EVENT LOG: A GIRL, A BOY, AND A GRAVEYARD

[nextnightmods]

EVENT LOG:
A GIRL, A BOY, AND A GRAVEYARD

characters: everyone.
location: Helix Station; Solis Labs; Bonfire Square
date/time: February 14-22
content: Preparations are underway for what may be Beacon's final battle, while remaining forest spirits do their best to spread love and cheer. See details here.
warnings: n/a, mark threads as needed

Much remains to be done, and time is of the essence. Somewhere in the darkness to the east, Beacon's greatest threat to its remaining life moves. Will you be ready when the time comes? Will you have made time to let those around you know how much this second shot at life has meant?

helix station

Weaver bounces from group to group, checking in on people. "Anything you need help with? Let me know," she offers - whether that's a hand to hold some part you're trying to weld, or assistance operating the portal to pull in some specialty materials.

You have all the station's resources at your disposal, and backup and escape plans to make. Which is the priority, though? Is it something you even all agree on?

And what is that low, barely-audible buzzing drone? It pulses in and out of detection, settling into your skull. The station's machinery keeping the heat on and the air moving have their own constant drone, but this is different.

Feel free to address Weaver in your replies if you like. Note that any remaining spirits in the station (such as the large one wearing corpses, or any that might have turned up later) have become less-predictable and prone to lashing out in aggression when they're not trying to hide from you.

solis labs

Clara busily retrieves documents and samples as any are requested. While she doesn't know how to work a computer, she does generally understand the file system and is eager to point you to where you might read up on previous portal and lantern tests, find coordinates for worlds that might host key materials, or just enjoy some vintage poetry in the library upstairs.

A pair of badger-like spirits snuffles through the labs, eyeing you and your friends nervously. They don't seem much interested in conversation, but they will stick their noses in anything - your drinks, your sleeve, your ear if you're not careful, and their noses are cold.

If two or more people head outside together for a few minutes, they'll hear a stilted growl and a flash of green eyes in the trees - and then an attempt at a word.

h̶͈͝ẻ̴̢̛͖l̷̛̜̝̉p̴̓͝ͅ

Note that as stated on the ooc post, engaging with the green-eyed spirit carries the risk of violence and death, as always. Do so at your own risk.

stick by me and i will stick by you

There may be defenses to be built, weapons handling to teach to those few remaining who want to learn to defend themselves better, and general plans to make. When the World Eater arrives, who will be on the front lines to try and delay it while the bomb is made ready? Who will defend the rest from any spirits bent on following its instructions to slaughter every one of you? If things go south, how will you make your way to a portal to escape, and who will operate it?

Meanwhile, spirits hand out their cookies with chirps of encouragement. It's not all doom and gloom, they insist - they believe in you! And they want you all to believe in each other, to feel a little lighter and happier, if only just for a short time. The messages on their heart-shaped cookies (the whole candy heart concept didn't quite land right, it seems) are all a little odd and who knows what they do, but it all seems to be in good fun.

Feel free to decide for yourselves what the heart effects are, how long they last, if you can have more than one at a time - so long as they generally follow the ideas on the details post.

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Comments

Cao Pi | open

[pure_havoc]

1. Solis Labs

[most of Cao Pi's planning, aside from the plutonium retrieval, has been silent and solo - working in his room as if it were his office, writing, organizing thoughts, plotting in notes, crossing out dumb ideas and taking new tactics. He can't stay there forever, though.

He shows up at the lab to nose around, compare the localized portal to the big one he's already seen, and generally try to suss out where people are most intent on being. There's so few of them now that he can't order anyone as a commander, only nicely ask.]

What do you think?

[it's a very obviously vague question and could be about anything - the plans, the weather, the spirits and their hearts, the World Eater...leaving it up to the listener to guess at what he means and answer. Or ask him what the fuck he means because come on Zihuan not everybody speaks in riddles like you.]

