[ Hua Cheng is vibing, wearing his salvaged costume - it's a little dirty still, and has a set of claw marks and various tears in it that actually sort of... lend to the aesthetic? There are bandages visible underneath, but still, San Lang sexy. He's lounging on one of the, like, broken lounges.
Ignoring the bubbles. ]
I could certainly tell my fair share of authentic ghost stories. [ hums ]
Hm? Gege is alive. [ Placidly allowing her to poke, it's mostly obvious where he was injured yesterday, considering. ] I'm a high-ranking ghost, so I do have a physical form, rather than something see-through - is that what you mean?
I earned it. [ vibes with the pokes ] Some spirits are able to manifest a physical form through other means - age, sometimes, but there's any number of ways available to us - but every few hundred years, thousands upon thousands of ghosts gather to fight one another for the right to become the strongest kind of ghost.
[ Hua Cheng glances over the top of her head at Xie Lian, clearly amused, before he sits up properly. Somewhere in the background, his ill-behaved spinosaurus claws something up.
He ignores it. Leans in closer to Ochako, dark eye twinkling. ]
Within Mt. Tonglu lies a volcano that's been active for hundreds, if not thousands of years - the Kiln, as it came to be known. A long-empty city sits in the shadow of its peak, having been laid to waste by the volcano itself, nothing but ashes and the lingering resentment of its citizens.
Every few hundred years, every ghost - every ghoul, spirit, demon, monster - will feel the Kiln opening up, coming alive again. Like the Realm, it's a place of power, made that way by the torment that the volcano created, with every ill intent every malevolent spirit may possess. They are drawn there in droves, and few are able to resist its pull.
[ xie lian nods along with this from behind hua cheng, where he's trying to entertain his spinosaurus. ]
Mm, mm! That's right. And when it starts, a great ripple echoes through the famed Ghost City, where ghosts reside... and they begin to howl and wail, becoming overcome with the desire to ...
The sheer level of resentful energy. It casts something of a thrall over ghosts, when the Kiln opens up - gege saying it's something like being overcome with a desire is rather appropriate.
[ Making it worse for Xie Lian without realizing it, as his spinosaurus chews gently on gege's fingers. Rude, it tries to gnaw Hua Cheng's off. ]
We flock to it, en masse. Some ghosts go into hiding, in the area, when it happens, knowing that they won't stand a chance. Some band together, hoping that perhaps sheer numbers will overwhelm.
[ please don't say overcome with desire. xie lian flips the dino over on its back and begins to tickle its widdle belly so he doesn't have to think of that too much.
anyway! ] San Lang fought it more than anyone else, but even he...um, succumbed, a bit. Ultimately, we were on our way to the kiln when we we woke up here, to try and intercept. [ his ears are red it's fine.
ahem. he'll lean into hua cheng's ghost story telling, though, and says, solemnly, shaking his head: ] ...The true fright of the Kiln is this - only one ghost can make it out.
[ The widdle dino decides to go reeeeee in response to the tickles, which is probably adorable to Xie Lian, but it's dressed like this, so. Hua Cheng has extra reason to ignore it. ]
En. It's difficult to predict when the Kiln opens up, and there are many dangers on the way there that make it harder to reach, even for a Supreme ghost.
[ But he leans in closer, face darkening. OOOooooOOO spooky. ]
To pieces. Ghosts linger in this world, whatever their reasons - [ a glance out of the corner of his eye, at Xie Lian, and he continues ] - rather than deciding to rejoin the cycle. To have your essence shattered, when you are already a fragment of yourself, well, you could say that the journey to the Kiln could very well erase them from existence permanently.
And this "tournament," it goes on for years, until there is only one ghost left standing within the heart of the Kiln.
[ xie lian adores this dinosaur? he is naming him e-ming.
but this is a ghost story not about an adorable dinosaur, so. ]
...And that one ghost, we come to know as a Supreme.
In the thousands of years of the Kiln's existence, there have only ever been three ghosts who have overcome all to be raised to that level of power. They are the scourge of the Heavens. Their very names can bring the most powerful god to their knees.
