EVENT LOG: GRAVES

[inthenightmods]

EVENT LOG:
GRAVES

characters: everyone.
location: Bonfire Square.
date/time: July 12-19.
content: mysterious shrines appear and bring visions of death.
warnings: likely violence and potentially gore.

time to pay your respects.

It happens when no one is looking, when most of the town is asleep and the rest are inside. A makeshift cemetery has come to Beacon, taking up residence in the middle of Bonfire Square. Each monument, shrine, and altar is dedicated to someone who now resides here, a memorial of their previous life.

Some may be drawn by curiosity, others by fear, and some may simply have to pass through this strange graveyard to get to the Bonfire itself. Whenever a person gets near, the altars beckon with a mysterious urge— an urge to approach, and an urge to leave something behind. They will feel compelled to make offerings at the various shrines, but doing so has a curious effect; it causes one to experience the death of the person whose grave they've honored.

Whether you resist the compulsion or give in willingly (or something in between), you'll also have to wrestle with the fact that a grave exists for you. Will you let your death be known, or try your best to keep it secret? Destroying it sure won't work, as it will return— with a duplicate somewhere else in town.

However you choose to deal with this, one thing is hard to ignore— this a tangible reminder of your death, and the fact that it's probably permanent.

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Noob Saibot | Mortal Kombat | OTA

[saibot]

[Gravesite]

避寒


The appearance of the marker did not look like something that'd belong to the normally black-clad wraith. The grave site itself is simple, merely etched with his real name "Bi-Han" and the symbol for the Lin Kuei. Something he probably punched upon first discovering as his former clan was something he did not wish to be associated with ever again.

Death 1

[saibot]

[Death 1]

A warrior adorned in all yellow known as Scorpion pulled Bi-Han into a place full of fire and death -- The Netherrealm. It was a challenge he agreed to but the change in location was unexpected. Extreme temperatures were not kind to someone whose abilities revolved around ice. The two fought hard but Bi-Han was ultimately defeated though not killed. He laid on the ground, broken and worn from the fight as someone else decided to make an appearance.

The sorcerer known as Quan Chi. Someone who used the darkest of magic, a person Bi-Han knew of quite well.

He made images appear showing Sub-Zero (Bi-Han) as the one who murdered Scorpion's family, goading him to finish the job. To end the fight with death.

Bi-Han managed to pull himself to his feet and tried to protest, "That was not me."

But it was to no avail. Scorpion yelled in rage and pulled the mask covering his face revealing nothing but a skull. Flames erupted from his mouth scorching Bi-Han and setting him aflame until he was no more.

[paletteswap]

He'd made his offerings to others and seen far too many things he'd have rather not.

But there was one final offering to make.

He stood there staring at his brother's grave for a long time. It was impossible to not know Bi-Han was dead as the man had been taunting him about it for years, and seeing him as the black clad wraith did nothing to make that acceptance any easier. But he had never had a grave. How could you mourn someone who was still walking around?

Seeing the marker felt like being punched, it made everything real. His brother was dead. Bi-Han wasn't coming back, what he was now ... that wasn't who he remembered and for a brief moment the thin flicker of hope that Kuai could reverse what had been done to him snuffed itself out and he dropped to his knees in front of the marker.

From his belt he pulled one of the long thin knives free, holding it in his hand for a moment before delicately placing it down. Like the name Sub-Zero, the knives had been Bi-Han's first, it was only fitting he should get one of them back.

He'd known Scorpion had killed him, but knowing and seeing were different. Actually being there, watching Quan Chi manipulate the man he now knew as Hanzo Hasashi, listening as his brother pled his innocence...

It was too much.

Down on all fours he closed his eyes so tightly he saw bright colors behind his eyelids, his breath starting to come faster as he gulped down the sobbing caught in his throat. The mourning he'd never been able to do with Bi-Han a shadowy wraith tormenting him.

The grief he'd never allowed himself to feel.

Getting to his feet he wiped at his eyes, turning abruptly and walking away to anywhere that wasn't here. Back to his room. Into the forest. He didn't care. Just not here.

Not where anyone could see him.

i am so sorry but i am a terrible person

[saibot]

Kuai could try and walk away, but the shadowy form of his brother materialized in his path. Not close, a good distance away but near enough to be in the way -- to block him or at least slow him down from leaving.

He had watched his brother's reaction, though made no move to interrupt or mock him -- at least not while it was happening. He wasn't exactly surprised that his brother had come to his marker. Had come to mourn him. Kuai always was a bit on the soft side, something that even Bi-Han felt was a hindrance.

"What did you hope to gain?" He asked, staring directly in Kuai's direction. What did he hope to gain from coming here, from mourning? It wouldn't change things. At this point nothing would.

[paletteswap]

He stared at him, very much on the verge of tears.

There wasn't anything he wanted to say to his brother. To this ... thing that masqueraded as his brother.

"Leave me alone." His normal monotone sounding oddly defeated. He kept on walking, he'd shove Noob Saibot out of the way if he had to, but he wasn't going to have this conversation.