1a. Green-eyes

[his attempt at learning from Soldat has gone dismally, and it's a shame he's bearing stoically - how dare he not be good at something. So if the green-eyes finds him in your company...]

...what? Was that...is it not going to attack?

[his hand hovers over his swords, just in case]

2. Hearts Hearts Hearts

[look, he's basically given up all notions of what's weird anymore. Cookies? Yeah sure why not. Cao Pi still doesn't have the sweet tooth most do but if he nibbles cookies out of boredom or distraction, it happens. They have the effect of making him extremely handsy. He doesn't even know he's doing it, so you could be having an innocuous conversation or deeply discussing bombs and there will probably be some overly affectionate touching going on. Nothing inappropriate...unless you want that (pm me and give me the thumbs up)! Just come at him and see what happens, it'll probably be ridiculous]

2

[callada]

[The cookies sound like the sort of pleasant harmless fun they probably all need, and while Rosinante wouldn't normally indulge just for that alone, there's the sense too that this may be one of the last times they'll get to have something nice. And that thought is dark enough to make him want to forget it immediately.

So he's walking around chewing on one that a moment ago had read "FRIENDLETTER" which seemed like as close to a pleasant message as he'd get from the batch offered to him, when he spots Cao Pi and heads over. There is still work to be done, but maybe this will make it a little more pleasant.]

Those spirits aren't too bad at baking, are they? You have one?

[He waves the remaining corner of a pink cookie heart.]

[pure_havoc]

[honestly it's good to talk about anything besides World Eaters for half a second, even if it's just cookies. He turns toward Rosinante to reveal that he is indeed carrying one he hasn't started on. Ye olde BATH TOWELS it seems]

I did yesterday, they're...not terrible. Addictive, though. [which he proves by taking a bite and politely not talking with his mouth full] I really don't need more but, really. I don't understand the messages, though. It's gibberish, isn't it?

[he's been taking snaps with his pad to translate, and it's accurate, but what the fuck do bath towels have to with it?]

[callada]

[BATH TOWELS makes him laugh, he can't help it. Delicious.]

Far as I can tell, but the spirits always struggled with how we talk and write. It's nice they're trying.

[With that he pops the last bite into his mouth. Already he's feeling pleasantly warm - and that's sure a nice contrast to how brutally cold it is more than a few steps away from the bonfire. A warming cookie, is that what this is? Lucky him, if so. Worth tolerating the almost breadlike texture.]

Fewer of them around these days, though. Downtown's a lot quieter.

[pure_havoc]

[bread and sugar aversions collide and yet they can't stop eating cookies]

Is it? I haven't been that way in months. Something about the bonfire draws me, when I manage to venture outside.

[at least he has his sexy peacoat now, he looks practically modern in it with regular old wool pants and plain gloves, aside from the armor still strapped to his shins. It only takes a couple of bites for the effect to start hitting him, but he doesn't really notice it aside from being comfortable with this big, friendly presence beside him]

It's still months before their next festival of sendoff, assuming we all live that long. I wonder where they're going.

[callada]

I haven't tried to go looking too hard. Maybe if I knew any of them personally. But right now it seems too dangerous to go wandering in the woods asking questions, after what happened at the mines.

[Ah, yeah, now he can really feel it. Warmth radiates from his mouth and belly out into his limbs as he savors that last bite of the cookie, and leaves him smiling. It's a bit like being drunk, actually, that gentle heat and slight buzz but with none of the impairment - or, none yet. Fingers crossed the spirits weren't kidding about these not being some kind of trick.]

I don't know if the effects of these things are connected to the labels but if you see one that said "friendletter", grab it. It's like an internal heater.

[pure_havoc]

Friend...letter? [that's just as weird as bath towel tbh] I see. Convenient. I haven' noticed any effects, though perhaps I'm simply finally learning why other cultures enjoy this much sugar all at once.