But there is one supreme that is the most terrifying of them all. There are many legends to his name, aren't there, San Lang?
[ Stop there doesn't need to be two E-Mings in Hua Cheng's life. ]
Erased! [ GASP, SHOCK ] If they don't have the strength to carry on, to pull themselves together, then they simply cease to be.
[ Forgotten, gone forever, their reasons meaningless in the end. ]
A Supreme ghost can stand on equal ground with a god, when others below them are merely the occasional challenge - usually more of an annoyance. The Heavens will always be at odds with the existence of ghosts, as their resentful energy so often causes the mortal realm trouble, and there are many who take their chaotic nature to harm the world around them, no matter who it may affect.
But there is one Supreme that the Heavens fear on a more... personal level. Crimson Rain Sought Flower broke free of the Kiln after ten years, and shortly after challenged thirty-five gods to battle - in martial combat and civil debate alike.
Two declined the challenge. [ cowards ] The remaining thirty-three accepted.
That's right. He went straight to the Heavens, and challenged them each on their grounds. He agreed to fight them or debate them wherever they wanted. The gods were arrogant, and wanted to teach Crimson Rain Sought Flower a lesson.
...And this terrible Supreme defeated them all. One by one, in every battle, both with his wits, and with his terrible [ cute ] saber, known as E-ming. It is a terrifying blade, that leaks resentful energy - a crimson eye spins and rolls in its hilt. If the Supreme could strike you with the blade, he could choose to open your wounds again at any time, with a mere snap of his fingers - and his swordsmanship was so incredible, that gods who ascended based on their sheer strength in battle fell, one after another, after another.
But Crimson Rain Sought Flower - there was still yet more to his tale. He didn't just leave it at defeating them. He burned all of their temples, in all of our land - and continued to burn them, so that their devotees all moved on. Effectively, he killed 33 gods from Heaven, who were forced out of their godly position, because he stripped them of their powers by taking their believers.
It is said that his name comes from one of his techniques - he can make the sky rain with blood.
(He's been listening the entire time! His attention is completely caught! Even if he looks like he's just lounging around on the floor with his bow and arrows next to him. He's vibing. He's chilling. And he hasn't said much of a word until now--)
Talk about a drama king.
(Very dryly,)
But with a name like "Crimson Rain Sought Flower," I'm not surprised.
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Ignoring the bubbles. ]
I could certainly tell my fair share of authentic ghost stories. [ hums ]
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[ me realizing that ochako still has no idea what hc or xl are, ]
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He laughs a little, lolling his head. ]
Ah, no. I'm a ghost - just a little more alive while here in the Realm.
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leans over to poke him? as if to confirm this? ]
So how's that work with you two?
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Ghost tournament?
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He ignores it. Leans in closer to Ochako, dark eye twinkling. ]
Within Mt. Tonglu lies a volcano that's been active for hundreds, if not thousands of years - the Kiln, as it came to be known. A long-empty city sits in the shadow of its peak, having been laid to waste by the volcano itself, nothing but ashes and the lingering resentment of its citizens.
Every few hundred years, every ghost - every ghoul, spirit, demon, monster - will feel the Kiln opening up, coming alive again. Like the Realm, it's a place of power, made that way by the torment that the volcano created, with every ill intent every malevolent spirit may possess. They are drawn there in droves, and few are able to resist its pull.
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Mm, mm! That's right. And when it starts, a great ripple echoes through the famed Ghost City, where ghosts reside... and they begin to howl and wail, becoming overcome with the desire to ...
To....
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xie lian suddenly seems to remember something. ]
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--To, erm, fight uncontrollably, and tear each other apart!
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[ ghost tournament sounded so cool up to that point, wow. ]
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[ Making it worse for Xie Lian without realizing it, as his spinosaurus chews gently on gege's fingers. Rude, it tries to gnaw Hua Cheng's off. ]
We flock to it, en masse. Some ghosts go into hiding, in the area, when it happens, knowing that they won't stand a chance. Some band together, hoping that perhaps sheer numbers will overwhelm.
