WEEK ONE: MINGLE

[retellers]

WEEK ONE: MINGLE (40 remain) Rise and shine, gremlins. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and it's the start of a new week. To the participants, yesterday's events may seem distant now—albeit not as distant as their life before this. Whether or not they notice, they will have lost a memory upon waking up. The barrier to the north is down, and beyond the bridge lies new areas to explore. Strangely, what was there last week seems to have been replaced overnight. That's not the only thing that's different, either. The participants will find that their lodgings have changed. Finally, should anyone check their PHS, Hajime, Pikachu, and Virid's profiles have been removed. Three Leaders can be found around the area, open (?) to approach. If participants want to speak to them more privately, or to an absent Leader, it looks like they'll have to go through another channel. Furthermore, it looks as though the rules have updated. Finally, this week, the participants will find themselves drawn to one person in particular. Whoever that is, they will find themselves compelled to be close to them physically. The longer they attempt to resist this, the more compelled they will be... and the closer they will want to be, to the point that it might be emotionally and physically draining to not be holding hands or hugging them for several hours because you've ignored them too long. That's fun.

NAVIGATION locations ₓ˚. statuses *+:｡ ic profiles :ₓo ic rules ･ﾟﾟ･｡ audience requests murder proposals ｡✧o private conversations ･ﾟo｡ curfew ･ﾟ✧ memories

Comments

[riegan]

Either.

(He's not picky!)

I've always been interested in learning about customs and beliefs in other places.

[dianxias]

[ he makes a little noise of understanding. alright, then. luckily, this is what most of his life has revolved around in some way shape or form, so. ]

...When someone has passed away, a priest or cultivator will perform rituals and ceremonial rites for their souls. It is believed that performing proper rites will help the dead move on to the next stage of their life, and reincarnate properly lest they become resentful spirits. Where I am from, death is not an ending - it is merely a natural part of the cycle that we exist in.

As for the funeral... A sacred symbolic ceremony is usually performed before the funeral. During it, a priest will break nine tiles placed in a fire, to represent each level of the underworld, and emancipate the soul properly. We ward off evil spirits using a peach wood sword, and pray for the safe passage of the soul, as well as for the peace of any other spirits who may be jealously watching the ceremony who didn't receive such rites. It is very easy for resentful energy to latch onto a newly departed soul, and so, we do our best to protect them as they move away from life.

At the end of the ceremony, we burn joss paper money, as well as other objects. The spirit of the dead is then able to use that money, as well as the other objects, in the Ghost City, where many souls reside between reincarnations.

[ a pause, and he smiles a little, recalling a memory. ] And, the Ghost City has quite the booming economy! I've seen it myself.

[riegan]

(Oh.

As he speaks, Claude's attention is completely on him! He's listening to every single word and the longer he goes on, the brighter his eyes get. He's always been thirsty for knowledge and eager to learn so this sort of thing is like a good treat to him.

When he finishes, Claude is smiling! It's small, carefully managed smile but he's clearly giddy. )

Thank you. I... I wasn't expect an answer like that. (So detailed! With so much information!!) So you believe in reincarnation? A life after life?

But you also have spirits and it's the living's responsibility to take care of the dead...

(He's just going to start talking to himself now, just processing everything and taking it all in until he gets to that last bit and it clicks what it really means--)

... I'm sorry, are you...

(Dead???)

[dianxias]

[ xie lian watches claude process the information, a touch amused, and nods his head when he thanks him. it's no problem - it's a detailed process.

when he gets to the end of his little processing session, xie lian lets out a startled laugh, and puts both of his hands up, sheepish - ] Haha... no, no, I'm not! Don't worry, young friend, I'm perfectly alive.

I care for a shrine as its daozhang, is all, so performing such rites is a part of my duties.