[ it's a gu yun update! these are probably fairly frequent in number - he checks in often when he can, either with harrow or molly or occasionally their groupchat. this one's directly to harrow, though. ]
Look at this absolutely horrid thing we've recovered from the Heavenly Tribes.
[ attached is an image: it's a life sized statue of a woman with a gentle face? however, the statue itself is covered in... patches of leather...
actually, upon closer inspection (a second picture) that tanned leather is actually oddly sized patches of human flesh all patched together to give the statue a ""lifelike"" appearance. gross???? ]
Apparently It's some sort of mystic 'soul statue' Where they keep the flesh and not the bones! I've decided I like your version infinitely more than what apparently does, in fact, exist in my realm.
Anyway. No - according to the mythos of the tribe, the "soul sealing statue" is designed to find the souls of people who have been killed and return them back to the lands of the Heavenly Tribes by keeping a piece of their mortal bodies on this plane. Apparently.
She's still pretty, I suppose. [ ??? ] Miss Chen is working on removing the flesh as carefully as possible from the statue's inner core - it's wooden on the inside. We're not sure what we'll find underneath. Any thoughts?
A revenant, perhaps. If that's its purpose, or even by accident. It wouldn't be out of the question to bind something this way, but a soul is a lot to ask.
If it seems haunted, I'd imagine. I'd ordinarily tell you to get a necromancer; I don't know how to recognize the signs without it. But I would need to do more research to understand how it works in your world.
Up until the past week or so, I would've said such things don't exist. However, I suppose the Heavenly Tribes are a culture I didn't even consider. So, I'll amend that statement to say they didn't exist within Great Liang.
The curse is called the Bone of Impurity. I've seen it in action, now - he gets double pupils. It gives him nightmares, and causes him a lot of pain; I think it's likely to try and lead him to madness. Supposedly he's cursed with the power of their goddess - this statue is of her. I've done some research on it, but there's just not much to find, so. This is the first piece of anything we've been able to uncover even related to their goddess.
I know very little about such things. Goddesses and the like. The only God I know is a man I've met face to face. If you send me the research perhaps I can help. I need to understand in clearer terms how it is done.
It may come surely as shocking to you but - I don't know anything about it, either. [ sarcasm as usually but... he's worried enough that after a moment; ]
... I'll send along what I can. ​
[ what's truly unfortunate is that the lore is about child on child vore so he's absolutely not sending that along but it's fine.
it's ten or fifteen minutes before he sends a reply - and it's very disjointed, like he's typing while someone is talking. part just to get the story out and part... because he is just really worried??? ]
Soul statue must communicate with life and death using some kind of witchcraft. Miss Chen doesn't know precisely how Usually by hiding a personal item of the bound soul inside the wood Caster replaces the item by the last word of the dead if they can't find the item itself There's no item inside this thing. A recipe?
Miss Chen was undercover in the Heavenly Tribes land trying to understand or study their witchcraft but couldn't find anything about this ritual at all
Stat specifically related to 'bone of impurity' curse of Wu Gu Er - two hearts, two heads, four arms, four legs Great intelligence and strength for cursed leads eventually to madness, hallucinations, suspicion against even the closest allies Curse put upon someone by having them [ ... ]
Ah. Well, this is not irrelevant to my ongoing research.
I haven't been able to remove Gideon just yet, because our souls are fused and have to be unfused in order to avoid any damage. [This has been my excuse in so many PSLs now.] But I have the capacity, by furby fiat, to do it. So I will continue to work on the problem, and will work on yours as well.
Shall I come visit you and see the statue? I'm better if I can trace the thanergy.
Mm. It might not be a bad idea. I'll inform Miss Chen you're to be well trusted. She'll be glad for the help- I have a feeling you two will get along. She's in the process of removing the skin from the statue at the moment, but I'll let her know when she's doing something less delicate.
Perhaps it will help with Gideon, too. Suppose there's no better use of inter-world knowledge than solving these sorts of things.
[Sad that she immediately understands his meaning, so now I have to write Sisi a lowdown of the social situation that exists entirely in my head. Anyway, it says a lot about her relationship with Gu Yun that she'll also just immediately doxx all of Molly's sensitive baby feelings.]
Mollymauk's friends are good people. They've been very kind and accommodating even though I fear I have not been very interesting. Beauregard and Jester have been very friendly towards me, to which I can only respond awkwardly. I get along decently with Caleb. It will probably be easier, once Gideon is here. She is more personable than I am.
