God_Of_The_Red

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<<set $leo_ears to true>>The soft, triangular ears perch atop the head, twitching even in the suspense. Is there something else you want to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<<set $rab_ears to true>>The soft, warm looking ears perch atop the head, twitching even in their suspense. Is there something else you want to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<<set $snake_eyes to true>>The eyes blink slowly, revealing slitted irises when they open again. Is there something else you want to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<<set $height to "average">><<include "custoapp_b">>

How tall do you want this body to be? *[[Tall]] *[[Average]] *[[Short]]

You draw the image closer and observe it closely. What would you like to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<<set $snake_eyes to false>>The irises constrict and the pupils swell, and then the eyes blink, and they are back to a human likeness. Is there something else you want to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<<if $bday is "none">><center>It burns, this ache, this feeling of being cleaved in two. Your flesh coming apart, your bones splintering to dust, your soul growing both heavy and light. </center> <center>You need to breathe. Need to breathe. Need to breathe.</center> <<link "« Return to game" $return>><</link>><<else>> <<include "character_codex1">><</if>>

You close your eyes and draw up an image of your current body, rotating it like a doll to your liking. Currently, it is <<if $height is "tall">>a tall figure<<elseif $height is "short">>a short figure<<elseif $height is "average">>a figure of average height<</if>> <<if $body is "human">>that resembles a human<<elseif $body is "half">>that is somewhat inhuman.<</if>> <<if $body is "human">>of <<if $skin_c is "pale">>pale skin.<<elseif $skin_c is "tan">>tanned skin.<<elseif $skin_c is "dark">>dark skin.<</if>><</if>> <> <<if $body is "human">> <<if $hair_l is "bald">>The head of the figure is bald and the skin there, like the rest of the body, seems to glow with latent energy as it floats in this stasis. <<elseif $hair_l is "long">>Long $hair_c hair flows in the empty space—loose and ethereal—framing the body as if suspended in water. The ends of it turns to wisps, not quite solid to your searching gaze. <<elseif $hair_l is "med">>Mid-length $hair_c hair floats near the shoulders, framing the face as if suspended in water. The ends of it turns to wisps, not quite solid to your searching gaze. <<elseif $hair_l is "short">>Short $hair_c hair sways by some invisible force, as if suspended in water.<</if>> <<if $body is "half">> <<if $bird is true>>You regard the feathers that coat the skin, and the long, sharp talons that extend past the knuckles.<<elseif $origin is "leopard">>You regard rounded, triangle ears and the soft fur that tufts at their base. The arms of the figure give way to paws—the claws are sheathed for now, but they still glint from where they are hidden.<<elseif $origin is "snake">>You regard the long neck and sleek, scaly skin, as well as the slitted irises. While not true to your kind, the hands on this figure are clawed and dormant at the side.<<elseif $origin is "rabbit">>You regard the long ears and soft fur, though both are offset by the clawed hands that float dormant at the side.<<else>>The skin is stiffer, tinged a bit green, and seems to breathe even in this imagined space. The fingers, though dormant, are sharpened to a point.<</if>> <</if>><</if>><> Tilting the head up, you trace your attention over eyes that are <<if $eye_t is "normal">>a glistening $eye_c.<<elseif $eye_t is "het">>heterochromic--the left glistens $eye_hl and the right, $eye_hr.<</if>> [[Change Appearance]] <<link "« Return to game" $return>><</link>>

<<link "« Return to game" $return>><</link>>

The chin tilts down so you can peer into the eyes. Your soul is both within them and outside them—do they look this lively to others? *[[They are heterochromic.|custo2eyeh]] *[[They are both the same color.|custo2eyen]]

<<set $body to "human">>The blessed form glows before you with softened, vulnerable skin and long limbs. The shape, however, is still very much a shadow. What is the shade of its skin? *[[Fair|scustofair]] *[[Tan|scustotan]] *[[Dark|scustodark]]

