I wake up, have a breakfast of grilled eel, rice, soup dumplings, dipping sauces and drizzles, and tea.
What the fuck am I supposed to do?
I leave my void into the resentment swirling around the room, shove aside several shredded robes that were piled to block my anchor, sigh as I look around, and note that there are people meditating. I nudge one of the cloth scraps before banking the lot. The beds look like shit, the floor looks filthy, so I pull out a seating cushion and kneel on that to meditate on.
[Vengeful Ghost Sect Breathing Technique]
[3 -Resentment Gained]
[-5 Karma]
[Last Rites Successful]
[-100 HP]
[Karma +100 Gained]
[100 +Resentment Gained]
[Ghost Pot -1 -Ghost]
[Ghost Pot (+100/-1)]
[3 x1 -Resentment Gained]
[Karma +5 x0 Gained]
[20 x100 +Resentment Gained]
[Karma +50 x100 Gained]
[Resentment: +482660/-143236]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,375]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1,831,238/24,253,845]
[Current Qi: 1,905,520/957,945,100]
[Current Karma: 96990157/107275977]
Ooh! Free spirits... Wait... Why do I have stuff in my Pot?
“Hey.”
I flinch, -- like a bitch! I didn’t know there was anything to steal, -- and look up to see someone standing in the cave entrance. They wave for me to follow them, and I look around to see if this is a trap or not. They suck their teeth and stop blocking the door, leaning against the wall with their arms and ankles crossed.
“The best way to get spirits and resentment is to go back into the graveyard. Some people take bones or corpses and bury them under their beds until they can add the ghost to their spirit reserve,” the man continues, walking over and dropping into a squat next to me. “There are groups that will take you back to the graveyard.
“Find a mausoleum, find an intact body, grab it then come back and practice, hmm?” the man nods his head, pats me on the knee, stands up and leaves.
That was... unusual. Makes just enough sense to be a good trap. But I’ve got stuff here.
[Vengeful Ghost Sect Breathing Technique]
[3 -Resentment Gained]
[-5 Karma]
[Ghost Pot (+100/0)]
[3 x0 -Resentment Gained]
[Karma +5 x0 Gained]
[20 x100 +Resentment Gained]
[Karma +50 x100 Gained]
[Resentment: +490860/-145056]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,375]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1831238/24256653]
[Current Qi: 1905520/957945100]
[Current Karma: 97026612/107275977]
“You purified the room. You might want to leave before they realize it was you.”
I wake up, cracking one eye open, expecting to see Fuck Face kneeling before me, but I just clearly see an empty room. There’s a thin fog leaking into the barracks cave with its shitty straw beds from the doorway, but the air in the room is clear.
Hmm...
He’s right. Time to go.
I climb to my feet, placing one hand on the ground, -- instant regret, -- to push myself up. I dust myself off, bank my cushion, and idly walk out of the cave surprised that no one tried to mess with me in my sleep. I didn’t mean to nod off. Honest.
I wander around, following the stone paths, looking for something to give me a clue as to where I am. I probably could have tried to retrace my footsteps, but I don’t know how to use the markers. It’d be pretty bad to assume that they work like the transfer scripts, ‘cause I’m pretty sure these people would have been hunted down already if they did.
No. Wait. Outsiders need keys for transfer scripts, and the sect power shit with Resentment. Would a script key work?
I snort and keep walking. Like I even know what a script key looks like. Closest I’ve gotten to one was the keyed portal in Eager Hearts, and the void key I took from the rando in the Three Kings cave. Ah! The General’s son! Whatever happened about that?
I keep walking as I tick off what I remember. Modesty was kidnapped, I rekt their base, I nearly rekt them at the Gates, I fought and ate my first spider Monarch, and... I remember going back to Seven Moons and there was a ton of bullshit. I finally got in, something happened, I woke up later, more stuff happened, the triplets and Shimmering Steel used up my reputation to get stuff --.
“Fuck it!” I throw my hands up.
Whatever happened was probably already resolved and they can go fack themselves.
“Hey! Did you want transport to the graveyard?”
I’m snapped out of my idle thinking to see someone in a group of people, all of them dressed in the black sleeveless robe top and loose pants that I swear the lower disciples of the Red Spider Sect wore. I point at myself but someone from behind me shoves past with an apology, -- I’m literally standing in the middle of the path. What the fuck is wrong with me? And no one shoved past me before? -- and joins the group. I shuffle over to join them and watch as the person who pushed past me hands over a little black stone, similar to the ones the markers are made of.