They are happy to have him back, which is sweet, but it's a little awkward, too. Do you know that he hadn't known them for any longer than the time we spent in the indulgence center? And now they've all known one another a lot longer, and have changed since he knew them. This is more a problem for him than it is for them; they consider him their dear friend, but I think he fears that he won't live up to their memories of him.
Harrow, you are many things - a stick in the mud, sometimes - but uninteresting is not one of them. I find it hard to believe anyone would think otherwise, the fact that you're from an entirely different world as these people notwithstanding. Beauregard probably thinks you're pretty. [ lesbians... no. that's much more teasing.] Have you tried asking them questions, should you feel like conversation's falling apart? Nothing too personal, but keeping a conversation going with a chain of them. Works wonders.
[ and then, molly's baby feelings... ]
Hmm. Who would have thought that Molly would be joining us on this quest. [ for understanding people. he's supposed to be good at it! ] Has he confided this in you at all? Probably not. Hard to imagine him not living up to anyone's expectations and more, though. There's got to be a bit of an adjustment period - I can't imagine it turning out anything but well, though. Something to weather through. Is he alright?
[Nooooo. She just scowls at the screen especially when he says the thing about Beau. It's not even about anything in specific (you can't pair all lesbians together especially when they both kind of have girlfriends, Gu Yun!), but she doesn't like to be called pretty. Don't perceive her as a person with a body and face that exists under all the bones?]
There are so many fewer opportunities to read teen magazines now, so I thank you. [This is so mean! It was good advice she will probably use.]
He did. He tells me things. [Definitely bragging now? God.] He is alright. Time will fix it all, I concur. I suppose it would be odd to die and have everyone sanctify your memory, but occasionally people are worthy of the way they're remembered.
[ do you think he knows anything about your lesbian pairings (no) ]
You're welcome! The wisdom of this humble Gu is far-reaching and well dispensed. In all seriousness - the trick to these sorts of things is just allowing yourself to be completely confident in how wonderful you are, with absolutely no room for error or argument. Even if it's fake. You'll find it becomes quite real, eventually. Fufu. (Or so I've heard, anyway. I've always been aware that I'm charming.) [ unsure ]
Good, though. Could be worse - he could've been remembered the way we all looked at the dead Not that either of us would've allowed something like that - him dying, let alone anyone speaking ill of him after - nor is there any window for comparison of even remote similarity, but that's besides the point.
Have the two of you thought about striding out on your own, yet? Or are you planning on staying with the nein a little longer? At least long enough to handle Gideon? And how is she doing, anyhow. I can't confess I understand much about your shared soul situation.
I feel that this will not work well for me. I suspect if I possess any charm at all it will be found in humility rather than arrogance. [The version of Harrow that is extremely confident is a bad version of Harrow.] You'd agree if you'd known me when I lived on the Ninth House.
At least long enough to handle Gideon, and then I leave it in his hands.
I am told the explanation is boring but essentially - the immediate danger is undone. I suppose I never explained the circumstances to you. Your typical necromancer is powered by thanergy they can draw upon in their surroundings, but a Lyctor is powered by a permanent battery, which allows for the constant replenishment of thanergy. It is access to a far greater amount of power, but to work it requires tapping into the soul of someone freshly deceased to draw upon the thanergy found within wells beneath the river of the dead. The primary method is human sacrifice - a necromancer kills their cavalier, siphons the soul as it is ejected from the body, and uses it to obtain access to the Lyctoral well. It is not altogether that much different than how the UWU powered itself. The cavalier's soul is destroyed in the process, but the remnants of the soul can be used for skills ordinarily lacking in necromancers such as combat acumen, which is why a trained cavalier is typically used rather than any ordinary sacrifice.
In my case, the sacrifice occured, but it wasn't done willingly or with my consent. When I asked God, it was his opinion that her soul had already been absorbed by mine during the initial process to an extent where it could never have been untangled without the destruction of both of our souls, which is why I needed to turn to the UWU in the first place. In the meantime, I'd theorized I could avoid further deterioration of her soul by removing my memories of her so I would be unable to passively draw upon it. Whether by luck or by the power of that furby, it seems to have worked - and we are untangled enough now that I can no longer draw on the Lyctoral well at all even to the limited extent I could before, which is a positive sign even if it means I am much less powerful than I once was. So it will just be a matter of ensuring the theorem is fully undone and once accomplished performing a simple resurrection.
In the meantime, I can tell she's there and is okay. I can't really talk to her myself outside of leaving behind notes, because we aren't in control at the same time. But Mollymauk talked to her a little bit, the other day.
Well. Maybe so. But I find you to be perfectly charming just the way you are, fascination with bones included. Whatever version of yourself that you like the best - just own that version. You'll be fine.