[with that said and out of the way, he wants to discuss the danger of the woods, but first he steps closer and gives Rosinanet's nearest elbow a friendly pat. Or two or three. Like his hand is sort of magnetically attracted to doing so]

I am less concerned now that the dangerous spirits will interfere with our efforts to stop the World Eater, but the concern is still there. It would be a matter of the worst luck, them showing up when we're busy with other matters.

[callada]

[That is a little weird, but okay dude. He sort of does a brief double-take before just passing the touch off as nothing important. Not harmful obviously, just unexpected from Cao Pi.]

Worst luck? We know the reset signal is modified World Eater speech. I'm more worried this thing will show up and start telling them all to charge in and help it finish us off.

[But Cao Pi may well know something he doesn't, so he watches expectantly and hopes he's entirely wrong in his assumption.]

[pure_havoc]

[that is a concern, one that he has somewhere in his notes but not prominently enough. He'll have to double-check that]

We are already massively outnumbered and with few options. There is no need to borrow additional trouble at the moment. I'm already fairly certain we're not going to make it.

[he says it so casually though, like he's remarking on the cold weather. And also moving his arm (comfortingly??) down Rosinante's arm. Talk about mixed signals]

[callada]

[Which now makes him genuinely uncomfortable on two levels. The casual dismissal of their odds is the worse of the two, though. He tries to deal with the first by shrugging, then raising that arm to brush a few strands of hair out of his face, then takes a small step back as he lowers his hand back down to his side. Personal bubble, please.]

Fairly certain, huh. I hope you're not saying that to anyone else. Honesty has its flaws when it makes people give up before they've even started trying, because then they're guaranteed to fail.

[pure_havoc]

[aww boo...his hand drops, if only because it doesn't know where to go without its magnet to draw itself to]

Of course not. You, I can be open with. I will still give all to get us as far as we can go, and hopefully it will be enough.

[they've spoken obliquely of their hopes, plans, and so forth already, he's mentioned his lack of interest in remaining here. But maybe here is where he'll die and his tomb will lay somewhere else as it should be. Ah well. No ninth hell for him. Oh look, Rosinante's hip is close by, maybe he'll...fistbump it in encouragement. Awkwardly.]

[callada]

[So that's new. He can't say he's ever been fistbumped in the hip before. Is that a thing? If that was a thing where Cao Pi is from he surely would've known by now.

But patience and confused politeness leaves him doing nothing but blinking in confusion at the hand, at Cao Pi, then just shaking his head and letting go of it.]

Hopefully. I know you're interested in the portal, though, right? As an escape hatch, if nothing else. Have you talked to anyone about organizing that? It's probably in everyone's best interest to have a dedicated group down there, ready to leave in case things go south up here. Thinking noncombatants, mostly.

[pure_havoc]

[it's very not normal and some part of him is already wondering why he did it...but another bite of his cookie should erase that doubt pretty quickly]

I am, but its location is a problem. I don't think we can launch any attacks and also be down there to escape quickly. It will come down to one or the other, and most people are intent on putting up a fight so convincing them to forget it and simply leave is no longer an option.

Still, you're right. Someone should be prepared for that. I know all I have is my swords but that still makes me a fighter more than a, well. Computer-person.

1a sticks my leggy out real far

[flangirl]

[ Pudding has been bringing rations and reminders to eat to those working hard in the labs; she makes the journey alone when need be, but she was certainly not going to turn down Cao Pi's offer for an escort. ]

[ She startles at the movement, the flash of color... but she's got a little spirit language under her belt, and she can hear the mangle between spirit language and Beacon language and piece it out. ]

Wait, Cao Pi. [ A gentle hand on his forearm. ] It asked for help. Or to help? I'm not sure...

[ She sings her tones carefully: ] Not strong spirit language. But want help. What can we?

ooh lady pudding ooh

[pure_havoc]

[he's seconds away from drawing his swords when she stops him, probably for the best. His hand hovers anxiously, though]

Help, hm? Could it be a lure?

