Last Resort Mods 🌊 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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guiltrip2023-06-12 11:33 am
killerwaves) wrote in guiltrip2023-06-12 11:33 am
WEEK 5
WEEK FIVE
21 Vacationers
The weekend sure was something, wasn't it? Tempers flared, explosions burst, and some were treated to an immersive sand bath experience. Come Monday at least, things seem quieter though not in the unnatural still way—the distortions on the islands have receded sometime in the night (with some impressive firework-like booms that may have stirred your sleep, at that; and the waves seem a little higher this morning) and the various amenities on the island have been made orderly again. Though, as always, some traces remain in the landscape; the waterfall looks like it has seen better days, though it's no longer in danger of coughing up debris on your head if looked at wrong.
This week like the rest brings new locations for you to explore, on Kakapo's Nest though it seems like only one of them really fits the vacation vibe. Hope you like snow!
!WEATHER ALERT:
Bulletin:
Starting Monday morning and continuing throughout the week, pollen counts will be elevated. This is expected to last until late Thursday
Starting Monday morning and continuing throughout the week, pollen counts will be elevated. This is expected to last until late Thursday
!TASKS:
Breathe Freely:
Enjoy the great outdoors with a fellow vacationer! It's never too late to appreciate nature.
(REWARD: RARE!)
(( Yes, only one task this week which is memshare with someone else. Have fun!
REMINDER: Task submissions are due Friday by 9 PM EST/6 PM PST. ))
(( OOC: Murder proposals are due by Tuesday at 4 PM EST / 1 PM PST, for the current week's murder, which is the last week of standard murder, week 6 being endgame!!Enjoy the great outdoors with a fellow vacationer! It's never too late to appreciate nature.
(REWARD: RARE!)
(( Yes, only one task this week which is memshare with someone else. Have fun!
REMINDER: Task submissions are due Friday by 9 PM EST/6 PM PST. ))
Also, as always, your admins can be contacted for a chat. ))
Private
Temenos (The first)- Make it Rain
Then there's movement from behind the screen doors and Wang Lu lifts his head up to look as the occupant opens the doors. Wang Lu smiles warmly, while the other just stares at him wordlessly. After a moment longer, Wang Lu will look much more somber. ]
Xiaohai, are you all right? [ His tone of voice is gentle. ] You got injured because of my reckless actions. I wanted to fix your problems, but instead I've added more to your burden. [ There is a light bow of his head. ] I'm sorry.
[ His friend looks away and starts to turn away from Wang Lu. So Wang Lu continues! ]
I know why you're so upset. [ That gets Little Hai's attention. ] Hai Tiankuo is an insurmountable mountain to you. He stands in the way of all of your hopes. Others might not understand, but I do. [ His voice is louder now, and there's emotion in his tone. ] I felt the same despair two years ago when I learned I had a Void Spiritual Root.
[ Xiaohai reacts to that. It's almost as if he wants to say something, but his mouth stays closed. ]
I was fortunate to have you by my side, continually encouraging and supporting me. Look at me now. [ He lifts his hand up for emphasis. ][ Wang Lu glances at his hand. There's characters written across his hand in black ink. While they may look foreign, the meaning to the symbols are strangely clear. However, I know this is something you need to overcome... Wang Lu almost winces as he clicks his tongue as if it's something distasteful. Thankfully his friend hasn't noticed the sound with the rain drowning it out. He puts his hand down and continues. ]
However, I know this something you need to overcome on your own. Before that happens, there's nothing I can do to help. All I can do is stand in the rain and keep you company.
[ Xiaohai looks moved by his words. Time to nail the finale of this... ]
I won't leave until you come out. Xiaohai, I want to let you know that you are not alone.