[ to his credit he does not glaze over
okay he does a little but it's over text so that's fine ]
What's a cavalier, exactly? [ just a clarifying question to make sure he got the details. and then... ]
So, you're just undoing what was done as carefully as possible. A delicate operation, to say the least. That makes sense. It may come surprising to hear from me, but the cautious approach is usually the clever one. Though, admittedly, the idea of a 'simple resurrection' feels a thousand times less strange after everything we all went to. Ha. I'm starting to get used to all of this.
Since she was... there, more or less, was she able to see and experience what you did in the center? Out of curiosity.
[ and then, oh! he'd tease about love letters but holds his tongue for now because he's picturing it and it sounds kind of funny, so - ]
How did that go, chatting with Molly? I can only imagine! Whenever I see you next, I absolutely want to meet her. Haha.
[Ugh!! She's too embarrassed by the first part to even respond to it. She'll just go right into the long lore drop.]
Ah, yes. I take the terminology for granted sometimes. A cavalier is a particular position for a swordsperson who serves a necromancer. Most necromancers aren't particularly adept at combat on their own. [Squishy wizard problems. Though you get the sense she's excluding herself from the most.] In the case of the head of a House or an heir, the rank of cavalier primary is typically one of great honour, one that requires a lifetime of training. Perhaps something like your own title? It often goes to certain families by tradition, so long as there is also the aptitude.
My case is a little different; the Ninth House has never been held in high esteem for its martial prowess, and our cavaliers are something of a joke among the other Houses. The cavalier assigned to me in childhood was Ortus, and he only got the job because his father had it first. Not a bad man, but utterly unsuited to the life of a warrior. I felt I needed someone better, so I made Griddle do it, given that she can at the least wing a sword. So she is my cavalier, but a rather atypical one given the lack of grooming.
I think she was to some degree, yes. More later on than earlier. Anyway, unfortunately you and she would probably get on. And Molly. Extremely unfortunate.
You? Not held in high esteem for your martial prowess? I am stunned. [ lololol
anyway, ]
I see, I see. It's not all that different from home, really - you're exactly right. His Royal Majesty is not one for swinging a sword - both the metaphorical sword of the country and one in his own hand. I do both. Ortus was your marshal, yes? I think.
That being said... It makes that card Molly chose quite emblematic. Good at that, isn't he? [ "flesh/bone" and all of that. he's picking up the gist. ]
And I see nothing unfortunate about that at all. Great sword-wielders think alike, if you will [ wehehe ] What's she like? Besides a riot at parties, it sounds like.
Edited (i missed an entire sentence of that tag) 2021-04-10 16:55 (UTC)
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Look at this absolutely horrid thing we've recovered from the Heavenly Tribes.
[ attached is an image: it's a life sized statue of a woman with a gentle face? however, the statue itself is covered in... patches of leather...
actually, upon closer inspection (a second picture) that tanned leather is actually oddly sized patches of human flesh all patched together to give the statue a ""lifelike"" appearance. gross???? ]
Apparently
It's some sort of mystic 'soul statue'
Where they keep the flesh and not the bones!
I've decided I like your version infinitely more than what apparently does, in fact, exist in my realm.
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[Snapping him a picture of her. . . boots. The boots she wore all 7rings.]
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read at 8:56 pm
eventually: ]
No.
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So they store the flesh in that thing? It must take precision to skin it finely enough.
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Anyway. No - according to the mythos of the tribe, the "soul sealing statue" is designed to find the souls of people who have been killed and return them back to the lands of the Heavenly Tribes by keeping a piece of their mortal bodies on this plane.
Apparently.
She's still pretty, I suppose. [ ??? ]
Miss Chen is working on removing the flesh as carefully as possible from the statue's inner core - it's wooden on the inside. We're not sure what we'll find underneath. Any thoughts?
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Then again, perhaps nothing at all.
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Reactions or the like? There's not much I can do right now, so I'm watching Miss Chen work.
... I found out recently that Chang Geng has something of a curse.
We've been trying to seek out the cure.
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What sort of curse?
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However, I suppose the Heavenly Tribes are a culture I didn't even consider. So, I'll amend that statement to say they didn't exist within Great Liang.
The curse is called the Bone of Impurity.
I've seen it in action, now - he gets double pupils.
It gives him nightmares, and causes him a lot of pain; I think it's likely to try and lead him to madness. Supposedly he's cursed with the power of their goddess - this statue is of her.
I've done some research on it, but there's just not much to find, so.
