awashlogs | Event Fourteen.

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Event Fourteen.

Roses bloom and cease to be,
But we shall the Christ-child see.

t's very, very cold. It's cold enough that you'll see your breath fog in the air before you, that goosebumps appear on your arms and legs and a chill goes up your spine. You're inside, in a huge palace with sweeping arches and rooms, but it's no real shelter from the cold -- it's just as cold inside as out.

There's a throne room, a kitchen, various rooms and even a dungeon to be explored -- and outside, a frigid, frozen garden, a lake that's naturally frozen over, and miles, and miles of snow as far as the eye can see.

But be careful while you explore. The snowflake soldiers are naturally dangerous, but even more dangerous than that...there's that creeping sensation of numbness going up your arm, a pang through your chest, and the slow, slow freezing from the inside out.

Try not to leave any of your friends behind, okay? Even if they might look a bit too uncannily like some of the statues hanging around for decoration when they're frozen over.

Welcome to Awash's fourteenth event log, everyone! Further information on this event can be found here at the OOC post. You are welcome to make your own logs for this event, but please keep in mind the lack of laptop function during this event when it comes to forum posts!

If there are any questions, please ask them here. Thank you!

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No, no, no! [ He waves his hands ] I've found that a life of crime suits me quite well! Thank you, Young Master Jion, for showing me the way.

[ He shows no sign of running, and seems perfectly happy to chat, even leaning against one of the walls. ]

Ah, but can you really carry another person safely? The floors are made of ice, they're very slippery!

I really hope you’re just being sarcastic ... [ Is this just going to be his identity now? A crime enabler? Jion’s ready to protest some more, but he’s also easily distracted by that question and instead looks down at his boots. ]

Um. Actually, now that you mention it ... I’ve carried people in snowy areas without too much problem, but I guess ice is kind of different.

[ The knight begins to rise again, and Jion whacks it once more. But like, with a little less feeling? Doing this feels inefficient and cruel, but he also doesn’t want to waste any of the few bullets he has, so. ] ... anyway! You’re fine, right? You should probably get out of here, before the noise attracts more of these guys. There’s a lot of them, and I think they’re all mean.

[ While Jion is talking, he's slides a sword from the momentarily stunned knight's hands. He flips it around and stabs the knight in the neck. It disappears into a cloud of snowflakes. ]

You see? Robbery, very effective. Good tip, Young Master Jion.

[ He lets the sword fall right away, and it clatters to the ground. ]

Now, back to the matter at hand, which is whether you can safely carry someone while walking on ice. You should really test that, you know.

[ Even if he’s seen these knights just poof into snow before, it’s still startling, especially up-close. Jion stumbles back with a low yelp as the snow spills over his boots, then coughs from inhaling a few of those snowflakes. ]

Look, I did not — [ He sneezes, sniffles, then continues. ] — I didn’t ever say stealing is good, okay! You can’t just twist my words like that.

[ Still, he has to hand it to Wei Wuxian for taking care of the knight so speedily. Jion shakes the ache out of his hands as he steps away from the knight’s remains, frowning slightly as he looks the other over. ]

And I mean, I guess it’d be good to know that for sure, but ... You’re not just trying to get a free ride out of me, are you? [ Lips pursed in a slightly accusatory stare with that last bit. ]

I'm kidding, I'm kidding!

[ He pats Jion on the shoulder. ]

I'm just joking, relax! Thanks for stopping that knight for me. I was getting tired of running away.

[ There’s a moment’s pause before Jion deflates a little, looking somewhat guilty. ]

Right. Right, sorry. [ He rubs nervously at his face. ] Sorry. I guess this place is making me kinda tense, I didn’t mean to be so uptight.

[ A pause before he adds, ]

Although ... did you really need any help? You stabbed that knight pretty easily, and I’d have a hard time you could do that without being really used to handling a sword.

[ His eyes flicker at the question and he frowns. It only lasts an instant, however, and then his bright smile is back. ]

Running keeps you warmer!

[ He runs in place, demonstrating. ]

It's more fun, too! I've explored every part of this palace, you wouldn't believe how many rooms there are! They're really beautiful.

