The Permanence's Graveyard

[heng_like_a_dragon]

WHO: Dan Heng and those who have signed up for saving him
WHERE: Dried up riverbed near Persephone's Cottage
WHEN: Around but no later than April 15th
WHAT: Vritra has been unhappy with the state of things with Dan Heng and feels as though the dragon is slipping away from his control. The gifts of Permansor Terrae allow Dan Heng to use power comparable to Imbibitor Lunae's, which cannot stand. He will control this endless and vast storm, and he'll destroy Dan Heng if that's what it takes.
WARNINGS: DISTURBING IMAGERY, DEATH, IMPLIED TORTURE, IMPRISONMENT, BLOOD, IMPLIED MASS EXTINCTION OF A HUMANOID SPECIES



The Gate is located some distance away from Persephone's Cottage. Once a serenely flowing river, it has now dried up. The bottom of the riverbed is exposed to the elements, but it looks like it's been in a drought for months rather than a couple of days. The earth is dry and cracked, and the plants immediately within its vicinity have withered. This "aura of drought" seems to be emanating outward from the Gate, causing other plants to begin to wilt. It also feels a lot hotter than it should be in the middle of April. If you didn't know better, you would think that you're nearing June.

You start to set up camp and get your equipment in order. All while making sure Blade doesn't charge in full tilt just yet. Once preparations and plans are made, there's only one last thing to do: enter the Spirit Realm. And so you do.

As you step through the Gate, the first things that hit you are the blinding rays of the sun and the scorching heat. It's then followed by a stench of death that has languished in heat for too long. There's no wind in this place, making it all linger and feel like it clings to your very skin. As you look around, you notice that there's a statue up ahead that seems to be guarding a gate that leads further into the Realm.

Perhaps this is a warning to you.

Maybe one or two of you leave.

But the rest?

You know the only choice you have is forward.

Outside the Gate | Prelude | Left Path | Middle Path | Right Path | TBA

Comments

OUTSIDE THE GATE

[heng_like_a_dragon]

♪ Forgotten Hall (Extended)

With how oppressive the heat is near the Gate, it might be more prudent to set up a little away from it. You may also want to get permission from Persephone and the rest of the Cottage residents, if only to avoid being turned into mint. It's a bit unfortunate that it's too far out from the cottage to use that as your base of operations, but needs must.

A tent has been set up along with portable generators to allow for electronics to charge during the operation. Yet every passing second is felt with keen awareness. These Gates always have a time limit of three days maximum. It's just difficult to say if Dan Heng might last longer given what he is. Time is of the essence either way.

However, you do still need time to prepare. It's always difficult to predict what, exactly, might be in these Gates. Chances are good that it may involve scenes or locations from Dan Heng's past life. After all, that's been the case for the majority of the Spirit Realms that involve possessions or Outworlders arriving in this world. It may prove prudent to ask those who have witnessed Dan Heng's past life, but ultimately you won't know until you get in there.

Still, it's time to form up, gear up, and prepare yourselves for anything. About the only thing you can count on with certainty is that this drought will likely continue within the Spirit Realm, too. Do what you can to stay cool and stay hydrated. It's entirely possible that you will need to leave the Spirit Realm to rest and recharge. There are coolers full of drinks and food to help with that, just in case.

As for those in the reserve force, it's wise to monitor the situation and keep yourselves ready to head in at a moment's notice. The healers awaiting Dan Heng will also need to remain prepared to act. Most of the time, people come out of these Gates severely injured, so it stands to reason this will be the same as always.

There's also the matter of containing the aura of drought spreading from the Gate. Those with Sense Magic will be able to detect that it is continuing to spread. Anyone strong in Water and Earth magic will need to work together to keep it from escalating any further. Fire users will need to be extremely cautious as their magic has the potential to get out of hand very fast.

peanut gallery

[greatlydares]

[Belle has set herself up with her laptop and some food and water for everyone else. She's hunkered down in the tent with a pillow set out for certain boyfriends to sit on, and the laptop is displaying the video feed from Eous, as well as a map of the Spirit Realm being filled in.]