This is the first piece of anything we've been able to uncover even related to their goddess.
[ he's worried... ]
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Goddesses and the like. The only God I know is a man I've met face to face.
If you send me the research perhaps I can help. I need to understand in clearer terms how it is done.
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... I'll send along what I can. ​
[ what's truly unfortunate is that the lore is about child on child vore so he's absolutely not sending that along but it's fine.
it's ten or fifteen minutes before he sends a reply - and it's very disjointed, like he's typing while someone is talking. part just to get the story out and part... because he is just really worried??? ]
Soul statue must communicate with life and death using some kind of witchcraft. Miss Chen doesn't know precisely how
Usually by hiding a personal item of the bound soul inside the wood
Caster replaces the item by the last word of the dead if they can't find the item itself
There's no item inside this thing. A recipe?
Miss Chen was undercover in the Heavenly Tribes land trying to understand or study their witchcraft but couldn't find anything about this ritual at all
Stat specifically related to 'bone of impurity' curse of Wu Gu Er - two hearts, two heads, four arms, four legs
Great intelligence and strength for cursed leads eventually to madness, hallucinations, suspicion against even the closest allies
Curse put upon someone by having them [ ... ]
Two people combined into one.
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I haven't been able to remove Gideon just yet, because our souls are fused and have to be unfused in order to avoid any damage. [This has been my excuse in so many PSLs now.] But I have the capacity, by furby fiat, to do it. So I will continue to work on the problem, and will work on yours as well.
Shall I come visit you and see the statue? I'm better if I can trace the thanergy.
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It might not be a bad idea.
I'll inform Miss Chen you're to be well trusted. She'll be glad for the help- I have a feeling you two will get along.
She's in the process of removing the skin from the statue at the moment, but I'll let her know when she's doing something less delicate.
Perhaps it will help with Gideon, too.
Suppose there's no better use of inter-world knowledge than solving these sorts of things.
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What a fortuitous exchange.
Besides, statues of human skin aside, it is a nice time of year. There'll be plenty to do and to see.
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... How are your other studies? With the new group of people, and all.
[ bad at being normal friends and humans.png ]
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Mollymauk's friends are good people. They've been very kind and accommodating even though I fear I have not been very interesting. Beauregard and Jester have been very friendly towards me, to which I can only respond awkwardly. I get along decently with Caleb. It will probably be easier, once Gideon is here. She is more personable than I am.
They are happy to have him back, which is sweet, but it's a little awkward, too. Do you know that he hadn't known them for any longer than the time we spent in the indulgence center? And now they've all known one another a lot longer, and have changed since he knew them. This is more a problem for him than it is for them; they consider him their dear friend, but I think he fears that he won't live up to their memories of him.
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Harrow, you are many things - a stick in the mud, sometimes - but uninteresting is not one of them.
I find it hard to believe anyone would think otherwise, the fact that you're from an entirely different world as these people notwithstanding.
Beauregard probably thinks you're pretty. [ lesbians... no. that's much more teasing.]
Have you tried asking them questions, should you feel like conversation's falling apart? Nothing too personal, but keeping a conversation going with a chain of them. Works wonders.
[ and then, molly's baby feelings... ]
Hmm.
Who would have thought that Molly would be joining us on this quest. [ for understanding people. he's supposed to be good at it! ]
Has he confided this in you at all? Probably not.
Hard to imagine him not living up to anyone's expectations and more, though.
There's got to be a bit of an adjustment period - I can't imagine it turning out anything but well, though. Something to weather through.
Is he alright?
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There are so many fewer opportunities to read teen magazines now, so I thank you. [This is so mean! It was good advice she will probably use.]
He did. He tells me things. [Definitely bragging now? God.] He is alright. Time will fix it all, I concur. I suppose it would be odd to die and have everyone sanctify your memory, but occasionally people are worthy of the way they're remembered.
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You're welcome! The wisdom of this humble Gu is far-reaching and well dispensed.
In all seriousness - the trick to these sorts of things is just allowing yourself to be completely confident in how wonderful you are, with absolutely no room for error or argument.
Even if it's fake. You'll find it becomes quite real, eventually. Fufu.
(Or so I've heard, anyway. I've always been aware that I'm charming.) [ unsure ]
Good, though.
Could be worse - he could've been remembered the way we all looked at the dead
Not that either of us would've allowed something like that - him dying, let alone anyone speaking ill of him after - nor is there any window for comparison of even remote similarity, but that's besides the point.
Have the two of you thought about striding out on your own, yet? Or are you planning on staying with the nein a little longer? At least long enough to handle Gideon?