<<link "« Return to game" $return>><</link>>

<<set $body to "half">><<if $bird is true>>Feathers cover the thin expanse of skin, and though the figure is still vaguely humanoid in shape, there is no doubt that this image is far from the ideal blessed visage.<<elseif $origin is "leopard">>While upright and maybe vaguely humanoid in shape, the coarse fur and extended claws are far removed from the regular blessed visage. The muscles seem to twitch in the open space, as if the body itself was aching for movement.<<elseif $origin is "rabbit">>While upright and maybe vaguely humanoid in shape, the coarse fur and extended ears are far removed from the regular blessed visage. The nose twitches even in this imagined space.<<elseif $origin is "snake">>The skin hardens into scales, and the irises turn to slits. The neck thickens, elongates, until the image is far from the blessed visage.<<else>>The skin grows stiffer, stronger— stretching over the surface of the vaguely humanoid figure. It continues to slowly shift into the image you want it to be, slowly bending to your will.<</if>> Is there something else you would like to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<<set flow_hair to true>><<set flow_acc to true>>The patterns of the $origin blossoms are clear in your mind's eye—they bloom into reality, placing themselves against the locks of hair that reach towards you. Is there something else you want to change? <<include "app_choices">>

You focus on something else other on the body, to change the overall perception of the form. *[[She/Her/Hers]] *[[He/Him/His]] *[[They/Them/Theirs]]

<<link "« Return to game" $return>><</link>>

<<set $flow_hair to false>><<set $flow_acc to false>>The blossoms vanish from the hair, pulling apart from each other and disappearing like melted snow. Is there something else you would like to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<<set $leo_ears to false>>The ears slowly fade away, turning into mist in your vision. Is there something else you want to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<<set $rab_ears to false>>The ears fade away, turning into mist in your vision. Is there something else you want to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<<set $height to "short">><<include"custoapp_b">>

<center><h1>God of the Red Mountain</h1></center> <center><h1> ❖ </h1></center> <center> It is unraveled, thread by thread, until it is worn and bitten and frayed. Then it is gathered, cleaned, and spun anew once again. <center>[[See Content Warnings]]</center> <center>[[Enter the story]] </center> </center>

<> <<set $test to false>> <>  <> <<set $ch1_ts to false>> <<set $impossible to true>> <<set $charsheet to false>> <<set $memory to false>> <<set $mischief to 0>> <<set $kind to 0>> <<set $magic to 0>> <<set $phys to 0>> <<set $fox to 0>> <<set $shy to 0>> <<set $bold to 0>> <<set $souk to false>> <<set $h_jade to false>> <<set $open_chest to false>> <<set $mknow to false>> <<set $kknow to false>> <<set $bs_end to false>> <<set $bday to "none">> <<set $charsheet to false>> <<set $memory to false>> <<set $mischief to 0>> <<set $kind to 0>> <<set $magic to 0>> <<set $phys to 0>> <<set $fox to 0>> <<set $shy to 0>> <<set $bold to 0>> <<set $souk to false>> <<set $h_jade to false>> <<set $open_chest to false>> <<set $mknow to false>> <<set $kknow to false>> <<set $bs_end to false>> <<set $bday to "none">> <<set $origin to "none">>  <<set $t_h_fight to false>> <<set $an_love to 0>> <<set $qiu_love to 0>> <<set $minhe_love to 0>> <<set $kaski_love to 0>> <<set $xinyi_love to 0>> <<set $spider_love to 0>> <<set $goro_love to 0>> <<set $hiemi_love to 0>> <<set $chun_love to 0>> <<set $wish_home to false>> <>  <<if $test is true>> <<set $type to "plant">> <<set $bday to "fall">> <<set $origin to "pine">> <<set $Origin to "Pine">> <<set $he_s to "he's">> <<set $He_s to "He's">> <<set $him to "him">> <<set $phys to 4>> <<else>> <<unset $type>> <<unset $bday>> <</if>>

<div id="sidebar"> <div class="sidebar-header">  <div></div>  <h1 class="story-title" data-passage="gameTitle"></h1>  <div class="sidebar-toggle"> </div> </div> <div id="sidebar-body">  <h2 class="story-author" data-passage="storyAuthor"></h2> <center> --❖-- </center> <nav class="sidebar-nav"> <ul class="story-menu" data-passage="storyMenu"> </ul> <ul class="story-tools"> <li> </li> <li> </li> <li> </li> </ul> </nav> <div class="sidebar-history-nav"> </div> </div>  </div>  <div id="story" role="main"> <div id="passages"> <div id="passage-start" data-passage="start" class="passage"> </div> </div> </div>