There's water in my bag if you want any.

[life_ethereal]

[Harumasa looks exhausted. He's putting on a normal, carefree attitude, but it'll be clear to Belle that the Persona took a lot out of him. However, on seeing her, he trots over to give his Proxy a kiss on the cheek before turning into a river otter.]

Water later. The siren song of a nap is calling to me....

[He curls up on the pillow as the world's tiredest otter.]

How's it looking in there so far?

[whiteshroud]

[As he said he would be, Shroud is here. Being part of the group that was searching for the gate, he was one of the first to arrive. He helped with set up, keeping an eye on the gate the entire time. It's never a good sign... when a gate can cause this much influence to the surrounding area.

Right now, he's preparing to head in with the main team. He's doing one last check of his gear to make sure he has everything. Curiously, he's not using his greatsword today- but is rather using a composite bow he summoned from his friendship bracelet.

It's clear he's taking this mission seriously, as always. But he's still human, so after he takes a drink of water from his magic water canteen, you might be lucky enough to hear him mutter:]

This is going to be miserable. I hope I don't get heatstroke.

[Stupid shroud uniform being so thick. It's April he's not supposed to be dealing with realms this hot this month, what is this]

[actnormal]

[Caleb is doing what he can with his earth magic to keep things under control, but he's a plants-and-metal guy, not a dirt guy. Eventually he has to stop so he has energy to go in and get his best friend out of that hell.

He's pacing.]

[life_ethereal]

[Harumasa is exhausted, but he's trying not to yawn too much. After camp is mostly set up, he opens up his spatial closet and steps inside. The archer rummages around inside for a minute before coming back out with... a... small picket sign? And a mallet?

It seems like he knows what he's doing.

He hammers the picket sign into the ground next to the pillow provided by Belle. Then, Harumasa heads back into his spatial closet to put his mallet back. Lastly, he comes back out, transforms into a river otter, and lies down like Apollo's tiredest soldier.

The sign reads:]

Pet the Otter for Luck!

[unreachableside]

[Blade is handling this about as well as one would expect. He stands within full view of the gate, his body facing it square on, like he's readying himself for a duel. He wears his usual adventuring garb, including a worn (but recently refurbished) bracer in an ancient style.

With his sword in his hand, no doubt he's just waiting for someone to say 'go'.]

[paraselenic]

[It frustrates Lycaon a little that his element is working against him to this degree. Dan Heng's scent, when he attempts to follow its thread, cuts off much sooner than it would during his typical months. To be limited by the shift of the Spirit Vein because of it...he'll have to make note to work on that for later.

For now, he's helped set up camp outside for those who need to come back to recharge. For those of you who know Lycaon, a cooler of drinks simply isn't enough. Oh, that's certainly there, and if they walk over to where he's sitting they'll find one filled with everything one can imagine. Water, Sparkling Water, Iced green teas, and most importantly:

Homemade Gatorade (electrolyte drink, as Lycaon would call it, but its Gatorade.)

Arctic Freeze: Blue with a dash of Mint
Fruit Punch: Red with a hint lemon
Lemon-Lime: Yellow with some ginger

Feel free to grab a bottle.

Alongside them are various (also homemade) trail mixes:

Almond Assortment: Almonds, coconut flakes, and dark chocolate chunks.
Energy Booster: Walnuts, dried cherries, pumpkin seeds, and dark chocolate chunks.
Tropical Island: Dried mango, banana chips, and macadamia nuts.
Pretzel Time: Pretzels, caramel bits, chocolate pieces, peanuts.

Take whichever you want.]

Please, I insist--you will all need your strength.

PRELUDE: Statue of Yubie

[heng_like_a_dragon]

♪ Dark Desert Music (1 hour ambience)

The first thing you notice is that there's a statue of what looks to be Dan Heng in his Vidyadhara body. However, it has started to crumble in such a way that you would be forgiven for not immediately recognizing it as such from the back. Parts of the statue have eroded away from time. Pieces have crumbled to dust, though some that are intact still litter the base of it like an act of defiance.