[saibot]

"No." He answered, stepping forward to close the distance between them. "Is the great Grandmaster of the Lin Kuei running away?"

He fully intended to keep Kuai from leaving and if he had to he'd fight him if it came down to it. To prove his point, the shadow clone materialized from a portal directly behind his brother.

[paletteswap]

The answer to that was clearly: Yes. He wanted to run away from this, from everything. He ignored that shadow clone behind him, at this point he didn't care; too miserable to really be thinking straight.

The shadowy wraith in his path wasn't moving, but Kuai was, right up to him, staring into those solid white eyes. He'd actually never been this close to him when they weren't fighting each other. Every inch of Bi-Han completely covered in armor the mask barely showing the skin around his eyes, oddly darkened. He had no idea what he even looked like under that mask anymore.

If he didn't get immediately stabbed he'd be moving even closer, folding Noob Saibot into a hug and avoiding that sickle sticking out of his chest, "I wish you were still my brother."

[saibot]

Before Noob Saibot could respond, say or do anything, those arms were wrapped around him. It was like he suddenly forgot how to move, which was kind of a good thing for Kuai Liang as it meant he didn't instantly get stabbed in the face. Instead the shadow came up behind and attempted to pry Kuai away.

Why. Why is this happening to him.

It took him a moment to collect himself before saying, "I wish you were not." Which while in itself an insult also was completely admitting that Noob Saibot still saw them both as being related.

[paletteswap]

He pulled back, shaking his head, "Believe me, I know."

He had taunted him long enough that Kuai was more than aware how Noob Saibot felt about him. Continuing to ignore the shadow that was still trying to pull him even further away, Kuai started to leave again.

[saibot]

Once Kuai pulled away, the shadow let go since there was no reason to keep a hold of him. Noob Saibot himself, well ... he followed after his brother.

"Where are you going?"

He wasn't going to let him just walk away though he wasn't quite sure why he was following. Maybe it was to torment him. Maybe it was something else. Either way it wasn't going to be that easy to just get rid of him. At least not at the moment. Not even after ... whatever that was back there.

[paletteswap]

"I don't know." Which was at least an honest answer. He just didn't want to be around anyone right now, especially not this shadow monster wearing Bi-Han's skin.

Well potentially anyway, he'd never actually seen his face since he'd been resurrected as Noob Saibot.

"Why do you care where I go?"

[saibot]

While they were walking the shadow went back and grabbed the knife left at his grave. When it caught back up with the two it merged back into Noob's body like it was never there to begin with.

Noob Saibot himself lingered somewhat behind Kuai as he followed.

He ignored the question. He didn't really have an answer to give.

"You were working with Scorpion when you died," finally he broke his momentary silence giving away that he did in fact go and watch Kuai's death.

[paletteswap]

"Yes. Kronika brought him from right after the tournament." Right after he had killed Bi-Han, a spectre consumed with rage and vengeance.

"Even he could see through the lies that Kronika put forth."

He was still walking away, just to be nowhere near the graves anymore.

[saibot]

Figuring out what Kuai meant was not difficult. Always with the accusations of things he hasn't done. Sure, it was possible he did as his brother said in the future, but as of this moment those times for him had not passed.

The hatred over being accused over something he did not do burned deeply into the fragment that was left of Bi-Han. In an instant, he moved through a shadow portal and reappeared in front of Kuai, his sickle held in front and pointed directly at his brother.

"You are no true Lin Kuei to believe the lies of the Shirai Ryu."

While that was also something he actually believed, the Shirai Ryu being nothing but liars, it was not the reason he was fully ready to slice his brother in half.

[paletteswap]

Oh that was the wrong thing to say.

"And who are you to lecture me on the values of the Lin Kuei? Values you do not uphold. That you never followed even when you were still alive. And now you want to use them to your own ends? You who want to cover the world in darkness. Who likely knew of Sektor's deal with Quan Chi to begin with!" Kuai was furious now, his voice dropping to a decibel that shouldn't have been humanly possible.

"Scorpion was able to put aside his vengeance. And you can't even let your own brother mourn you properly."

[saibot]

Again with the accusations. White eyes narrowed and he put both hands on the handle of the sickle, splitting the weapon apart and duplicating it into two. Before he lunged at Sub-Zero the shadow Clone split from his body, not to attack but to safely hold onto the lantern.

"From so far in the future, yet knowing so very little. No wonder you remain a novice, Tundra."

He moved to strike at Kuai, the jab about Scorpion somehow being better than him actually did very little to drive his actions. His brother could speak as he wished. In Noob Saibot's mind there was no comparison between the two -- for better or for worse.

[paletteswap]

"Call me what you will, I am not ashamed of my past the way you seem to be of yours." He'd been ready to burst into tears just a few minutes ago and now he was being attacked. Today was terrible.

Calling an ice axe into his hand, Kuai parried, twisting to the side to avoid the hit of the second sickle. His own lantern was tied to his belt, and the extra weight and movement was a hindrance. Ever aware of its presence he couldn't move the way he wanted, and he was suddenly grimly aware that because of its position near his back that if he was knocked down he would likely fall on it.

