It was bugging me why you asked if I could join you for a morning run," Kong Hua replied, "but I suppose this is as good an excuse to talk to me as any. Two questions though, what do you need help with and why should I help you?"
"I talked some shit to some people that get very easily upset, and now they are gunning for me. They want me to quit the sect, or hurt me enough in a deniable way so I don't have a choice."
"That's… that's not good. Who else have you talked to about this?"
"No one, they've already frightened potential allies away or bribed them to their side. You're the only one I know that hasn't had any interaction with them."
"Ok, but, and I'm sorry this will be callous, why should I stick my neck out to stop some rich noble's vendetta. We've known each other for less than a week and for most of that time I have not been around."
"Because it's not a rich noble," Xu Chao sighed. "It's a member of the Jin family."
Skidding to a stop, Kong Hua cocked her head to the side and squinted at Xu Chao. "I'm sorry," she began, "but are you telling me that there is a good-for-nothing, hot-winded braggart, Jin going to the Delving Heart at the same time I am? Oh, we are going to bury them so deep the Court of Preservation won't be able to find them."
"Really?! You'll help?"
"Absolutely! A Jin is not worth the line of ink it takes to record their entry to any sect of the Empire, let alone the Delving Heart! What's their name, where do they live, who have they allied with, what nobles are here, what… what's that noise?"
There was a distant tapping sound, of hammer against chisel and chisel against stone. It reminded her of something. When she went searching for Dashing Dart, there was the same noise, identical even. A steady rhythmic tapping.
Xu Chao shrugged, "Someone chiseling against stone I presume?"
"Maybe… but this sounds identical to something I heard earlier, and we aren't even near the docks. Let's check it out!"
With that said, she darted forward, following the sound of chiseling with Xu Chao on her heels. A few turns later, they found themselves in an empty cavern with a singular man chiseling away at the stone, leaving burning white lines and runes in his wake. A man that Kong Hua knew well.
"Oh, hey Reflection!"
The chiseling stopped and the man turned around unnaturally to look at her. Her brother's face with dead eyes looked at her and sent a chill down her back. No matter how many times she saw one, they always gave her that reaction.
"You… know this person?" Xu Chao asked, their voice colored with trepidation.
"Eh, it's not really a person. Just a reflection of one. Specifically of my brother." Bowing towards the figure, Kong Hua spoke again, "Please let my brother know that I am doing well here and making friends. Thank you."
Nodding slowly, the figure turned around and continued chiseling against the wall.
"Alright," Kong Hua continued, turning back towards Xu Chao, "we should leave it alone. It might get aggressive if disturbed."
"Huh… will it really pass along the message?"
"Eh, probably not. Brother's working on the technique so that they can, but he hasn't mentioned much success on that front just yet."
"What type of anam would even be needed to do that type of technique?"
Moving along down the tunnel, Kong Hua shrugged. "I don't really know. Maybe Mirror anam?"
"Mirror anam? Is that even a thing? I…"
As Kong Hua and Xu Chao's voices drifted further away from the cavern, the tapping stopped and the reflection breathed anam onto the runes that had been carved. They flashed, a deep golden color as something shifted in the world. The shift was so, so very small, but in a place, a step out of time, more anam began to coalesce. And as the seconds passed by, so too did the runes disappear. Remaining solely in the past. A reflection nodded in satisfaction of a job well done and then vanished as if had never been.
Why doesn't everyone craft charms, it's so much fun!
Fractal Possibilities; Dear Sister's Ambition; Part 3 Looking upon her collection of materials, Kong Hua couldn't help but sigh. It… it wasn't much. A few bits and bobs, mainly wood and earth materials, were the majority of her materials. However, there were a couple of standouts. An...
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A/N: Another installment of Kong Zhi's younger sister taking a stab at this whole being an artist thing. I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Possibly more evidence about the connections between Anam, Artists, and environment for the Scholars that Kong Senior was talking about. Affecting the landscape around an artist not because of any active uses of anam, but simply because of the nature of that artist.
Honestly this just seems like long-term nature husbandry to me. Low-impact stuff like this isn't common these days, but Native Americans did it very well without magic powers.
First land friend said that he was going for a bit but that a third land friend would be stopping by shortly. Then second land friend gave me a neat treat. Second land friend told me to tell third land friend that third land friend shouldn't be late meeting me otherwise second land friend would be sad. You wouldn't want to make second land friend sad, would you?
As Kong Hua and Xu Chao's voices drifted further away from the cavern, the tapping stopped and the reflection breathed anam onto the runes that had been carved. They flashed, a deep golden color as something shifted in the world. The shift was so, so very small, but in a place, a step out of time, more anam began to coalesce. And as the seconds passed by, so too did the runes disappear. Remaining solely in the past. A reflection nodded in satisfaction of a job well done and then vanished as if had never been.
I am... intrigued. Carving runes that, once complete, remain in the moment of their completion rather than moving forward with the flow of time? They seem to gather/coalesce anam in some location that's also removed from time, but is that the same place where the runes are carved? Or somewhere else entirely?