As you look around more closely, you see three paths before you. One is off to the left that leads out into the cracked, barren remains of a beach that once hosted an ocean. To the right is a similar path to the one to the left. However, there's an old, wooden post that seems to have manacles hanging threateningly from the top of it. Lastly, there's the path that heads deeper into the carcass that was Scalegorge Waterscape. Stone stairs look like they've seen better days and some of the steps might not have a solid enough foundation to hold too many at once, but it's at least a way down.

When you look back at the statue, you suddenly see a man there. At first, you think it's Dan Heng, but that quickly proves to be incorrect. You're not sure how. Maybe it's the way this man carries himself or the look in his eyes. Something subtle tells you that you're not talking to Dan Heng. His luminous eyes regard each of you, acknowledging and measuring you in turn, before giving a slight bow of his head.

"I have been awaiting your arrival," he says. His voice is what fully gives away that he's not Dan Heng. It's simply not quite right. The way he shapes his words, his inflection, his formal speech.... This is one of Dan Heng's past lives.

"My name is Yubie, the Imbibitor Lunae of a bygone age, and I welcome you to what remains of the Vidyadhara ancestral home: Scalegorge Waterscape." His eyes meet all of yours for a moment before he continues. "My role is to be your guide and co-conspirator, but no more than that. I shall answer your questions, provide clarity, and explain what you must do to best aid my reincarnation."

Yubie gestures for you all to come closer.

"Come, you may use this statue to shelter from the oppressive nature of this Realm. It is not much, but what little I have can at least provide a modicum of comfort and safety."

As you step closer to the statue, you'll notice that the air grows noticeably cooler. The stench of death fades and the intense sunlight dims slightly. It's not much, just like Yubie says, but it's enough to feel a little bit refreshed.

"Vritra is impossible to injure, much less kill, with even your weapons. As you are now, even with your valor and the power of gods behind your strikes, you will not be able to so much as scratch him. No... the only way to hurt him is to imbue your weapons with the bones of a sage. And they must be given up willingly."

Perhaps it's a trick of your hearing, but you could swear that you heard Yubie sigh softly with profound regret.

"Normally, this would be impossible due to the nature of Vidyadhara reincarnation. However... the nature of this Realm allows us a unique chance, and there is a suitable candidate who has agreed to make this sacrifice." Yubie gestures to each path laid before you. "At the end of each path, there will be three souls of a singular person that you will need to help. For simplicity's sake, we shall call them the 'hun souls.' Helping only one will not be enough to cover all of your weapons, I'm sorry to say. Thus... you need all three of them to help.

"Know, however, that each soul will be missing something. It could be memories, perception, feeling, anything at all. Move carefully."

The former High Elder looks up at the crumbling statue with an expression that's completely unreadable. He's as cold and distant as the moon, but... there's still something that strikes you as warm and lonely. When he turns his attention back to you, his resolve seems more steely than before.

"Helping them will also restore some power to me. I cannot leave the statue, but I can still provide insights into what you may find and how you might resolve the problem. Vritra's power prevents me from giving you the answers outright, so it will only be in hints."

First Puzzle Solved

Once you solve one of the three puzzles, Yubie will be able to telepathically communicate with the characters and they will be teleported back to this spot after completing every puzzle, including the first one. However, you will need to have telepathy in order to talk back to him.

Second Puzzle Solved

Once you solve two of the three puzzles, Yubie's power widens the area of the cooling and air purifying affect. The statue will also begin to look more like it used to be.

Last Puzzle Solved

Once you solve all three puzzles, the statue will be fully restored to its original glory. Yubie will be able to unlock the way into Vritra's hidden sanctum.

[unreachableside]

[Blade is somewhat unnerved by meeting this person who is his love yet is not his love, and the way he looks at the party doesn't help. But it's when Yubie mentions bones that he feels the bottom of his stomach drop out.

He can't hide the grimace he makes, so he just looks away, and remains silent.]

[trailblazingspirit]

Hey, it's Zhongli's statue!

[Oh, darling. No.

But March pauses when she sees Yubie, listening intently as her two jellyfish float around her. At the realization that they'll need the bones of a sage, she makes a softly upset noise.]