[ ... was that a frown? Jion blinks, briefly caught off-guard, but it’s swift enough that he wonders if he was seeing things. Especially once Wei starts running in place. It looks ridiculous. ]

Um, you’re not wrong, but your body’s probably already struggling to stay warm, so I dunno if wasting too much energy is going to be a good idea. Especially since all the food here is cold, too ...

[ A moment of fretting before he realizes what Wei said. ]

— wait, you’ve already explored a lot of this place? Did you find anything useful? Like, any hints about how we might get out of this place?

[ Because the palace is bathed in a veritable soup of malevolent energy, his spiritual power has gone up a few levels, giving him more cold resistance than that of a normal human. But he'd rather not share that with the innocent Jion. ]

The cold never bothered me. Anyway!

[ He shrugs, his head tilted to one side and his hands out. ]

I've been to the top of the tallest tower, but I couldn't see anything for miles except snow, so I think it would be difficult to walk out of here. Some of us have powers of flight...

[ ...he can't help wincing for an instant. He used to be able to fly, too. ]

....but I haven't heard that anyone else has seen anything, either.

[ Miles of snow. That sure isn’t reassuring. ]

Guess we’re not going to be able to walk out of here, huh. [ Jion chews nervously at his lip. ] I guess even if there are people who can fly, carrying everyone out of here one by one isn’t really going to be practical, either. So just leaving this place might not be the answer ...

[ He shifts his weight uneasily from one foot to the other, trying to think. ]

... you don’t think this is another quest, do you? Like, we have to find someone, or fight something, or say the right thing to some place to have everyone sent back?

[ He taps the side of his chin, thinking. ]

Hmm. That’s a thought. From what I understand however, the quests are clearly posted, so everyone knows what they are. To go to the trouble of creating this place, and sending us here, just to complete some quest that we haven’t even been told about…. Well! It seems like a lot of wasted effort, don’t you think?

Not that you’re wrong, I’m saying. There’s a lot about this place that makes very little sense to me. Still…

[ He seems lost in thought. After a while, he says: ]

There’s malevolent energy everywhere here. Perhaps if we found the source of it… if there even is a source…

... malevolent energy?

[ Jion repeats that phrase, but obviously doesn't really get it, brow knitted in confusion. ]

Um, sorry, that's not -- it's not like I'm doubting it? But I really don't know much about magic and all that, so I don't think I could really help at all on finding anything like that. But um, I guess ... if you think that's the case, then maybe it'd be best to start looking for something like that? The source?

[ He looks to Wei a little fretfully, clearly asking him to take the lead. ]

[ He taps the side of his chin, thinking. If Jion truly can't sense the malevolent energy, that means he probably has no defense against it. He might be overcome and taken over by it, particularly near the "source," wherever it is. ]

Ooooooorr....we could go look for wine! I mean, there's food here, surely there's got to be wine somewhere too! I still didn't find any in the village, and I did a lot of breaking and entering, you'll be pleased to hear!

Oh come on, that's not what I meant back then.

[ He does pout a little when Wei mentions the stealing again, but doesn't completely fall for the bait -- mostly because that sort of rapid subject change is something he depends on a lot himself. ]

And well, I guess a fancy place like this has a better chance of having wine somewhere than Chroma does? But ... what about that evil energy? [ It's accompanied by a small frown to show he's serious! You can't bamboozle him that easily! ]

[ He grins. It's a silly thing to keep teasing Jion about, but it keeps working, so... ]

Right. That.

[ The grin gives way to a sigh. It's clear this kid isn't going to let it go. ]

Young Master Jion, malevolent energy can be difficult to resist without proper preparation and practice. It can invade your mind and your soul. It can make you do things you wouldn't do normally. It can... make you lose control.

[ A little pause; his eyes are faraway for a moment. ]

Near the "source" of this energy, if there is one, these effects are likely to be stronger.

[ ... okay yeah, he gets it. Sort of. Not from personal experience, but it's close enough to what he's seen in movies that he can guess where this is going. ]

So you're saying it'd be dangerous if I went there with you. Because I might, uh, get controlled by this evil energy and attack you or something, right? That's ... fair, I think.