“It’s 10 Resentment for transport,” the hawker says slyly, and I feel like this is a trap, but how...? “If you’ve made it this far you’ve trapped a few spirits, hmm? You meditate and you can get resentment from them easier than meditating in Graveyards. Getting enough Resentment is proof that you’ve got what it takes to make it here.
“We take you back to the Graveyards? You can get more spirits. More meditation for more Resentment. You can easily afford to make it there. When you come back you’re all set.”
“How do I pay for things with Resentment?” I ask, looking at him with suspicion ‘cause he’s super suspicious.
“If you don’t have Resentment, we will accept 1 spirit stone,” the smarmy git says.
He looks so reasonable and not weasely at all. Handsome people are the worst. He’s clean, well-spoken, clean shaven, well put together... Does he actually have any talent? That’s not fair if he looks good, has his shit together, and has talent...
[-1 Spirit Stone]
[Spirit Wallet: 0Dr,0Ph,0Th,1325Di,126Co,10680 -1 St]
[Ghost Pot: +100/-0]
[Resentment: +486860/-145056]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1,831,238/24,256,653]
[Current Qi: 1,905,520/957,945,100]
[Current Karma: 97,026,612/107,275,977]
[Mortal Wallet: 12E,692K,180P,697R,179Da,258De,2605k]
[Spirit Wallet: 0Dr,0Ph,0Th,1325Di,126Co,10679St]
I hand over a spirit stone, glaring sullenly at his bright smile and his manners as he politely thanks me with a bow.
“It’s hard to come across outside currency, so this will really help out. Who wants to stay cooped up in the caves all day?” he says jokingly, with his real laugh lines around his eyes, his skin smoothing as he smiles and shows his clean, not weirdly sized, straight teeth.
I’m onto you...
The Hawker and a few other disciples make sure we’re all within a circle drawn on the ground, telling everyone to stay close. We’re told that if we want to get back, just look for markers made with Resentment, and someone will probably be by soon. Then I’m standing alone in the graveyard with no idea how to tell if markers are made of Resentment or just dark, pocked stone without messing them up, and no clue where the hells I am.
-Pretty sure I didn’t want to be here because I didn’t like it, so why did I come back?- I snap at no one.
I could blame Fuck Face? He didn’t try to dissuade me, and I’m pretty sure he has a way to talk to me when we’re apart.
-Speaking of,- I roll my head in preparation for the shouting match I’m about to start, heading to my Logs for proof that he’s communicating with me somehow, and then see that he’s been farming and he just harvested something I think I got from the Death Moths. -Oh! Granin!-
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I forgot all about them! I’m supposed to help grow stuff so they can have more seeds to work with. Shit! How long have I been gone?
I transfer with an image of Granin in the caves, and wind up next to him as he overlooks some goblin infants into mixing shit and dirt to prepare the farm caves. I try to jump onto Granin’s shoulders when the kids squeal in excitement upon noticing me, accept my fate as the fuckers lift off and come at me, and glare at Granin who is laughing his ass of instead of trying to help as the kids wipe their shitty, possibly sticky, hands, and slimy, snotty noses on my beautiful robes.
-I came to let you know that Fuck Face has gotten the first harvest,- I sigh.
Do I really owe the Death Moths anything? I could go and find someone else to drink with, surely. I wave to present Fuck Face as they tell me to hold on, that they need to get the basket of produce, leaving me standing with my head cocked waving at nothing like a dumbass.
-You go by “Fuck Face” now?- Granin asks with a polite curiosity. Oh, he laughs at the flying shit stains, but that sounds serious to him?
-No!- I snap, still unamused. I want to change my robes, but I just know that some of the kids will look at it as a way to do a better job of cleaning themselves.
“There’s bitter gourd,” Fuck Face says, presenting a head-sized watermelon for inspection.
The adult Death Moths lose their shit.
Guess they like watermelon.
When Granin takes the melon and cuts into it, once he’s split the rind, the inside of the melon looks like potato. He cuts off a sliver, tries it, nods, then cuts off a sliver for me to try, ignoring Fuck Face completely. I take a bite, the texture is like crisp cucumber, and the flavor is bittersweet, but not entirely unpleasant.