Bones? We're—I don't want to hurt Dan Heng's past lives.

[mediocrites]

[Every time he finds his way to fragments of that other life, something in Ratio feels like an impostor, walking in a shape too large for himself. He knows just a little of this place, the scraps of old memories filling in just enough to be aware of how little his other life truly knew: the Intelligentsia Guild was on cordial but distant terms with the Xianzhou Alliance at the best of times, and researchers were kept from the temptations found in the places sacred to the Vidyadhara for good reason. His other life would not have belonged in this place while it was living and vibrant, and he, in his still more ordinary self, belongs in this dismal ruin of it even less.

And yet, he can't not-know it, can't treat it as something wholly strange and new, either, not with those faint and unsettling wisps of familiarity a constant reminder. He squints against the sunlight as they make their way to the statue, and doesn't hesitate to take advantage of the shade when its caretaker offers: the more owl he becomes, it seems, the less tolerant he is of bright light.]

'Three souls of a single person'? [He shakes his head; there was a time he can remember when he would have been reluctant to accept the existence of souls at all, though he's long-since accepted the premise as proven.] Does that also relate to something unique about the Vidyadhara and their cyclical rebirth?

[He's not even sure it's important; he's not really sure what's going to be important, in this place. But the only way to learn is by starting to ask questions.]

LEFT ROOM: High Clouds Meet Azure Dragon

[heng_like_a_dragon]

♪ Lost

The cracked and barren beach melts like a dream into a new setting after no more than 30 seconds of walking. Your surroundings have changed to that of a forge. It seems to be one that looks at home in a Chinese sci-fi setting. However, those who are familiar with Blade's forge will notice that the layout is very similar to how he lays his own out. There are some differences with the materials that are available, but there's one thing that really stands out to you: it's dark and cold. Looking around, there's a thin layer of dust coating everything. It's as if the Forge Master hasn't set foot in here for quite some time.

In the middle of the forge is a man who looks strikingly like Dan Heng and Yubie. However, there are key differences to his appearance. The underside of his hair is a lovely shade of blue, and his style of robes is far different than Dan Heng's. This... is Dan Feng.

Yet something is off about him. Yubie and Dan Heng generally come off as cold and aloof as the moon. It should follow that Dan Feng would be the same way, but there's a vulnerability in his expression as he turns his head at every slight sound. He looks lost, alone, and confused. At the same time, there's a certain distance in his eyes. It's almost like he can't see very well. A theory that might prove true as he also hesitates to move too much.

When he hears you approach, Dan Feng looks in your general direction.

"Yingxing?" His voice is heartrendingly hopeful. "Your forge has been dark for so long, and it is not like you to leave your projects unfinished like this."

His sightless eyes seem to roam the cold, silent forge.

"I thought to find your projects and light your forge, to remember our friends, but... I cannot find them. It's too dark and I don't remember," he pauses as his voice trails off for a moment. It's as if it pains him to admit this. "... I don't remember where they are. Can you help me find them and relight the forge? It isn't right to leave this place so cold and dark."

Using your magic to try to light up your surroundings, you notice that there's a lot of rust on the discarded and forgotten projects scattered haphazardly around the forge. To your distress, the more you look at it, the more you realize that these creations are actively continuing to rust at a fairly rapid rate. It seems you're on a time limit to find these items that Dan Feng is talking about.

Puzzle Notes

The goal is to locate the following incomplete projects: the Shard Sword, Starfall Reverie, Jade Flask, and Cloud-Piercer. Once all four have been found, the characters will need to relight the forge with either Fire magic or the normal way. Jing Yuan and Blade can each provide advantage to the search roll. Trying to light the forge before you get all four projects will cause the flames to sputter and fizzle out.

If you've completed one puzzle already, you may call on Yubie to mulligan one failed roll. If you've completed two puzzles already, he can mulligan two failed rolls instead.

Puzzle Solution

The solution is simple: all you need to do is roll a 10 or higher for each project you're trying to find. Characters may use Light and Fire magic to give them better visibility, which will reduce the difficulty down to 8 or higher. If you fail the search check three times, please read the Outcome: Failure section.