This gives me ideas. They might be serving as temporal anchors of some sort. I could see this sort of thing allowing for some method of outright time travel. Or perhaps, rather than time travel, time alteration. Changing the past to affect the future maybe?
Or maybe they're reinforcing time. Preventing changes made to the past from the future?
The intended result might not have anything to do with time at all. Theoretically, if you wanted to create a Natural Wonder (or Artificial Wonder, as the case may be), I imagine causing anam to gather in one spot is fundamentally necessary to the process. This could be the beginning stage of such a project.
I honestly don't know, but the ideas are all so damn enticing, it makes me want to know more! Just what is Zhi up to here!?
Hey, all. It's been a bit longer than usual, and I know that right about now people tend to start getting a little antsy, so I wanted to keep you all posted on what's going on.
Some of you more eagle-eyed readers may have noticed that this isn't the update- or rather, it's an update, not the update, but you know what I mean. That's because update 195 is well and truly kicking my ass good. I've spent days working on it and have very little to show for it. What's more, what little I have is just... it's just not good. So I need to retool everything and figure out a good restructure before even getting words in order. So... well, TLDR, update's delayed. Sorry to keep you all waiting.
If I'm lucky it won't be too much longer, though at this point I'm beyond promising anything. But yeah, just wanted to keep you posted, and hopefully my next post will be the update! Thanks everyone for your patience and for bearing with me. It's really appreciated.
Hey good writing takes time and a lot of work.
I get annoyed sure but I try to avoid complaining... except when I ask how the update is coming although to me that feels like just asking rather than complaining.
I don't think anybody minds terribly. Also, it's incredibly rare that anyone actually has a schedule on this quest, much less one that's vaguely consistent. Also, it took me three days to get around to a response, I certainly can't blame you for not advancing a deeply gripping story like clockwork.
Since I have no problems subjecting people to prose that is not good, I'll do just that.
The Dream Unending
Colours swirl.
Eventually they split into green and blue. One becomes a forest, the other becomes the sky.
Suddenly, wood. Not the natural shapes of a forest, but the harsh lines and blocks of walls and buildings. And then the face of a mountain, with a yawning opening that demands to be called a 'Cavern' instead of merely being described as a 'cave'.
In front are lots of black and white shape. Something about this scene feels familiar…
"It is now noon," announces Elder Lei. "Anyone arriving after this point is a latecomer and shall be punished if they are even allowed entrance. But that is a matter that concerns you not, for you all have arrived on schedule."
Elder Lei looks around. "I am Elder Lei and I shall be your escort into the Delving Heart. Attempt to keep up."
Oh, I'm having a Path dream. This is new. Should be fun. I guess I'd better follow everyone.
Running full speed, into a cave (sorry, Cavern), without a proper light available seems a touch foolhardy. Thankfully, there are a large number of reckless teenagers doing that in front of me. So, I'll just follow the ones that don't get a face full of rock.
I rush after them. Something about this seems off though, but I can't quite put my finger on what. As the tunnel gets lighter the deeper we go, it occurs to me that this doesn't feel as effortless as it should.
"Does that backpack not weigh you down a lot?" comes a male voice from beside me.
I frown and think about what I can feel, cos I sure can't really see yet. Yep, I'm wearing a heavy backpack. That would slow me down. Hmm… I'm also wearing sneakers. Something about that seems wrong.
Turning to the voice to my side I reply, "A bit, yes." All I can see to start with is a large shape that glints occasionally, but there is the pounding of heavy feet. Eventually, I realise the glints are coming from heavy rings on his fingers, and from knives on his belt. Ming Hui?
"Does it not worry you that you are running with knives swinging around like that?" I ask.
He laughs, "While I am not a Chef yet, I know my way around a knife well enough to avoid cutting myself."
Yep, this would be Ming Hui.
"But what about them cutting other people?" I elaborate, and move a little further away from the running blender.
"Oh. You raise a valid point. I should get a proper holder. It would not do to carve up any potential customers. Please go on ahead of me. For your safety. This has nothing at all. To do with me. Having difficulty. With running."
I nod my thanks, as I am also getting out of breath. Something about that is strange.
While wearing sneakers is helping, the backpack is slowing my down. Even so, it is debatable as to whether I pull ahead of Ming Hui, or Ming Hui falls behind as he struggles to catch his breath.
Eventually, light and space. A large chamber, set to the side of a massive cavern. In the distance, a glowing pillar that must surely be several stories higher than I'm expecting. Around the edges, tunnels and alcoves, likely leading to more Courtyards like this one.
And more importantly, a large crowd of disciples gawking at the scene, while standing right outside the tunnel exit, where I almost run into them. Thanks everyone.
As I slowly catch my breath and try to work the soreness out of my legs, things start to click into place in my head...
You don't get sore legs from running in a dream. Nor do you get out of breath, or tired. I'm actually wearing shoes, and I can feel them. Not my soft bed. I feel cool air around me, not warm sheets.
And if this is a dream, then it is a most unusual one, because my dreams never stay coherent this long. There would have been a shift in perspective, or a diversion from the script by now.
I'm also freaking out, but it isn't waking me up. Shit.
+1 Mental Stress!