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[ whatever happened to casper? this is getting worse by the minute. luckily for xl, she does not seem to notice he is having any issues. ]
If you're such a strong ghost, couldn't you do something about it, Hua Cheng-san?
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anyway! ] San Lang fought it more than anyone else, but even he...um, succumbed, a bit. Ultimately, we were on our way to the kiln when we we woke up here, to try and intercept. [ his ears are red it's fine.
ahem. he'll lean into hua cheng's ghost story telling, though, and says, solemnly, shaking his head: ] ...The true fright of the Kiln is this - only one ghost can make it out.
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[ ochako is the perfect audience for this hunger games nonsense. ]
The others just get torn apart? What does that even mean for ghosts? They just die twice?!
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En. It's difficult to predict when the Kiln opens up, and there are many dangers on the way there that make it harder to reach, even for a Supreme ghost.
[ But he leans in closer, face darkening. OOOooooOOO spooky. ]
To pieces. Ghosts linger in this world, whatever their reasons - [ a glance out of the corner of his eye, at Xie Lian, and he continues ] - rather than deciding to rejoin the cycle. To have your essence shattered, when you are already a fragment of yourself, well, you could say that the journey to the Kiln could very well erase them from existence permanently.
And this "tournament," it goes on for years, until there is only one ghost left standing within the heart of the Kiln.
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but this is a ghost story not about an adorable dinosaur, so. ]
...And that one ghost, we come to know as a Supreme.
In the thousands of years of the Kiln's existence, there have only ever been three ghosts who have overcome all to be raised to that level of power. They are the scourge of the Heavens. Their very names can bring the most powerful god to their knees.
But there is one supreme that is the most terrifying of them all. There are many legends to his name, aren't there, San Lang?
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[ that sounds awful! what about the reasons they stayed behind? will they just be completely forgotten?! aaaaaaa ]
He must be pretty strong, to make it out. But... why would a god be afraid?
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Erased! [ GASP, SHOCK ] If they don't have the strength to carry on, to pull themselves together, then they simply cease to be.
[ Forgotten, gone forever, their reasons meaningless in the end. ]
A Supreme ghost can stand on equal ground with a god, when others below them are merely the occasional challenge - usually more of an annoyance. The Heavens will always be at odds with the existence of ghosts, as their resentful energy so often causes the mortal realm trouble, and there are many who take their chaotic nature to harm the world around them, no matter who it may affect.
But there is one Supreme that the Heavens fear on a more... personal level. Crimson Rain Sought Flower broke free of the Kiln after ten years, and shortly after challenged thirty-five gods to battle - in martial combat and civil debate alike.
Two declined the challenge. [ cowards ] The remaining thirty-three accepted.
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[ . . . ]
Crimson Rain Sought Flower? [ a villain name if she's ever heard one! just kind of a weird one. ] So... What happened to the thirty-three gods, then?
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That's right. He went straight to the Heavens, and challenged them each on their grounds. He agreed to fight them or debate them wherever they wanted. The gods were arrogant, and wanted to teach Crimson Rain Sought Flower a lesson.
...And this terrible Supreme defeated them all. One by one, in every battle, both with his wits, and with his terrible [ cute ] saber, known as E-ming. It is a terrifying blade, that leaks resentful energy - a crimson eye spins and rolls in its hilt. If the Supreme could strike you with the blade, he could choose to open your wounds again at any time, with a mere snap of his fingers - and his swordsmanship was so incredible, that gods who ascended based on their sheer strength in battle fell, one after another, after another.
But Crimson Rain Sought Flower - there was still yet more to his tale. He didn't just leave it at defeating them. He burned all of their temples, in all of our land - and continued to burn them, so that their devotees all moved on. Effectively, he killed 33 gods from Heaven, who were forced out of their godly position, because he stripped them of their powers by taking their believers.
It is said that his name comes from one of his techniques - he can make the sky rain with blood.
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Talk about a drama king.
(Very dryly,)
But with a name like "Crimson Rain Sought Flower," I'm not surprised.
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snows asleep i tag what i want
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