[forever suspicious, but he'll wait to see if it answers her]

sticks my leggy out too

[nextnightmods]

[The spirit peers down at the both of them for a long moment, then takes a step forward, just barely into the light. There's a long, slender limb with a hand at the bottom, curled so the creature walks on the back of the hand with fingers and palm turned upward. An equally long neck stretches forward, revealing a mask as pure white and smooth as a china doll at the very end of it. Somewhere back there in the darkness, a large body lurks based on where the head and limb extend back to.

The language of the green-eyes bears only limited resemblance to the other spirits and to the people of Beacon, normally - part of why Diode had tried to teach them all how to speak to them separate from what had been learned about the forest spirits' tongue. But this one really does seem like it's trying, forcing its voice into some jumble that these people might just be able to interpret.]

m̸a̵n̷y̶ ̷e̵y̶e̵
̸
̵y̷o̸u̶ ̵k̵n̶o̶w̷ ̷t̷h̶i̸s̷?̸

[Another long, long backward limb stretches up, gesturing to the highest point it can reach. It watches the two of them warily as it moves, studying them closely - particularly their lanterns and any visible weapons, making no attempt to hide its interest.]

that is quite the leggy

[flangirl]

[ Pudding starts by repeating the words, in English, for Cao Pi, in case he knows better than she does. ]

Do we know many eye?

[ Oh boy, this is getting difficult fast. She takes a deep breath before responding. ]

Seven Eye Spirit? World Eat Creature?

[ She also has an Idea but. ]

[ Hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. ]

[ She takes half a step forward, trying to be at least a little forward of Cao Pi, and then sweeps her hand up to part her bangs aside, letting her third eye blink open. ]

This help?

[pure_havoc]

[whether or not the spirits can understand normal speech, Cao Pi puts his own two cents in, using gestures much as the spirit does to help get the point across]

I have heard of the many-eyed one. [points at his face, mimicking counting eyes] The dangerous one.

[whoa whoa girl where you going. He doesn't try to get in front of her but he gets incredibly more tense. Approaching known threats even a step or two sets off so many alarm bells]

[nextnightmods]

[Pudding steps forward and the gesturing hand comes down fast - onto the ground. The creature stands stock-still for a moment, as tense as a coiled spring.

It speaks again, guttural and jumbled, less focused on being understood as that masked face remains fixated on Pudding even though the speech more directly addresses Cao Pi's response.]

D̶̮͖̈a̷̛̝͋n̷̺̎̚g̴̠̯͒̐e̸͈͆́r̸̳͔̆ò̸̤̔ȕ̶̧̱s̶͈͈̋͑ ̶͓͓̿̓t̶̡͘h̵̠̓͌i̵̗͝s̵̺̎͆

I̷t̶ ̵g̴r̶o̷w̶s̶,̸ ̶i̵t̷ ̷d̸e̷m̸a̸n̵d̴s̴

̵i̸t̵ ̴w̶i̶l̴l̸ ̸f̵i̴n̷d̴ ̶y̶o̸u̴ ̶w̵h̴e̷n̷ ̶y̵o̵u̶ ̶a̸r̴e̸ ̴w̸e̷a̴k̶ ̷a̷n̵d̴ ̶t̵h̷e̴y̶ ̵w̴i̶l̷l̶ ̸a̶l̶l̶s̴̥͉̞̄i̴̥̟̗̍̂n̵̛̗͓͖̈́̊k̴̻̻̯͋ ̶̃̄͂͜t̶͙̣͎̊̀̇e̷̼̩͊͑͂é̴̯́ţ̵̬̏̿h̸̥̳͕̾́ ̴̧̛̯͉̆͛ì̸̘͈͒ṇ̸̮̠̐͊̑ṭ̵̹̽̈̚ó̵͉͋ ̷̖͔͒f̸͕̉̓̀l̴̳̆̎̽e̸̍͗͘͜s̶̤̠̋͛ḣ̵̰͉̊̌͜ ̸͚̼̮͂͆͘a̷̠͇̍͋̊ņ̶̙̱̒ḍ̴̐̾͆ ̴̪̪͔͂n̷͔̼͎̾͑̕o̴͎͗t̷̼͕͆̑̇ḧ̶̼͙͓́̏̐ị̴̠͗̾͛ń̶̻͎̾͐g̷̥͍̘͗̕ ̴͉͗̀y̶̼̏̾͘o̷̘̼͒̋ų̶̟̩̔ ̷̢̠̼̅̀d̴͚͗ȯ̶̢̪͈͘̕ ̴̖̥̮̕̕ẘ̸̫̻̦ḯ̸̙͝͝l̵̻̂̿l̵̡̠̈́ ̷͕̿̚i̵̖͛͑ẗ̶̗̘́ ̵̤̅̐͗s̴͈̊̈́̌ẗ̵̨́̊o̵͖͌̿p̸̠̬̽̾