Wang Lu. [ His friend takes a step forward, reaching his hand out for him. ]
[ Only for Wang Lu to hold a hand up immediately as he turns away to gag. Giving an exaggerated shiver as he straightens up again ]
I can't stand it anymore. This is nauseating! [ He'll wave his hand with a flash of blue light. The rain stops immediately. Xiaohai looks around confused because where did the rain go? ]
I asked Lady Owner how I can help you overcome this hurdle. She told me I have to use sincerity. Goodness. This is... This type of method that requires us to bare our hearts with sincerity is not really for me.
[ Xiaohai is looking around in total disbelief as everything falls into place. Wang Lu made the rain using a charm. ]
I can't believe you were so touched! You must be lame.
So... You were just messing with me?
No, it was a sincere performance. [ He gives his usual air kiss and wink combo. Xiaohai's expression is immediately mad as he starts to power up a spell. ]
WANG LU!
[ Wang Lu makes a sound like he's afraid as he turns around and books it out of there. ]
Psyche
Large, black letters full of anger were painted across.
Cursed one leave the village!
BEARER OF ILL LUCK
DISGRACE OF THE WANG FAMILY VILLAGE
DEMON
HAND OVER THE DEMON TO THE SAINTESSES
SINNER
DISGRACE OF THE WANG FAMILY VILLAGE
Scrubbing hard at some of the writing is a boy who looks to be around ten. Wang Lu starts jogging over, ignoring the words scrawled on the words to bring the umbrella over. The boy hears him rushes over to meet him. It's clear the boy has been crying and his hands are covered in black ink. ]
Big brother Wang, they're wrong about you. You're not a demon.
[ Wang Lu looks at the words behind the boy and then looks at the boy, giving him a smile. Putting a hand on his shoulder and kneeling down to be at eye level with him. He's making sure the umbrella is covering the boy mostly, even if his own back is getting wet.]
Silly, let them say what they want. Words can't hurt us.
[ The boy nods and raises his arm to wipe his nose and face. Wang Lu brushes away the tears from his round face before putting his hand back on the kid's arm. ]
How did your sister go missing?
I think she disappeared after Mr. Zhou game to our village.
Don't worry. I'll find her for you.
Really? [ Wang Lu gives a nod. The boy then pulls at his necklace to reveal a little bamboo flute at the end of it. ] Right. [ He takes off the necklace and hands it over to Wang Lu. ]
What is this?
My sister and I made a promise. She promised that she would come to me if she ever hears this being played.
[ Wang Lu smiles and rubs the boy's cheek. ] Good boy.
Merlin
[He never had any plans or direction in life. While his eyes would always travel beyond the clouds to see what could be next, he never really had any hopes for the future.
You need to do something with your life.
He never knew what that something was until chance led him to undergo the trials and interview to join the Lingjian Sect. He was told his chances were one in a billion and he decided he would prove those words wrong.
Wang Lu has conquered everything thrown at them and even ended the final test in one strike with a sword. All the elders and everyone were impressed by the results so it was surely a slam dunk.
There's a small voice of doubt though whispering in his heart. What if you actually fail this. What if this isn't the path you're meant on? He really wants this. For once in his life, he really wants to do this.
Standing outside of Xuanyun Hall to wait for the results is torture. He keeps his eyes closed and his face composed to hide the fluttering nervousness there. Then he hearts the careful steps moving closer to him. ]
Wang Lu, congratulations in advance for your acceptance into Lingjian Sect.
[ It was Xiao Hai's voice. He keeps his eyes closed as he responds to his new friend. ]
The results aren't out yet. Don't get ahead of yourself. [ He does feel better after those words turns to look at his friend with a smile on his face. There's almost like a soft laugh from Xiao Hai, showing he clearly believes that the results will be as he says. ]
The excitement you caused when you touched the Qiankun Mirror was already sufficient indication.
[ Wang Lu makes a noise, clearly agreeing that it was quite the spectacle. When he placed his hand on the large mirrored orb floating in the center of the room, everyone was left speechless. It was glowing bigger and brighter than any of the previous times when the others who are competing for a spot in the Sect laid their hands on it. ]
This is Lingjian Sect. As the most ancient of the five great sects, the elders have seen all types of Spiritual Root. Yet, they lost their composure when they saw yours. It foes to show how rare it is.