<<set $height to "tall">><<include "custoapp_b">>

<<set $hair_l to "long">><<include "hcolor">>

<<set $hair_l to "short">><<include "hcolor">>

<<set $hair_l to "med">><<include "hcolor">>

<<set $hair_l to "bald">>Is there anything else you would like to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<><<set $he to "they">> <<set $he to "they">> <<set $He to "They">> <<set $he_s to "they're">> <<set $He_s to "They're">> <<set $him to "them">> <<set $Him to "Them">> <<set $his to "their">> <<set $His to "Their">> <<set $his_s to "theirs">> <<set $His_s to "Theirs">> <<set $he_h to "they have">> <<set $He_h to "They have">> <<set $he_wants to "they want">> <<set $He_wants to "They want">> <<set $he_does to "they do">> <<set $He_does to "They do">> <<set $he_is to "they are">> <<set $He_is to "They are">> <<set $Lord to "Lord">> <>Your pronouns are now they/them, is there anything else you would like to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<><<if $body is "human" and $origin is "rabbit" and $rab_ears is not true>>*[[Add rabbit ears.]]<<elseif $body is "human" and $origin is "rabbit" and $rab_ears is true>>*[[Remove the rabbit ears.]]<<elseif $body is "human" and $origin is "leopard" and $leo_ears is not true>>*[[Add leopard ears.]]<<elseif $body is "human" and $origin is "leopard" and $leo_ears is true>>*[[Remove the leopard ears.]]<<elseif $body is "human" and $origin is "snake" and $snake_eyes is not true>>*[[Add slitted irises to the eyes.]]<<elseif $body is "human" and $origin is "snake" and $snake_eyes is true>>*[[Change the irises back to human-like.]]<<elseif $flower is true and $hair_l is not "bald">>*[[Place flowers in the hair.]]<<elseif $flow_hair is true>>*[[Remove the flower embellishments.]]<</if>><><<include "app_choices_2">>

*[[Body Type]] *[[Eyes]] *[[Hair|custohairchange]] *[[Pronouns|Pronouns2]] *[[Return to Appearance|Check/Change Appearance]] <<link "« Return to game" $return>><</link>>

<<if $name_have is true>><center><h1>Status of $name, the $Origin</h1></center><<elseif $origin is "none">><center><h1>The Nameless Spirit</h1></center><<else>><center><h1>Status of The Nameless $Origin</h1></center><</if>> <> <<if $origin is "none">>You are a young spirit; a naive little thing. <<elseif $origin is "owl">>You are an Owl spirit of The Red Mountain. You are known as a harbinger of death to the superstitious—a silent hunter of the night. <<elseif $origin is "lily">>You are the spirit of a Red Spider Lily—a bloom among unmarked graves. With your red, reaching petals, you are a sign of looming death to the superstitious. <<elseif $origin is "rabbit">>You are a Rabbit spirit from The Red Mountain. For what you lack in strength, you make up with your quick mind. Humans believe you to be an auspicious animal, one that brings kindness, warmth and fortune. <<elseif $origin is "apple">>You are an Apple spirit of The Red Mountain. Though you were not as strong as the other trees, many have come to you for the comfort you give, be it in the form of cool shade or sweet fruit. <<elseif $origin is "snake">>You are a Snake spirit of The Red Mountain. As a symbol of magic and power, you have always been naturally inclined to the energy of the earth. <<elseif $origin is "ginseng">>You are a spirit of Ginseng from The Red Mountain. With your roots so deep in the earth, you have always been connected to the energy of the earth. <<elseif $origin is "eagle">>You are an Eagle spirit of The Red Mountain. To many, you are a symbol of bravery and pride—very few have seen the sky as you have. <<elseif $origin is "pine">>You are a spirit of a Pine Tree from The Red Mountain. Tall and proud, you have stood over the mountain for many years as a symbol of perseverance and strength. <<elseif $origin is "leopard">>You are a Leopard spirit of The Red Mountain. Strong and graceful, there are very few of the mountain who would dare challenge you. <<elseif $origin is "magnolia">>You are the spirit of a Magnolia Blossom from the Red Mountain. Your proud stem and bloom inspire others—tales have said that warriors have worn your kind on their breasts as they rode into battle.<</if>><> <> <<if $bday is "winter">>You awoke during the winter, beneath silver skies and swirling snow. <<elseif $bday is "summer">>You awoke during the summer, under the scorching eye of the sun. <<elseif $bday is "spring">>You awoke in the spring, roused by a sun shower that kissed you with dew. <<elseif $bday is "fall">>You awoke in autumn, amongst orange leaves and a whispering wind.<</if>><> <> <<if $scar is "front">>You have been cursed by Foxes—the scars etched into your shoulders and chest will never let you forget. You remember how it felt to be ripped apart while still alive. <<elseif $scar is "back">>You have cursed by Foxes—the scars etched into your back will never let you forget. You will always remember how futile it is to run. <<elseif $scar is "none">>You have been cursed by Foxes--while no one can tell from just looking at you, the darkness has settled permanently in your core. <<else>><</if>><> <<if $appearance_sheet is true>>[[Check/Change Appearance]]<</if>> <<link "« Return to game" $return>><</link>>