̶͕̦̱͍͇͖͌̊̿̓̔̿͒͆͛̕B̷̫͇͗̿Ů̶̢̨̗̱͍̲͎̜̫̘͔̯͚͑̒͜T̶̛͚̪̣̹̭̫̂̂̈́͊͝ͅ

̷s̶o̵m̸e̷ ̷o̵f̷ ̷u̴s̷ ̵d̵o̸ ̶n̷o̸t̸ ̴h̷e̴e̷d̴ ̴t̷h̶i̵s̵ ̴d̵e̷m̴a̵n̷d̵,̵ ̷w̵i̷l̵l̶ ̷n̸o̷t̶ ̵s̷i̵n̶g̵ ̸e̶y̵e̶s̷b̶͔̈ĺ̶̥o̵̙̿o̴̧̓d̵̹͘-̵̯̋s̷͒͜ơ̴͇ṇ̸͒g̶͈̉

̶̨͂m̷͚̎a̷̰̾n̵̖̐y̸̬̿-̶͓̓e̶͖͗ȳ̵̟e̶͚̓ŝ̴̖ ̷̝̃c̵̜͑ȯ̶͓m̵̨̔ë̵͖́ ̷̫͠f̶͔̽õ̵̭r̶̛̪ ̷̧̏ṷ̷̀s̷͚̚ ̵̜͊t̴̳͒o̴̧͑ő̷̮ ̷̦̇t̵̰̕h̶̗͛e̸̖͠n̴̪͌
̶̦͂
̷͚͐ý̵̫o̵͙̍u̷͚͌ ̵̰̎u̸͓̎n̵̛̤d̶͍̀ḛ̸͝r̶͍̋s̴̹͂t̸͊ͅa̷͓̓n̷̙͂d̵̥̈́?̷͔̾

[The clawed fingers of both hands flex as the green-eyed creature stares directly into Pudding's third eye.]

[flangirl]

!!!

[ THIS IS A WHOLE LOT. ]

[ As much as Pudding startles, though, she manages to hold her ground. She tries to listen, just as hard as she can. ]

[ And she stares right back. She's fucking terrified, but since when is that a new experience when dealing with something this size? And she's plenty used to horrible things this size. Must be Tuesday. So she lets as little of it show as she can manage. She still has to swallow thickly before she speaks, in Beacon-translated English, since it does seem to understand. She keeps her words careful and clear. ]

You... several you, Green Eyes. Will not help Many Eyes when it sings the song that calls for blood?

Even if it fights you then?

[ A pause. ]

You will fight alongside us to stop it?

[pure_havoc]

[Cao Pi waits for Pudding to repeat that, to be sure he's hearing what the thinks he's hearing (a little yes, a little no) but once he has the gist, he eases his hand away from Pure Havoc. A small gesture, but a clear one]

We will protect you if you protect us. We all work...together.

[he tries the whistling to make sure his point is clear, even with the simple words. He's been eager for this chance, waiting for this day. Alliance! Wise alliances with the green-eyes to protect their flank against a greater foe! Oh please let it agree...]