He didn't want to fight. And he truly didn't understand what his brother was so angry about. Kuai would have welcomed him back into the Lin Kuei if he'd wanted it. He was aware of his faults and his desire for destruction, but Kuai could be blind where his brother was concerned.

With his off hand he shot a barrage of icicles at his brother's torso, smaller than normal. Not intending to injure him, just to get him to back off.

[saibot]

"You claim to know so much, yet you know nothing."

He icicles did their job. He brought the sickles down to block some of them and did back up a little. Oddly enough, he didn't seem to opt to use any of his own shadow abilities (except for splitting the sickle) in this fight. This gave Kuai something of an advantage if he continued to use his.

"You are the one running, Kuai Liang," he said, once again pointing one of the sickles directly at his brother's chest before rushing forward at him once more. "I did not turn from my previous life. It was taken away."

[paletteswap]

Kuai dropped his defensive stance for a brief second, "Would you want it back? If that were possible?"

He wanted Bi-Han back, not this wraith set on tormenting him. But he'd always assumed that Noob Saibot enjoyed being a monster. It did afford him powerful abilities, and Bi-Han had always been power hungry. And it wasn't like either of them had talked since he'd been turned into... this.

This fighting was pointless. If they killed each other they'd come back, like Rosinante had. And Kuai knew deep down that he wasn't capable of killing his brother anyway. Instead of attacking back, he froze the ground beneath him and slid to the side.

[saibot]

How dare Kuai refuse to fight back, moving away to avoid his strikes instead. This was frustrating.

Though frustration was a human emotion and he no longer had those. He no longer felt a lot of things, so why were his brother's inaction against him and words spoken stirring something inside. Frustration. Anger. It was a combination of a lot of things. Kuai's earlier attempt at embracing him in a hug caught him off guard and even that added to the ... well ... mixture of things he shouldn't feel.

Maybe it was the lingering effects from watching the deaths. He saw Kuai's first, though that was initially by accident. But he also went to witness Scorpion's, to see what death befell him and use against him later. Even that did not have the ended effect of utter glee of watching his mortal enemy die. It was odd and strange yet despite not liking any of it, he went and watched his own death. Repeatedly.

In the brief moments of experiencing his own death and those of others he felt ...

His thoughts shattered back to the moment and his brother right near by.

"What I want, Kuai Liang ..." He went to strike again with his sickles, but his movement stopped, almost frozen in place for a second. "I want ..."

He seemed to hesitate, but this only lasted a moment before he twisted and went after his brother once again. "You to fight back."

[paletteswap]

That hesitation was immediately noticed. As if he was second guessing his actions and that was incredibly strange. Without Quan Chi he didn't know how exactly what had been done to his brother would change. Especially in this place without Shinnok or Kronika.

Kuai had been a revenant, but he hadn't had free will so he couldn't even imagine what would happen for Bi-Han who seemed to do as he pleased as long as it was in the confines of what his masters wanted.

"No. We don't need to be fighting each other!" He at least countered the attack this time, bits of ice shattering off from his axe as the sickle hit. "There's no reason for us to be fighting! Not here."

[saibot]

"You watched my death." Their blades met with a loud clash. The two them fighting had to be quite the event for anyone looking in from the outside.

"How did you feel? Tell me, brother. Did you feel sorrow? Pain? Anger? Did you feel my pain?"

He twisted around and brought the other sickle upwards in an attempt to knock the ice axe out of Kuai's hands.

"How did it feel to die for something you didn't do?"

[paletteswap]

"Why do you think I was upset?” He practically snarls. His brother isn't stupid, it doesn't suit him to play as such.

The axe shatters in his hand and the sickle narrowly avoids giving him a matching scar on the other eye. Staggering back he resets himself. "And you've never cared how I felt before."

He aims a bolt of ice at Bi-Han's feet, wanting to freeze him in place so they can stop fighting for even a minute.

[saibot]

"Quan Chi made sure of that." He actually went to lunge at Kuai again as he spoke but his feet being frozen to the ground made quick work to stop him.

... That was actually a clever move on Kuai's part but not something he'd say out loud. But at least it kept him from making another move.

Well, mostly. He shifted his gaze to where the shadow was standing and considered if making an attack that way was worth the risk to the lantern.

Death 2

[saibot]

[Death 2]

Another battle! This time with warrior known as Nightwolf. A swirling tornado of green energy provided the backdrop for their fight. Again, Bi-Han lost though the fight itself was not nearly as brutal.

Until he got knocked into the tornado of energy that is. The energy tornado was known as a Soulnado and it was just that. A tornado of souls. But not just any souls, ones who were filled with evil and damned to darkness. Ones that wanted to tear at anything living.

And that's exactly what happened. Being stuck in the swirling currents there was no escape, only the screams of torment and death. Screams that grew louder as they ripped at flesh until an explosion brought an end to it all.

It was certainly not the best way to die.