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.
[ xie lian tuts. ] Now, now. [ he likes crimson rain sought flower's name! ]
Legend has it that the Supreme destroyed a nest belonging to another ghost many, many years ago, bringing upon it that "crimson rain". As blood fell from the sky as if it were simply a weather phenomenon, Crimson Rain walked through the forest and came upon a perfectly white flower, still covered in dewdrops.
When he saw it, he opened up a red umbrella and crouched over it, protecting the delicate flower from the blood and carnage that fell around it.
He is truly a mysterious creature, that Supreme. [ fufufu. ]
In the Heavens, they whisper of the warning signs, that he is coming. When he encounters a heavenly official, it is said that he never shows them any mercy, unlike that white flower, and so, as you walk through the mortal realm, you are best to keep aware of his presence. It's said he has eyes and ears everywhere - even in the Heavens - but there are ways to know he's coming.
[ xie lian will not make hua cheng tell his own tales. he's going to let him sit and enjoy this, because clearly he is enjoying himself. ]
After the crimson rain that heralds his presence comes his silver wraith butterflies. They are intricate and beautiful creatures made of a silvery light - [ xie lian mimes at roughly the size of a monarch butterfly with his hands. ] - and at first sight, you might even think they are cute.
But they're wildly dangerous. They have as many abilities as you can possibly imagine - to be swarmed by them is to have no hope left at even existence. When one falls, he can make more, summoned as if from the very air themselves. They can heal their master, they can be watchful eyes and ears, undetected as he learns your life, they can attack in one thousand different ways.... Crimson Rain Sought Flower can summon them to his bidding to destroy you in moments.
[ oooooh spooky. xie lian leans in a little bit, seemingly also entranced by this part of the story. ] To walk alone in the mortal realm is to summon his ire, because he is everywhere.
[ Hua Cheng gently pushes Ochako's head, versus him kicking at Claude for his smart mouth. ]
Very funny. At least gege thinks they're cute. [ THEY ARE MURDER MACHINES, GUYS ] You have no evidence to say that I can't control my temper, you know, as I've been very well behaved here in the Realm.
[ beat ] The incident between Claude and I had outside interference, that doesn't count.
But yes, should I get them back, you may see them. I imagine they will be limited rather like Ruoye is now for gege.
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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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(It isn't a very hard kick, at least.) ]
There is a bit more of a tale to this title, anyways.
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Right, right, I'm listening.
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looks at hc's little dino
hm. ]
No, Riegan-san's right. It does sound dramatic. [ but don't most villain names? ] What's the rest, then?
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Legend has it that the Supreme destroyed a nest belonging to another ghost many, many years ago, bringing upon it that "crimson rain". As blood fell from the sky as if it were simply a weather phenomenon, Crimson Rain walked through the forest and came upon a perfectly white flower, still covered in dewdrops.
When he saw it, he opened up a red umbrella and crouched over it, protecting the delicate flower from the blood and carnage that fell around it.
He is truly a mysterious creature, that Supreme. [ fufufu. ]
In the Heavens, they whisper of the warning signs, that he is coming. When he encounters a heavenly official, it is said that he never shows them any mercy, unlike that white flower, and so, as you walk through the mortal realm, you are best to keep aware of his presence. It's said he has eyes and ears everywhere - even in the Heavens - but there are ways to know he's coming.
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[ does she care if he is probably right there? absolutely fucking not. take notes, hua cheng, your methods are disgusting!
...she's still curious, though. ] Okay. So how do you know?
snows asleep i tag what i want
After the crimson rain that heralds his presence comes his silver wraith butterflies. They are intricate and beautiful creatures made of a silvery light - [ xie lian mimes at roughly the size of a monarch butterfly with his hands. ] - and at first sight, you might even think they are cute.
But they're wildly dangerous. They have as many abilities as you can possibly imagine - to be swarmed by them is to have no hope left at even existence. When one falls, he can make more, summoned as if from the very air themselves. They can heal their master, they can be watchful eyes and ears, undetected as he learns your life, they can attack in one thousand different ways.... Crimson Rain Sought Flower can summon them to his bidding to destroy you in moments.
[ oooooh spooky. xie lian leans in a little bit, seemingly also entranced by this part of the story. ] To walk alone in the mortal realm is to summon his ire, because he is everywhere.
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[ she leans back to look at hua cheng. ]
Can I see the butterflies when you get them back?
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xie lian "pffts" from his spot behind the divan, and bursts into muffled giggles, letting hua cheng answer instead. ]
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Very funny. At least gege thinks they're cute. [ THEY ARE MURDER MACHINES, GUYS ] You have no evidence to say that I can't control my temper, you know, as I've been very well behaved here in the Realm.
[ beat ] The incident between Claude and I had outside interference, that doesn't count.
But yes, should I get them back, you may see them. I imagine they will be limited rather like Ruoye is now for gege.
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I know about that, but if we believe your stories, your temper's pretty bad, huh? Do you have evidence that it isn't?
[ clapping her hands together! she's excited for murder butterflies for some reason. ]
They do sound cute. Wouldn't have figured that would be your style though.