[nextnightmods]

[The tall spirit sways slightly as if to some hidden breeze as it interprets their responses.]

w̶e̷ ̴h̴e̴a̸r̷ ̸g̸r̵e̴a̷t̶ ̸e̷n̴d̸e̸r̷ ̴c̶o̷m̶e̸s̸,̶ ̴t̵h̵i̷s̷ ̸s̷o̷n̵g̵ ̸m̶u̵s̴t̸ ̵l̶i̴s̶t̶e̴n̸

̶b̶u̶t̸

e̵l̷s̷e̵ h̴a̴t̶e̶ ̷m̷a̸n̵y̴-̷e̵y̶e̷s̴,̴ ̵d̶e̸v̵o̷u̷r̶ ̶b̶e̸f̵o̸r̵e̶ ̵i̶t̵G̷̝̙͕̙̜͙̱͗͋̇̿̌̿̈́̓͛R̵̡̥͈̱̦͈͉̄̌̀̒͘Ô̸̻̯̳̥̮̓̍̈́̓̐̄̕͜ͅW̶̡̡͙̪͎̺̘͋̉̓̃̇̎́̀͠S̶̨̛̤̗̣̻̔́̆́͘

n̷͍̊o̷͇̽t̸̞͐ ̶͖͠f̵̧̚r̴̗̚i̸͜͝ẽ̷͎ń̴̩d̸̝͝s̴͌ͅ,̸̞͒ ̶̝͂n̷̲̏o̴̱͑ť̷̮ ̵̤̽a̷̱͝ḽ̴̀o̴͇͊n̸͚̾g̷̜̕-̶̝͝s̶̜̄i̸͔͘ḏ̵́e̸̙͗,̸̲̎ ̶͙̿n̶̠̋o̴͠ͅẗ̷̰ ̶̝̾p̴̘͝r̷̖̚ó̶̟t̵̟̎e̴̻̊c̴̺̑ṭ̴͂

̷̢̍s̶̥͊t̸̖͌ó̵̞p̴̳̒ ̶͙͝e̴̛̞n̴͐͜e̸̪͝m̷̳̈́ỵ̴́ ̴͍̐o̴̗͒f̷̢̎ ̶͎͠e̶̬̐n̴̪͗ë̸́͜m̵̧̊ÿ̴͉́

[The last phrase is said almost mockingly, if that's a safe interpretation to make from its tone. The swaying stops. It takes another firm step forward until it looms merely feet away from the both of them. It smells like rain on mud, distinct from the bitter dry cold of the frozen air all around them.]

y̵o̴u̷ ̸m̷a̸k̷e̸ ̷n̷o̵ ̶m̶i̶s̸t̶a̶k̴e̸ ̷e̶l̷s̵e̴ ̸t̷e̴e̶t̸h̵ ̷a̷n̷d̸ ̴c̴l̷a̷w̴s̶ ̶t̵o̸ ̶s̸t̸o̵p̸

y̴͉̱̍̈́͌̂͘̕ơ̴̠̠͗͂͒̽̚u̵̖͚̇͂̎̒̏̈́̈́̉̉ ̶͖̯̒͂͆ų̷̘̠͙̮̘͐̅̍̓͝͠n̴̹͇͓̈́̓d̶̗͇̱͓̟̬̩̓ę̶̍̄r̴̛̯̾̀͆͆̂́͘͝S̸̭͎̜̺͆T̶̞̠̳͔̜̗̗̥͙̏́̆Ą̷̦̦̝͚̩͔̾̓̒́̅̎̕ͅN̷̘͈͉̞͔̲̽D̷̗͙͎̱̱̜̱̈́̈́̂̉̅̈̋͠?̶̟̬̪̈̄̈́̐̂̐̈́͝

[flangirl]

[ It's moments like this Pudding actually wishes she was fully Three-Eye. Or at least knew if she could possibly hear the Voice of All Things. She takes a half step back with one foot, but only to turn slightly toward Cao Pi and put her hand on his arm again. She doesn't break eye contact with the Green Eye.]