[pranas]

[ he knows this place.

it is like stepping into a memory but it is wrong, the light and warmth are replaced by a bone chilling coldness and oppressive darkness. his eyes close, his heart arches, to see a place so precious to them in such a state is hard. but what is worse is the figure in the middle of the forge, the familiar figure whose voice cuts through the darkness and breaks his heart. Dan Feng, their Dan Feng. his feet carry himself to the figure before Jing Yuan truly realises it, a hand reaching out to hover in the air for a moment before it falls.

there is no time. the general turns to those who followed him down this path, expression near unreadable in the darkness of the forge, a globe of light floating up from his hand to hover and bring some light to the room. ]

I know what projects he speaks of. A sword, a guandao, a flask, and a spear. [ from his hammer space Jing Yuan summons Starfall Reverie to his side, holding it out for the others to look out. ] This is one of them.

[unreachableside]

[He knows this place.

His footsteps halt as soon as he smells the dust, but there is something else. Old iron, coal, dragon...]

This is...

[Blade's heart is on his sleeve for everyone to see. He isn't expecting Dan Feng, though he should have. Of course he'd be one of the volunteers. And calling out his name—how could Blade not answer? He forgets himself for a moment, and when he responds to that question, it contains a soft but noticeable stammer.]

I'm here.

[It feels sickening to play along with the game, but how can he do anything else?]

Give me a minute. I'll have the bellows belching fire that will impress a dragon.

[Ignoring the little tremble in his voice that he's hoping no one remarks on, he turns to the others.]

It's as Jing Yuan said. One of the gifts is a polearm, like his. Then there is a spear—the same one Dan Heng carries around—and a rounded flask. The last one is a black sword made from a meteorite. [He summons Shard Sword and holds it up for everyone to see.] It looks like this, but without the cracks, and it's at least two feet longer.

[yeah that motherfucker was BIG]

Don't be gentle—we're on limited time and there is a lot of old junk. If something doesn't fit the description of those four items, toss it.

[actnormal]

[This must be Dan Feng. Caleb's not sure how he feels about this, given what he remembers from their past lives, but at the same time...he's long gone. And he clearly needs help.]

I'm not Yingxing, sorry. Just a friend of his, though, he sent me here to help. Do you know what we're looking for?

[Well. He can guess what they're looking for but just in case. He'll start looking. (7+1=8). Does he have any hope of finding anything? Not especially but he can try.]

[jackdawvision]

[Eagle Vision can work wonders in that Edward can immediately find a needle in a haystack if he has to with it on. Unfortunately, knowing where the locations are doesn't mean getting to them will be easy.

Edward blinks out of Eagle Vision with a distinctly annoyed look on his face, as he rubs over his eyes with a deep sigh.]

Why are there so many projects around here? [He's just going to roll up his sleeves, pick a location at random, and try to pick his way through the mess. (8)]

Ow.

MIDDLE ROOM: Storm Clouds Over Calm Seas

[heng_like_a_dragon]

♪ Scalegorge Waterscape Ambience

CW: MASS DEATH OF VIDYADHARA EGGS

You walk down the dilapidated, stone steps that lead deeper into Scalegorge Waterscape. As you look around, you can see the remains of what must have once been a vibrant coral reef that had been integrating into the sacred ruins. Now, however, it's all bleached white.

It's not long before your steps take you to something majorly troubling and disturbing. Once, there had been clusters of dragon eggs, waiting patiently for their rebirth into a new life. Now... the shells have lost all luster. They look sickly green and putrid, a stench of death and decay wafting from the closest ones. You realize, now, that this is the source of the smell from when you initially arrived. It's horrifying to realize that no egg has survived.

Abruptly, you hear a dragon's roar of grief and pain. Your eyes go to find the source of the sound instinctively, and you see a faint, glimmering gold shape where the central platform is. As you head in deeper, you begin to see strange tree roots coiling around the ruins. Roots that are shockingly and unnervingly alive.