And how is she doing, anyhow. I can't confess I understand much about your shared soul situation.
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I feel that this will not work well for me. I suspect if I possess any charm at all it will be found in humility rather than arrogance. [The version of Harrow that is extremely confident is a bad version of Harrow.] You'd agree if you'd known me when I lived on the Ninth House.
At least long enough to handle Gideon, and then I leave it in his hands.
I am told the explanation is boring but essentially - the immediate danger is undone. I suppose I never explained the circumstances to you. Your typical necromancer is powered by thanergy they can draw upon in their surroundings, but a Lyctor is powered by a permanent battery, which allows for the constant replenishment of thanergy. It is access to a far greater amount of power, but to work it requires tapping into the soul of someone freshly deceased to draw upon the thanergy found within wells beneath the river of the dead. The primary method is human sacrifice - a necromancer kills their cavalier, siphons the soul as it is ejected from the body, and uses it to obtain access to the Lyctoral well. It is not altogether that much different than how the UWU powered itself. The cavalier's soul is destroyed in the process, but the remnants of the soul can be used for skills ordinarily lacking in necromancers such as combat acumen, which is why a trained cavalier is typically used rather than any ordinary sacrifice.
In my case, the sacrifice occured, but it wasn't done willingly or with my consent. When I asked God, it was his opinion that her soul had already been absorbed by mine during the initial process to an extent where it could never have been untangled without the destruction of both of our souls, which is why I needed to turn to the UWU in the first place. In the meantime, I'd theorized I could avoid further deterioration of her soul by removing my memories of her so I would be unable to passively draw upon it. Whether by luck or by the power of that furby, it seems to have worked - and we are untangled enough now that I can no longer draw on the Lyctoral well at all even to the limited extent I could before, which is a positive sign even if it means I am much less powerful than I once was. So it will just be a matter of ensuring the theorem is fully undone and once accomplished performing a simple resurrection.
In the meantime, I can tell she's there and is okay. I can't really talk to her myself outside of leaving behind notes, because we aren't in control at the same time. But Mollymauk talked to her a little bit, the other day.
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But I find you to be perfectly charming just the way you are, fascination with bones included. Whatever version of yourself that you like the best - just own that version.
You'll be fine.
[ to his credit he does not glaze over
okay he does a little but it's over text so that's fine ]
What's a cavalier, exactly? [ just a clarifying question to make sure he got the details. and then... ]
So, you're just undoing what was done as carefully as possible. A delicate operation, to say the least.
That makes sense. It may come surprising to hear from me, but the cautious approach is usually the clever one.
Though, admittedly, the idea of a 'simple resurrection' feels a thousand times less strange after everything we all went to. Ha. I'm starting to get used to all of this.
Since she was... there, more or less, was she able to see and experience what you did in the center? Out of curiosity.
[ and then, oh! he'd tease about love letters but holds his tongue for now because he's picturing it and it sounds kind of funny, so - ]
How did that go, chatting with Molly? I can only imagine! Whenever I see you next, I absolutely want to meet her. Haha.
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Ah, yes. I take the terminology for granted sometimes. A cavalier is a particular position for a swordsperson who serves a necromancer. Most necromancers aren't particularly adept at combat on their own. [Squishy wizard problems. Though you get the sense she's excluding herself from the most.] In the case of the head of a House or an heir, the rank of cavalier primary is typically one of great honour, one that requires a lifetime of training. Perhaps something like your own title? It often goes to certain families by tradition, so long as there is also the aptitude.
My case is a little different; the Ninth House has never been held in high esteem for its martial prowess, and our cavaliers are something of a joke among the other Houses. The cavalier assigned to me in childhood was Ortus, and he only got the job because his father had it first. Not a bad man, but utterly unsuited to the life of a warrior. I felt I needed someone better, so I made Griddle do it, given that she can at the least wing a sword. So she is my cavalier, but a rather atypical one given the lack of grooming.
I think she was to some degree, yes. More later on than earlier. Anyway, unfortunately you and she would probably get on. And Molly. Extremely unfortunate.
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anyway, ]
I see, I see.
It's not all that different from home, really - you're exactly right. His Royal Majesty is not one for swinging a sword - both the metaphorical sword of the country and one in his own hand. I do both.
Ortus was your marshal, yes? I think.
That being said...
It makes that card Molly chose quite emblematic. Good at that, isn't he? [ "flesh/bone" and all of that. he's picking up the gist. ]
And I see nothing unfortunate about that at all. Great sword-wielders think alike, if you will [ wehehe ]
What's she like? Besides a riot at parties, it sounds like.
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