What kind of image are you presenting? *[[Human]] *[[Non-human]]

<<include "eyecdone">>

The figure turns at your will so its back is to you and your perspective shifts slightly so you get a full view of the scalp. *[[The hair is short. It's tips just brush against the shell of the ears.]] *[[The hair just reaches the shoulders and scrapes along the collar.]] *[[The hair is long and slopes down to the back dramatically.]] *[[There is no hair.]]

A shadows drops over the left eye as you imagine all the hues you could fill it with. Input color in all lowercase ex. pink <<textbox "$eye_hl" " ">> [[Enter|heteye2]]

<<set $eye_hl to "black">>The vacancy of the iris fills to the brim with a rich ink hue. It catches some invisible light which fractures into the stars. <<include "heteye2">>

<<set $eye_hl to "blue">>As if a piece of the sky had come undone, the blue weaves itself through the blank space of the iris. <<include "heteye2">>

<<set $eye_hl to "brown">>The eye fill with colors of warm earth, root and fallen leaves. The colors pulse, rippling like a water's surface, and then stills. <<include "heteye2">>

<<set $eye_hl to "gold">>The metallic sheen wavers and boils as it fills the iris with its shade. <<include "heteye2">>

<<set $eye_hl to "green">>Viridian, emerald, chartreuse. The shades dapple like leaves in the wind until your desired hue fills the iris entirely. <<include "heteye2">>

<<set $eye_hl to "red">>There's a moment of hesitation, as if the image itself rejects the decision, but slowly, a carmine gleam begins to bleed into the iris. <<include "heteye2">>

<<set $eye_hl to "silver">>The moon rises in the iris, glinting at you with cool gray light. <<include "heteye2">>

<<set $eye_hr to "black">>The vacancy of the iris fills to the brim with a rich ink hue. It catches some invisible light which fractures into the stars. <<include "eyehdone">>

<<set $eye_hr to "blue">>As if a piece of the sky had come undone, the blue weaves itself through the blank space of the iris. <<include "eyehdone">>

<<set $eye_hr to "brown">>The eye fill with colors of warm earth, root and fallen leaves. The colors pulse, rippling like a water's surface, and then stills. <<include "eyehdone">>

<<set $eye_hr to "gold">>The metallic sheen wavers and boils as it fills the iris with its shade. <<include "eyehdone">>

<<set $eye_hr to "green">>Viridian, emerald, chartreuse. The shades dapple like leaves in the wind until your desired hue fills the iris entirely. <<include "eyehdone">>

The right eye is covered in darkness as you consider what colors you could fill with its space. Input color in all lowercase ex. pink <<textbox "$eye_hr" " ">> [[Enter|eyehdone]]

<<set $eye_hr to "red">>There's a moment of hesitation, as if the image itself rejects the decision, but slowly, a carmine gleam begins to bleed into the iris. <<include "eyehdone">>

<<set $eye_hr to "silver">>The moon rises in the iris, glinting at you with cool gray light. <<include "eyehdone">>

<<set $eye_c to "black">>The vacancy of the irises fills to the brim with a rich ink hue. They catch some invisible light which fractures into the stars. <<include "eyecdone">>

<<set $eye_c to "blue">>As if a piece of the sky had come undone, the blue weaves itself through the blank space of the irises. <<include "eyecdone">>

<<set $eye_c to "brown">>The eyes fill with colors of warm earth, root and fallen leaves. The colors pulse, rippling like a water's surface, and then stills. <<include "eyecdone">>