[ Wang Lu preens at Xiao Hai's words. He smooths his hair, already feeling much reassured. That's when another joins them.]
That's right! Your performance has been exceptionally eye-catching the whole way. You ended the challenge at Bingfeng Valley with a single strike. Given your strengths, why wouldn't they accept you.
[ There's a scoff from near by. ]
Nothing is certain until the results come out. [ The voice came from Zhu Qin. He has a big chip on his shoulder over a little prank Wang Lu has played much earlier in this test and has been using every method he could to take him down. Some people don't know when to let things go.
The mood turns serious once again. Wang Lu closes his eyes to steel his nerves once more.
Continue?
(What the stairs look like ]
no subject
As for whether he wants to continue or not...
Oh yes, certainly.
After all...
Merlin has to see what exactly those results so happen to be! So, memory, take him further along, will you? ]
Locked to Wei Wuxian (Zombies)
Two others are standing there with him and there is a clear feeling of respect, admiration, as well as trepidation as the conversation seems to turn on to Wei Wuxian himself. ]
Wang Lu, don't try to flatter me. We came here to save Liuli Xian and also to deal with you. Do you know your mistake?
[ He can feel his heart freeze at that. There is no way that they already heard, right? He seems to think for a moment before he lowers his head. ]
I do.
[ One of the elders does a double take at that. ]
Did i hear it wrong?
[ Wang Lu continues. ]
It's my fault that I'm too talented so other disciples fail to shine. That must have made them lose all motivation to continue the path of cultivation.
[ Very much in his usual tone of woe is me I'm far too good looking and amazing as he smooths his hair. ]
You punk! An elder is asking you a question and you're spouting this nonsense? [ He seems to be getting mad, which tell Wang Lu something is definitely up. ]
Then please enlighten me. What was my mistake?
You lied and tricked people and created an evil sect.
Aixin Sect is not evil. Please check thoroughly.
That's ridiculous! Someone already reported what you did in the Wuhou County of the Great Ming. [ The elder seems to be winding himself up with Wang Lu just standing there with his hands clasp in front of him. ] Do you think we have no idea? and your master. Never mind that she didn't teach you well. She even collaborated with you. You totally embarrassed Lingjian Sect
[ Wang Lu turns to him to meet his eyes. ] Is that so? Elder Fang He, may I ask which rules in Lingjian Sect states that disciples cannont establish their own sects?
You're just being unreasonable. [ Wang Lu then turns to look at the other elder to get a read of his thoughts, but Elder Fang He continues... ] Sect Leader arranged for you to train in the mortal realm to enrich your experience and increase your cultivation. It's not to let you trick people and extort from them. Speaking of which, you and your master are great indeed. She went to Junhuang Mountain to sell resources. You went to Wuhou County to extort money. How poor is Wuxian Peak exactly?
[ Wang Lu laughs a little at that and then responds with conviction in his voice. ]
You're right. My master used up all the resources in Wuxiang Peak indeed, but I never took anything from the people ever since I established my own sect. I just asked them to give love and make the world a better place.
If it's not for money, it's for power.
[ Wang Lu scoffs at this. It looks like the Elder has already made up his mind and there isn't any other way around this.
He'll have to use that. He has a knowledge of all the treasures in Lingjian Sect and this Elder in particular has one that could end this. He already told Wen Bao that it will likely end up this way and he will buy them as much time as they need. ] You just wish to incriminate me and trying to find a pretext. Since you already think that I made a mistake, there's nothing I can say. Please give me the sword.
What sword?
The Truth Sword.
[ That has both of the Elders reacting with shock. They both search Wang Lu's expression to be sure he's serious. ]
Wang Lu, consider this carefully. You've only undergone a few years of cultivation. How can you handle Elder Fang He's Truth Sword? Do you want to die?