I need some help...

It says they have to listen to the Great Ender song. But otherwise they hate Many Eyes... "devour before it grows."

But not friends, not alongside, not protect. [ She shakes her head slowly for emphasis. ] Stop "enemy of enemy."

The rest, I don't...

"You make no mistake, else teeth and claws to stop."

[ To the spirit, ]

Not friends. Understand. You devour Seven Eye? Not sure understand. Willing listen more.

[pure_havoc]

[her explanation makes sense, and all he can do is agree that they need a little more info. Still, it sounds promising]

If they also hate the Many-eyes, then by all means, I encourage them to do whatever they want to it. If it means we leave them alone in promise for them to leave us alone, I agree wholeheartedly.

[he says it somewhat quietly, mostly to Pudding in case she can translate, but loud enough that if the green-eyed creature can understand him, even better. Use all tools at hand.]

[nextnightmods]

[Behind the mask, there's a hint of lowered eyelids as the spirit watches the two, then squints at their lanterns in something like disgust before turning their gaze to the forest floor. They scrape in the snow until a pine cone shows itself, which they place beside a small sapling.]

y̸o̶u̴ ̷s̵e̴e̷ ̸t̷h̶i̴s̴

[Those green eyes focus sharply as it holds up the cone first, then drops it and points to the scrawny little two-foot pine. One, a seed; the other half-grown. Once the spirit seems certain that Pudding and Cao Pi understand that connection, it wraps those long backwards fingers around the sapling and tears it out of the soil, brings it to their mouth, and shreds off the bark in one long pull through very sharp teeth, then drops the sapling to the ground and spits out sap and plant matter.]

̵n̸o̷t̵ ̸h̴a̴v̷e̶ ̶s̷e̴v̷e̸n̷-̷e̵y̴e̷s̵ ̵g̵r̴o̷w̷ ̷t̴o̷ ̸c̷o̵m̸m̷a̶n̸d̸

[They take what remains of the sapling and break it a few times in their hands for good measure as they incline their masked face toward the nearest tree. Then, using a snapped shard of wood to point, the spirit gestures to itself.]

̴t̶h̴i̵s̶ ̷f̶o̵l̶l̵o̷w̸ ̵n̸o̸ ̵r̶u̴l̴e̵ ̵b̵u̴t̴ ̶t̷h̴i̶s̵

̵̺̀ș̷͋o̸̦̒m̷̞͊e̴̼͋ ̵̼̊ȃ̷̢ĺ̶̨l̶͓̓ ̴͚͐a̴͉͘g̶͚̉ȑ̷̪ë̸̹́ẻ̵̱,̶̯̀ ̸͇̒ẃ̶͉e̶͍̊ ̸̞͋s̵͔̍t̷͓͊ỏ̷̝p̴̩͑ ̴̗̽ṱ̸̔h̶̻͂í̵͇s̶͚͊ ̷̟̃ḇ̷̈́ẽ̶̟f̶̰́ô̸͔r̴̫͆e̴̞͂ ̵͉͆b̶̲̂ẽ̵̳c̶̦̕o̷̲̕m̵̢̒e̷̮̚

[Another sharp nod at the tree]

e̶͖͎̲̐̓n̶͙̜̜̾͆d̵̥͚̓͂̂̃ ̵̨̨̙͖͎̆̆̀̐͐ͅỏ̴̯̾͛́̍f̷̭̱͔͉̓̏͊͂̎ ̴̞̲̓̓̓̈̑͜a̴̡̭̒̇l̴̢̦͕̟͙̓̈́̈́͝l̸̜͖̼̫͛͗͒ ̴̻͙̎̓̓̎̅̉l̵̙͋͌̓͘͝ï̷͉̍̎̕̕͠g̶̺̉̀̎͝͠h̸̼̤͈̃́̑̈́ẗ̴̪̟͙͒̈͝