-The sows told you about this. Cook it like bamboo shoots, not fruit. It’s very fibrous,- Granin tells me, taking another sliver before putting the cut melon back in Fuck Face’s basket and gesturing for me to follow him.
I look at Fuck Face, but he doesn’t say a word, just gestures for me to follow Granin. We make our way down to the kitchens, Granin and I getting berated by Old Granny, -- who ignores Fuck Face, -- and then we’re shooed out. She yells for us to bring more dragon eel, and I duck back into the kitchen to bury her under several pounds of the stuff before taking off after a cackling Granin.
-So rude! Why is everyone ignoring my servant?- I finally demand once we’re back in the farming cave. Fuck Face begs off, wanting back in my void, and telling me he’s going to get more seeds as I glare at Granin.
-Hmm?- Granin looks at where I’m gesturing after Fuck Face is gone. -The corpse? If it is not for fertilizer what use is it to us? Although using it to hold items is interesting, I suppose...- He shrugs, clearly at a loss to what I’m looking for as he directs the kids to keep working.
Interesting take...
Fuck Face lets me know he’s ready to come back, and I bring him back out along with his basket of seeds that he got where?
“Your ‘Persephone’ bush produces lots of fruit and flowers,” he reminds me. He hands over the basket of seeds to Granin, who thanks me profusely, -- did people thank the triplets and Shimmering Steel like this? ‘Cause fuck me, right? I’m just the help, -- and then starts talking to the other adults while I’m standing there fuming. “It’s not a big deal. You’re still doing all of the work. I’m just the delivery person.”
The fuck am I getting angry for? He’s not wrong. He did take the time to gather the produce though.
“I just pulled it from storage and banked it.”
I narrow my eyes as I think that he had to till and plant the seeds.
“Using information from your library that you got from sharing drinks and food with the Death Moths,” he reminds me, all logical and understanding.
Fack you, I think as hard as I can, bristling as I try to figure out who it’s safe to vent on.
“We can bring them some of your soil suitable for farmland,” he suggests quietly, pointedly not looking at the shit stirrers.
-Granin. Would. You like. To have. Some nice. Farmland?- I say as stiltedly and robotic as possible, Granin looking at me like I’m the only one acting weird.
I watch as Granin looks from me to Fuck Face slowly. Does he really think I can puppet the corpse or move, but not both? ... I want to be offended, but it’s probably accurate.
-Your assistance is greatly appreciated. As always,- Granin says slowly, looking at Fuck Face.
This bish really thinks I’m body swapping.
“I’ll return shortly,” Fuck Face bows and I boot them to my void.
A few moments later and Fuck Face asks me to make some basic cloth to carry the dirt. I reproduce some sheets of cotton, wondering how they’re supposed to bear the weight of the dirt, and head into my Logs for that proof I was looking for earlier.
Reminders? What the --? He’s setting Reminders on a timer of now to talk to me. The other ghosts in my inner self? I can hear. Sometimes I mistake them for my own thoughts, Silent Howl style. Fuck Face? I have no idea why I don’t listen to him. Unless I just tune him out and he gets around that with Reminders.
A reminder to bring him out and he’s out with sheets covered in rich soil. The adults cheer, the children look around in confusion and give half-hearted cheers, and I step back to indicate that I’m not going to help. I’ve got other shiz to do.
I sit back and go into my Logs trying to figure out what I’m supposed to do for Vengeful Ghost. Gather Resentment, and then what?
[Vengeful Ghost Sect Breathing Technique]
[3 -Resentment Gained]
[-5 Karma]
[Last Rites Successful]
[-100 HP]
[Karma +100 Gained]
[100 +Resentment Gained]
[Ghost Pot (+100/0)]
[3 x0 -Resentment Gained]
[Karma +5 x0 Gained]
[20 x100 +Resentment Gained]
[Karma +50 x100 Gained]
[Resentment: +486860/-145692]
[Max Will: 9,579,331]
[HP: 9,579,375]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1831238/24256653]
[Current Qi: 1905520/957945100]
[Current Karma: 97026612/107275977]
-And why does that one get to sleep? Why aren’t they helping?-
I come to looking at one of the old biddy’s giving me a death glare while ranting at Granin.
-You haven’t noticed that the air is lighter?-
I settle in. Might as well make myself comfortable for the rant.