[ Wang Lu doesn't break eye contact with Elder Fang He. ]
I'm not guilty. What's there to be scared of? [ Stepping back and giving a bow. ] Please, Third Elder. Give me the Sword. [ (Not like that Wei Wuxian) ]
All right, as you wish.
[ The Elder does a combination of hand movements to summon a transparent sword over Wang Lu's head. Wang Lu himself closes his eyes in preparation for this. He knows he's taking a gamble, but he's confident. He has done no wrong and he will overcome this.
Then the scenery abruptly changes to a dark pit with a red light shining above. There are several voices chanting all around him. ]
A life for a life.
À̴̧͉̪͛͋̀̊̃̄̕ ̶̢̥̬͎̼͛͒͝l̴̖̮͍̿͒̄́̾̇͘̕į̸͇͛̎͂́̉̓̅̓́̅͆̈́̀͘͝ḟ̶̤̼̲̗̀̓̈́e̵̼̦͐̎͒̔̑̓̏͑͠͝ ̸̲͚̱̙̗̠̅̄̈́̎̿̋͛̓̉̀̕͘̚f̸̤̥͚͙̮̮͔̳̻̌̚͝o̵̖͉̻̩̲͕̟̯̫͓̙̺͒̈̄̽͊ŗ̷͚͌̏̋͌̈́̃̀͘͜͠ ̶̙̱̙̯̙̦͚̻̤̖̈́͒̃́̆̃͑̆̏̈̓̉̕̕͝ǡ̴̧͖̦̪͎̗̠̉̐̆̍̈̓̃͂̄͆̕͘̕ ̴̢͚̖̯̣̱̟̱͂̈̔̔͆̆̎̅͂̄̈́l̷̞͇͉̝̃̍̋̈́̐͘͝ị̵̯̝̝̬̥́̃̀̇̏́͛̓̀͑͘͘͠͝f̸̡̖̩̜̪͍̖̝̝̜͉̍͐͋͗͛͋͛̈̉́̄͝e̵̛͉̳̞̼̻̫͍̻̬̟͇͈̯͈͐͂̒̂̃̀͌͑́̑̂̚͘̚.̵̙̘̇
[ Wang Lu looks around to get a better view of his surroundings. There's bones piling up the walls and he's standing on what appears to be a stone platform. Dozens of undead start ambling their way towards him.
He knows he's not really in this place and physically he's still standing in that room with the Third and Seventh Elder, but it doesn't make this place safe. If he fails, he will die.]