[ Magic is so far from his area of expertise that he's a little spooked by that thought, admittedly.

But he still gives Wei Wuxian a fretful look. ]

Then, are you really used to things like that? You tried to distract me, so I'm gonna guess you're still planning on looking for the source. And it's not dangerous for you?

[ Something about what Jion is saying, from start to finish, bothers him on some level. The sensation gets worse and worse, until he says: ]

Who said you'd be a danger to me? If you were with me, you'd be fine! Besides—

[ Happily: ]

—from what I recall of your mirror, the worst part of you just wanted to be helpful. Even the most powerful forces of evil would have difficulty catching a foothold in your pure soul. You might be exactly the right sort of person to resist such things, even without any training.

Oh, right. Sorry, I guess I shouldn't assume when I don't know much. [ He concedes easily, but Jion frowns for a moment. Part of it's just that magic as a whole is still pretty confusing to him, but also ... ]

Then, um. Let's say you're right. About me having, uh, a 'pure soul.'

[ Ugh, just saying that feels gross, and he can't help making a face for a moment before continuing. ]

Then, would it be best if someone like me went looking for it? The source? Since it sounds like I'd be safe ... or is there something else I'm missing?

[ This kid can't even sense malevolent qi, so how does he propose to look for it in the first place? Even with his own prodigious abilities, locating subtle irregularities in this vast ocean of qi is like finding a single hair from nine oxen. ]

I really must work on making a compass of evil....

[ He looks up at Jion and smiles kindly. ]

Yes, you'd be helpful. A good assistant.

Um, if I can help with anything, I'll do it! [ Probably unsurprising that he's very quick to offer that. ] I'm pretty used to dangerous stuff, so as long as it's not dangerous to anyone else, I can do it.

[ Just the thought of being able to assist helps him relax a tough, and he gives a small sigh. ]

Sorry to trouble you, I guess I don't really know how to help on my own. But you seem to really know what's going on, so. [ See, the problem here is that he's under the impression that Wei Wuxian is Super Amazing and totally knows how to deal with this malevolent energy. ]

[ He presses his middle finger against his thumb, making a circle, and then flicks the side of Jion's head. ]

Who's troubling anybody? Since when is being helpful a burden? Who's volunteering so eagerly for dangerous things? Don't just follow someone blindly... unless that someone is me, you understand!

[ Excuse you, Wei Wuxian is Super Amazing... in his own head, anyway. ]

[ He twitches at the flick to his head, absently rubbing at the spot afterward. ]

I wouldn't just follow anyone blindly ... [ Jion pouts slightly. ] It's just that you usually seem a little strange, but you seemed like you really knew what you were talking about, so. I figured you're actually pretty experienced with stuff like that.

[ It's technically praise, despite that low-key insult, okay. ]

Like I said, it's fine if it's me! You're lucky to have someone like me to instruct you. In fact, you can be the first disciple of the YilingWei, er, ChromaWei clan!

[ Although he wrote extensively about his methods, and numerous cultivators attempted to emulate them, he never took any formal disciples. The ones who turned up at Yiling were just too weird. ]

The first thing we should do is find out where these snowflake knights are originating from. They're clearly being controlled. I'd like to know who's doing it.

Um. [ He's a disciple now? Alright, he can go with it. ] Okay, I'll do my best for the, uh, clan?

[ He's not really sure exactly what being a disciple entails, but he'll figure that out as they go along. For now, he's more interested in talk about the snow knights. ]

Oh ... you think they're being controlled? [ Pause. ] I guess that makes sense, since they're just made of snow. It's not like they can have brains or anything, so. ... do you think if we just followed them around, they'd eventually go back to their controller? Or, um, do you have a method in mind?

That's the spirit!

[ He claps Jion encouragingly on the shoulder. ]

Hmm, as for a method... [ He thinks for a moment and then shrugs, flapping his sleeves. ] ....if I had a Compass of Evil, that would be helpful. But I don't! No magic tools at all, apart from my flute. So I think your idea makes the most sense: follow them around. Good thinking!

[ And just as he says this, the sound of rhythmic, clanking footsteps draws nearer. ]

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