As you walk down the long path that leads to the central platform, you see that there's now a dense wall of these strange roots covering the space. It almost looks like it's making a wooden cocoon. Yet, before you can contemplate how to breach this wall, you notice that the roots seem to be moving. They writhe and creak as they form a tunnel for you to enter.

It seems you're expected.

Crossing through the tunnel doesn't take much time, but you soon stop in your tracks as a loud roar pierces your ears and makes your very bones vibrate from the intensity. An intense wave of panic may enter your mind for a moment at hearing an apex predator make such a sound. However, if you steel your courage, you may hear that note of agony and grief once more.

As you look ahead, you see that there is a golden cage of light surrounding an enormous, blue dragon. A blue dragon that is almost instantly recognizable as the Azure Dragon that Dan Heng summons with his Cloudhymn during battle, or perhaps it's recognizable as the dragon form that he rarely takes. Your eyes soon catch on the grievous injuries he has suffered, as if he's been in combat with another dragon. His body is being pinned to the ground by the roots of the tree, spiking upward from the stone platform. The dragon's eyes, once shining with cold intelligence, are that of a beast gripped in madness.

Your eyes go further up.

Hovering menacingly in the air is a spike of entangled roots, sharpened to a deadly point, aiming directly at the base of the dragon's skull. The only thing keeping it suspended are thin yet strong threads of golden light. They seem to be forming some kind of array. Seeing this, you know one thing with absolute certainty: should the spike fall, it will instantly kill him.

Abruptly, you hear someone sigh softly. Turning to look, you see the blue, faceted image of a Foxian woman. She gazes at the dragon with a deep sorrow. When she speaks, she sounds as if she's speaking through water.

"He's never really forgiven himself for this. How he lost control during his battle with Shuhu, and how I died to make sure he lived." She turns to look at you. "A lotta people always said that Imbibitor Lunae was as cold and distant as the moon. Some looked at him warmly and spoke of him as a hero, but would still keep their distance from him. But I knew him as Dan Feng. A very lonely man who would do anything to see us live our lives without sacrifice in an endless war."

The dragon growls low, but it doesn't seem as though he can hear her. She sighs once again.

"Please help him. Convince him to come back to us."

Puzzle Notes

Killing the dragon is an automatic failure. This is more of a persuasion check with a Difficulty Check (DC) of 13. If you have March and Caleb (Caelus) with you, they can each add one advantage die to the roll.

Rolling a natural 1 will only count as one failure, but it imposes 2 disadvantage dice to the next roll. Conversely, a natural 20 will temporarily lower the DC by 2 for the next roll.

If you've completed one puzzle already, you may call on Yubie to mulligan one failed roll. If you've completed two puzzles already, he can mulligan two failed rolls instead.

When there's a failed or successful roll, I will interrupt tag order with an IC representation of the result.

Puzzle Solution

Characters will need to roll to persuade the dragon to calm down and become lucid again. They will succeed once they've passed three checks.

[trailblazingspirit]

Bailu...? [But that's not Bailu, this woman is too tall and too Foxian to be the little dragon girl that March knew. The resemblance is uncanny enough that March squints at her for a moment, before she turns to the dragon and softens. Takes a single step forward before she kneels down.]

I don't know Dan Feng. I never met him. [And she's never really asked Dan Heng much about his past lives. Won't ask, unless he offers it up.] But Dan Heng's one of my best friends in the whole universe. And I want to lift the loneliness of his past from his shoulders. I'm very strong now, I can do that.

[She reaches out her hand towards the dragon, snowflakes dancing around her fingertips.]

Can you hear me? We're here.

[And she casts a shield upon the dragon, less for protection and more for the feeling it provides—a gentle coolness, like water down a parched throat, like the first lungful of cold air when you step inside after a hot day out, like a friend showing you how to make a snowball (18).]

[unreachableside]

[This scene reminds him of the war. Innocent casualties, twisted branches like old bones, and then... he sees it. The once-proud dragon he would follow into hell again and again, bound up like a mad beast, with only someone's spell keeping him alive.

Blade knows what this is.