“They’re purifying the anger and resentment or the dead,” Fuck Face says respectfully, keeping his head down, which might be the only thing that saves him from a tongue lashing when she casts him a quick glance.
-Hmph!- she glares at me, but doesn’t say anything. I do a long blink, and when I open my eyes she’s still staring at me.
Maybe the blink wasn’t long enough... I start drifting off to updates ticking away like a clock.
[Vengeful Ghost Sect Breathing Technique]
[3 -Resentment Gained]
[-5 Karma]
[Ghost Pot (+100/0)]
[3 x0 -Resentment Gained]
[Karma +5 x0 Gained]
[20 x100 +Resentment Gained]
[Karma +50 x100 Gained]
[Resentment: +506960/-152027]
[Max Will: 9,579,451]
[HP: 9,579,375]
[Current Condensed Qi: 1,831,238/24,272,555]
[Current Qi: 1,905,520/957,945,100]
[Current Karma: 97,090,222/107,275,977]
“We’ve got the farms worked out,” Fuck Face says, dropping down next to me while wiping their hands clean on a square of cloth. “I helped them with their fish cave. We used some of the weaker and clawless eel dragons, not the kelp, since there’s no sunlight. So far they don’t appear to be able to dig, and whenever they try to crawl around the tunnel the kids take great pleasure in flipping them into the air above the water. By their tails,” Fuck Face chuckles.
-Sounds like you were busy,- I yawn and stretch, looking around a moonlit cavern. Oh, right. Hunan. -Did they move me? Where’s the light coming from?-
“Apparently you cleared up a sort of spiritual miasma from the Resentment the Death Moths felt being trapped in these caves after leaving their home,” Fuck Face murmurs quietly, watching as the adults mill around this side cavern.
-Mm. How’d you move around the lava river?- I ask, amused, and curious, and very concerned by how much my help cost me.
“Lots of attempts,” Fuck Face says, expression and tone flat.
Fack.
-So we’re done here?- I ask, stretching and yawning, -- again, -- while I climb to my feet.
“For now. We’ve got the seeds planted, they’ve got a whole cavern of collected water, they say that some of the eels from your void appear very interested in the eels that were already present in the cave,” Fuck Face says after I transfer us to my void. I hang my head, ‘cause of course there’s a problem, and he tells me after we leave. “Not as food!” he clarifies, hands raised either defensively or to get me to stop, right as I’m getting ready to turn around. His eyes dance from side to side, his hands still raised. “Um... Romantically.”
-Ah,- I nod turning away and still waking up before I fully process what he said. I whip around to look at him in disgust at the thought of scaly dragon eels, and what I’m sure are some pale, slimy skinned eels, and their mutant babies.
“So, most of your obligations outside of kinship are satisfied. There’s just the matter of rotating the crops you do know with more that you don’t,” Fuck Face continues.
-Thank you for your hard work,- I sigh, feeling a weight fall from my shoulders. I’m pretty sure the Death Moths were low key relying on me for food, and I almost let them down.
“So what’s next?” Fuck Face asks as I look at the randomly discarded tools scattered around.
“I’m gonna go visit the monks that were supposed to find out if I was a threat or not,” I mumble. I need to raid their library, learn more ways to earn Resentment or Regard or whatever, and find out how Spring Cow’s investigation is going.
Fuck Face’s eyes dart back and forth as they do a hesitant shuffle. What’s wrong with him? He picks at his nails, I’m still waiting, he looks around then back at me, and I’m still waiting.
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” he says slowly.
I transfer outside, transfer to the nearest library, and wind up on a script circle. I look around, wondering who’s supposed to trigger it, ‘cause it’s not triggering, and notice where the carved stone bookshelves were cut loose.
“You bastards defaced a library!” I gasp in mock affront. “How dare!”
Did they know I’d come back and read shit without permission, or were they just trying to catch me? A monk wonders into the room, blanket tied around his body and draped over his arm, his under robes looking well worn. He looks like he’s about to ask me for assistance, and I’m here to find out what’s going on, and no one’s activating the script circle.
“You know where Spring Cow is?” I ask, the monk looking at me with wide eyes before scanning the room slowly.
“Well, the monastery is closed, but a few of the monks have gone to a village to purify it,” the monk offers hesitantly. “If you’re supposed to meet someone, they might be there?”