Elder Lei calls everyone to sit around the Prospector's Tears and Cycle. So I move forward and join them in sitting.
But I shouldn't be here. Is this some sort of Kong Ves nightmare? Can I even Cycle? How do I pretend to fit in here, and who the hell am I replacing anyway?
I am definitely having a panic attack now. My usual go-to relaxation trick is mindfulness. But no, I really don't want to count the number of things that are freaking me out right now. I'll have to try meditation, but I find it really hard to meditate.
Just focus on breathing and not passing out…
It slips in quietly. Energy. It oozes drip by drip into my mind, body, and presumably my soul.
Mud anam. It feels soft, soothing and slimy. It smells strongly of garlic.
That can't be right. But something really smells like garlic. I look around and discover Ming Hui sitting to my right. Just what has he been eating? Garlic, obviously.
I've dropped my focus, and the anxiety returns as the feeling of smooth mud drifts away. Elder Lei is saying something, but I don't care. I turn my attention back to meditation and focus on swirling the feeling around my body. Mud anam is really relaxing. And while just focussing on breathing has always felt too trivial for me, the addition of moving anam through me makes it easier to ignore distractions.
It really does feel good. Gone is the soreness and tiredness from running from the outer village. In its place, a feeling of energy waiting to be released. But also calmness and steadiness. The anam is patient. It will wait for a purpose. My anxiety slowly fades.
Elder Lei has stopped his speech. He is pointing to disciples and telling them they are done.
"Kong Zhi!" he warbles. "You are finished."
He is not pointing at me.
I try to make out Kong Zhi's face as he gets up and tries to ask questions, but he really is non-descript. And Elder Lei practically pushes him away anyway.
So if I'm not Kong Zhi, which character am I?
Can't be Jai Shouxi, as fun as that would be. No Jai Fa with me. That also rules out Zhuan Kun, Yi Tai, Geng Tu and Huo Shi, as I don't have anyone with me. But that doesn't help much to narrow things down.
Oh no. What if I'm Jin Yazhu?!
Suddenly, something feels wrong. There is something deep inside me that I've never felt before and it feels very very wrong. For a moment, I'm not sitting in front of the Prospector's Tears. I can see stars in all directions, and they all feel 'wrong'. And then it stops.
The shock breaks my concentration, and Elder Lei warbles again. "Exchange Student, you are done. Go find lodgings." He is pointing at me.
'Exchange Student'?!
Do I not even have a name? I don't recall there being an exchange student in canon Path. How would that even work?
I blink for a bit before making standing up, completely overbalancing, standing up for a second time, accidentally throw my backpack away from me, instead of swinging it onto my back, and quickly dash down an alley way in embarrassment.
I find a glass window. The interior is still dark, so it works as a mirror. Who am I?
The image reflected is one of horror: blond hair, gangly limbs, large nose, semi-angular features, spotty skin.
God damnit. I'm myself as a teenager!
Eww…
"Excuse me. I am also a foreigner here. Perhaps we could seek accommodation together? My name is Xu Yun."
Hello Sailor. Wait, no. Not what I meant.
I introduce myself, and we go to find out how much room is left.
The answer is not much.
After three tries, we find a building with space left. Actually, calling it a 'building' is being generous compared to most of the options here. The Courtyard of Tears includes grand buildings like the Pyramid and the Spire, which have space and style. It includes elegant balconied buildings like the ones around the Prospector's Tears, which have style and location.
It also includes this long squat and slightly reddish building in front of me, which has neither style, location, nor can it contain much space.
"Brother Xu, this building looks like a brick."
He sighs, "That it does. But it is all that remains. Come now. I have slept in worse."
I reluctantly follow Xu Yun inside, and find myself in an extremely cosy sitting room. There are two other disciples already here. I want to think that we had just missed out, but I have a horrible premonition about what Xu Yun is about to say.
"Don't worry. There are four beds. I've already checked."
Yes, that. Sigh.
The two disciples rise quickly and give a quick bow. I guess I'm going to have to learn how to bow. How do you not pull a back muscle?
"This one is called Lui Wen. It is a pleasure to share this abode with more future friends." He is short, stocky and disturbingly earnest about the friends bit.
The other one then speaks, "Mao Jiang. Welcome." Tall, thin and says less than Jai Fa.
Xu Yun bows in response, "I am Xu Yun, and this is the exchange student. We thank you for accommodating us."
Exchange student again. Did he not hear me before?
I attempt to bow, and introduce myself to my new flat-mates. They give me pained looks in response.
"I'm sorry, did I do something wrong? I am not very familiar with your customs." I venture.
"No, no. Your manners are more than acceptable. It is just… Your name is very difficult to pronounce."
What?
Exchange Student (Hey! I have a name.)
Age: 16
Gender: Male Very Confused
Traits
Fish out of Water:You don't fit in here. You really shouldn't be here. But is there any point trying to work out how to get home? First, you have to work out how to not die here. Good luck with that. Some Random-ass Cycling Technique: You should have listened to Elder Lei's instructions. Are you trying to blow yourself up? You can't just use a standard meditation breathing pattern and expect that to work. Sure it does work. But does it do anything good? No idea.