But before he can get the words out, he hears a voice he hasn't heard in several lifetimes. He makes his heart ache, like yearning for a home that no longer exists, and has not existed for so long it may as well have never existed.]

Baiheng...

[He finally looks at her. His memory, though fragmented, fills in the colors she wore in life. He wants to linger and talk to ghosts, but he knows that is just one of the sneaky ways places like this trap people like him.

He looks at the others instead.]

... I don't think I'm the best candidate for this. Our anger, our madness, it always fed into each other. Someone else should go first.

ota help

[leontas]

Dan Feng.

[ the name holds no meaning to him, nor does he understand the cycle of reincarnation his friend's people go through. it doesn't matter, Mydei decides, for his job is to do what the spectre asked and bring him back from the madness that holds him so tightly. he nods at the foxian woman, striding forward with the caged dragon with a determination and fearlessness reserved for very few until he reaches the golden cage of light. ]

I do not know you, great dragon. [ Mydei regards the cage itself with distain, a golden gauntlet reaching out to touch it experimentally. he wonders, quietly, if destroying the cage would release the spike suspended above the creature's head and frowns. ] But I know a warrior when I lay my eyes upon him. I know a man consumed by grief when I lay my eyes upon him.

You lost yourself in battle and in turn lost someone dear to you. There is no ache that is keener than that, no blade that can pierce deeper than the one you plunge into your own chest. Had you been stronger, wiser, faster, perhaps they would not have paid the price. This is a pain I know all to well.

[ some would think the Titan of Strife strange for such musings, for the regret that seeps into his voice. how could the beast harbor such things when all he cares for is the thrill of battle? the bloodshed? those people would be fools. ]

It is a mire that can be impossible to break free of but we need you to break free. Come back, so we may save our friend from the grips of a demon who would see him suffer as you have. So those who love him can bring him home.

[ who can say if his words will find any purchase. talking really isn't his thing. (11) ]

RIGHT ROOM: Clear Skies, Still Seas

[heng_like_a_dragon]

♪ To Naraka We Sink

You walk down the right path and a door made of swirling Cloudhymn opens before you. As you step through, you feel as though you've walked straight into the depths of the underworld. It's cold, dark, and gloomy with chains high in the ceiling. Below are more of the same. In the middle is a control pillar that controls the way down.

This is the Shackling Prison.

You continue onward and notice that the central pillar appears to be moving. As it moves, paths are unlocked for you to head down a certain way. With no other option laid out before you, you continue following the path. Down, down into the cold darkness you go. You pass by countless cells containing horrifying monsters or what looks to be people from across the universe. Some look human while others do not.

When you reach the bottom, at the coldest depths, you realize that the central pillar is actually an enormous key. As it twists and turns in certain specific ways, you can hear and feel something far below move. It's as if the rooms below are rotating to make sure you visit only the one that the "key" is unlocking for you. Stone steps soon slide open to allow you to continue further downward.

At long last, you reach the maximum security cell and the door opens to you. Steeling yourself for whatever you may find inside, you walk through the door.

Dan Feng is held within, as you might have expected. However, you see that there are nails impaled through his wrists and chains wrapping tightly around his arms and waist. He's being held above the ground, and it's clear that he's not in the best condition. Parts of his clothes are torn, dirt and bruises speckle his skin, and you can even see dried blood in some places. However, what's most striking is how Dan Feng looks stoically defiant despite the circumstances. Out of all the versions of his souls you might have encountered by now, this one is the most lucid.

In fact, he can even hold a real conversation with you.

"You have arrived," Dan Feng says. His deep voice is cold yet has a hint of a draconic growl accenting his words. Bright, blue eyes gaze upon you all almost imperiously. It's in this moment that you are struck with the realization that Dan Feng is much older than Dan Heng is at this point in time. You'd be forgiven for thinking that the two are wholly different people.

However, something sticks out to you in this moment. Some may recall that Zhongli had been bound by these same nails, and had been wracked with tremendous pain for it. Yet, the former High Elder looks unnervingly calm. It's almost as if he can't feel the pain.