Ą̵̛̹͎̫̘̄̀̿͛̓̇̕͜n̵̪̜̼̦̗̮͔̖̦͈̹͇̱̈́̈̾̈́̄̂̀͂͂͐̈́͝ ̷͙̘̭̻̳͙̀́e̶̗͎̻͔̔̒̌͝ỵ̵̡̛͔̲͙̟̫̤͓̹̤̟̯͍̣̉̑̑́̈̈́́͠ȩ̸̨̛̱̝͕͚͚͊̓͆̈́͐͐̇̌̔̍͘͜͝ ̵̥̘̙̠͓̩̲̖̹̱̜̜͗̋͌̓̎f̷̢̢̡̭͎̻͙̮̙͎̜̥̮͛̽̾́̈́̐̍̂͝ô̸̡̤̦͔̞̝͈͎̋̔̾͂̏̉̓͒̍̽͠ͅȑ̸̜ ̴̖̮̗͎̳͍̬̬̜̖͉̏̂͜͝ą̷̡̛̛̫̙̼͚͖̤͉̈́̒͊́̌́͆̾͊͒̿̕͜n̶̬͍̈́̈́͑̊́̐͗̄̀́͝ ̴̪̫͎͙̮̗̆͗̈́̃̀͜͜͝e̷̢̮͕̹̱̝̦͖̝̤̅̂̑̈́̌̅̆̇̄̈̑̚͘͝y̸̡̧̢͓̞̲͎͓̫͕͖͆̓̑̃́̈́͊͠ḛ̵̝̬̜̭͇̳̰͍̭͔̫̎̐̆͂͐̐̍͜͝͝.̸̲͚̺̪̻͎̥̪̗͐̓̓̓̓͋͑͝͠͝
Ą̵̛̹͎̫̘̄̀̿͛̓̇̕͜n̵̪̜̼̦̗̮͔̖̦͈̹͇̱̈́̈̾̈́̄̂̀͂͂͐̈́͝ ̷͙̘̭̻̳͙̀́e̶̗͎̻͔̔̒̌͝ỵ̵̡̛͔̲͙̟̫̤͓̹̤̟̯͍̣̉̑̑́̈̈́́͠ȩ̸̨̛̱̝͕͚͚͊̓͆̈́͐͐̇̌̔̍͘͜͝ ̵̥̘̙̠͓̩̲̖̹̱̜̜͗̋͌̓̎f̷̢̢̡̭͎̻͙̮̙͎̜̥̮͛̽̾́̈́̐̍̂͝ô̸̡̤̦͔̞̝͈͎̋̔̾͂̏̉̓͒̍̽͠ͅȑ̸̜ ̴̖̮̗͎̳͍̬̬̜̖͉̏̂͜͝ą̷̡̛̛̫̙̼͚͖̤͉̈́̒͊́̌́͆̾͊͒̿̕͜n̶̬͍̈́̈́͑̊́̐͗̄̀́͝ ̴̪̫͎͙̮̗̆͗̈́̃̀͜͜͝e̷̢̮͕̹̱̝̦͖̝̤̅̂̑̈́̌̅̆̇̄̈̑̚͘͝y̸̡̧̢͓̞̲͎͓̫͕͖͆̓̑̃́̈́͊͠ḛ̵̝̬̜̭͇̳̰͍̭͔̫̎̐̆͂͐̐̍͜͝͝.̸̲͚̺̪̻͎̥̪̗͐̓̓̓̓͋͑͝͠͝
À̴̧͉̪͛͋̀̊̃̄̕ ̶̢̥̬͎̼͛͒͝l̴̖̮͍̿͒̄́̾̇͘̕į̸͇͛̎͂́̉̓̅̓́̅͆̈́̀͘͝ḟ̶̤̼̲̗̀̓̈́e̵̼̦͐̎͒̔̑̓̏͑͠͝ ̸̲͚̱̙̗̠̅̄̈́̎̿̋͛̓̉̀̕͘̚f̸̤̥͚͙̮̮͔̳̻̌̚͝o̵̖͉̻̩̲͕̟̯̫͓̙̺͒̈̄̽͊ŗ̷͚͌̏̋͌̈́̃̀͘͜͠ ̶̙̱̙̯̙̦͚̻̤̖̈́͒̃́̆̃͑̆̏̈̓̉̕̕͝ǡ̴̧͖̦̪͎̗̠̉̐̆̍̈̓̃͂̄͆̕͘̕ ̴̢͚̖̯̣̱̟̱͂̈̔̔͆̆̎̅͂̄̈́l̷̞͇͉̝̃̍̋̈́̐͘͝ị̵̯̝̝̬̥́̃̀̇̏́͛̓̀͑͘͘͠͝f̸̡̖̩̜̪͍̖̝̝̜͉̍͐͋͗͛͋͛̈̉́̄͝e̵̛͉̳̞̼̻̫͍̻̬̟͇͈̯͈͐͂̒̂̃̀͌͑́̑̂̚͘̚.̵̙̘̇
[ They all start to climb the sides of the platform to get to him...
In order to prove his innocence, he's willing to die
With that the memory falls away. ]
no subject
As the memory fades, he crosses his arms. ]
Ah, almost looked like you were about to face off against me at the end there.