"From what I have understood, you are here to retrieve my scales so that you may strengthen your weapons. In doing so, you'll be able to take back that which was never the incarnation of Drought's to begin with." The way Dan Feng says that last part is almost angry and indignant. Not at Dan Heng, though. It seems like he takes offense to Vritra's attempt to control Imbibitor Lunae in general.

"Your trial this time is simple. You either kill me or you read out my sentence," the former High Elder continues. His voice as he says that is almost... clinical. Yet, a closer look at his expression reveals that he's mostly resigned to his fate.

Still, as if out of courtesy, he adds, "However, if you have questions for me, we have enough time to converse before you make your decision."

Encounter Notes

While technically there is no failure, killing Dan Feng will "taint" the item you'll receive from completing this trial. It will still allow you to deal true damage to Vritra, but it will apply two disadvantage dice during the fight.

That being said, characters may interact with Dan Feng however they wish! He's fully capable of holding a conversation during this trial.

If you decide to use Yubie here after clearing at least one puzzle prior to this, there will be a special scene and everyone will receive the benefits of Dan Heng's Luck Bringer +3 during the confrontation against Vritra.

[pranas]

[ it is a familiar path, one he walked more than once before. Jing Yuan says nothing as he walks the unmoving path towards the cell he knows too well. he spares no glance to the others cells he passes, he answers no floating questions anyone who thought to follow him as he marched may have as they move. he knows full well where the path will lead and he is certain of what will await them inside of it.

and yet, despite knowing, he is by no means prepared to come face to face to Dan Feng chained and impaled. he looks just as he did back then. battered and bruised yet defiant all the same. he never once crumbled in the face of his torturers, of the people who wished him dead for what he had done. ]

Dan Feng.

[ the general's voice wavers, hesitation filling those brilliant golden eyes. it would be swift to slay him swiftly and spare him the agonizing pain of his sentence, a sentence Jing Yuan needs no paper to read out for it long since burnt itself into his memory. ]

Must I do this again?

[unreachableside]

[Of course it would be this. Blade's face is stony and almost unreadable as they walk into the depths of hell itself, the Shackling Prison, walking past creatures that Blade knows he made the bindings for. And he can guess who waits for him at the bottom.

Still, seeing him in such a state is... new. Blade was never here, not when Dan Feng or Dan Heng were imprisoned. But he's spent time in here, afterward. A complete vacation compared to the torturous scene before him.]

I should have been punished for those sins alongside you. [Not that Blade could do much about his disappearing act, but still. He reaches into his coat and pulls out a small microfiber cloth, the kind one would use for polishing or cleaning glass. Blade also has a canteen on him, but he only remembers it now.

He unscrews the cap from the canteen and raises it to to Dan Feng's lips, seeing if he'll take a sip. A small and pointless mercy, perhaps, but it isn't worthless to Blade... or Yingxing.]

... I only have one question. If I am not strong enough to kill you... will you resent me? I'm not begging for your forgiveness, but I also can't hide anything from you. My hands... they're trembling too much to grant you the swift and painless death you deserve.

[At one point in his life, he could have done it. Or at least, Jingliu had convinced him that he could do it. But now, he... can't do it, even knowing it would grant mercy. He looks at Dan Feng with wetness in his eyes.]

... [wryly] You gave me your heart and this is how I repay you. With hesitation and cowardice.

OTA

[whiteshroud]

[As he steps down into the shackling prison, it gives him a sense of familiar dread. It reminds him... a lot of the labs that held him early this year. He manages to keep his composure (17), pushing aside the desire to leave to the back of his mind... as he keeps traveling forward

The reminders only get more stark when the door opens to reveal Dan Feng. He recognizes those nails alright, they are just like the ones that caused his grandfather untold amounts of pain for weeks. Nails that Zhongli was still recovering from, despite so normally being so strong and unshakeable.

There's a part of him that wants to scream. But he swallows it back. Instead, he listens to Dan Feng's explanation. It makes him feel sick, knowing this is something a friend had gone through- past incarnation or not.

When he speaks... it's quiet, apologetic.]

... I can't condemn a man when I don't know the crime I'm condemning him for.