<<set $eye_c to "gold">>The metallic sheen wavers and boils as it fills the irises with their shade. <<include "eyecdone">>

<<set $eye_c to "green">>Viridian, emerald, chartreuse. The shades dapple like leaves in the wind until your desired hue fills the irises entirely. <<include "eyecdone">>

A shadow drops over the eyes of the figure, what color do you want them to be? Input color in all lowercase ex. pink <<textbox "$eye_c" " ">> [[Enter|eyecdone]]

<<set $eye_c to "red">>There's a moment of hesitation, as if the image itself rejects the decision, but slowly, a carmine gleam begins to bleed into the iris. <<include "eyecdone">>

<<set $eye_c to "silver">>The cold moon rises in the irises, glinting at you with cool gray light. <<include "eyecdone">>

The eyes blink slowly and then opens again. Is there something else you'd like to change? <<include "app_choices">>

The eyes blink, opening slowly so to emphasize their new colors. Is there anything else you'd like to change? <<include "app_choices">>

红山神

Is there something else you would like to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<<set $hair_c to "black">>The color dyes from the roots to the tips, turning darker and darker until they absorb the light around them <<include "haircustodone">>

<<set $hair_c to "blue">>From cerulean to cobalt, the hair turns into an ever-changing sea that flood above the face. <<include "haircustodone">>

<<set $hair_c to "brown">>The warm color washes over the shadowy hue, glowing like amber, before settling for something softer, more muted. <<include "haircustodone">>

<<set $hair_c to "gold">>It grows from a honey tone to a hue of the buttery-bright sun and then darkens again, allowing you to chose a shade to your liking. <<include "haircustodone">>

Your attention causes the hair to shimmer—when it all settles, what color will it be? Input color in all lowercase ex. pink <<textbox "$hair_c" " ">> [[Enter|hinputdone]]

<<set $hair_c to "pink">>In the color of the summer sunset, the color bleeds into the strands, turning vibrant or dull at your will. <<include "haircustodone">>

<<set $hair_c to "red">>The fiery color consumes the hair, framing the face in a twist of slow flame. <<include "haircustodone">>

<<set $hair_c to "silver">>In the abyss that surrounds the body, the hair glows like steel from a blade, shifting through several silver tones. <<include "haircustodone">>

It settles into your desired shade. Is there something else you would like to change? <<include "haircustodone">>

<<set $skin_c to "dark">> Is there anything else you would like to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<<set $skin_c to "pale">> Is there anything else you would like to change? <<include "app_choices">>

<<set $skin_c to "tan">> Is there anything else you would like to change? <<include "app_choices">>

by <a href="https://www.tumblr.com/friendlybowlofsoup" target="_blank">Friendly Bowl of Soup</a>

<>  <<if $charsheet is true>><li>[[Character]]</li> <<else>> <</if>> <<if $relationship_sheet is true>><li>[[Relationships]]</li> <</if>> <<if $memory_sheet is true>><li>[[Memories]]</li> <<else>> <</if>> <>

"Are we not blessed like humans?" you ask her. Big Sister tilts her head and her smile wanes. She hesitates for a moment before replying, "We are lucky. We live long lives and we, only we, can use chi freely." "But we are not blessed." "No," she relents, the word soft as silk, "We are not." She pauses thoughtfully, and her hand slips down to rest on your shoulder, squeezing. "We have this power and we are connected to the Center, but it is situational. We are not always strong. Our power waxes and wanes depending on our relationship with others, and one day, we will slip away," her voice has melded into the breeze, "We may live longer, but we will never be as stable as those who are living, as powerless as they seem." You frown, but Big Sister suddenly nudges you with her elbow and nods in the direction of the camp. Across the river, the pregnant woman slips to her knees and prostrates, hands folded in a pretty triangle in front of her. You cannot hear her voice, but the sight stirs something in you nonetheless. "Who is she praying to?" you ask, but Big Sister only watches. The woman's companions bow their heads as well, but they are silent. [[And the world seems to follow suit.]]

She looks alarmed, but you plow on with the rest of your question before she can stop you. "Humans have names, and the spirits in the stories had one too," Even now, your head swims with the sounds of the tales she told, the titles and names all made wondrous with her smooth voice, "do you have a name?" She flinches at that, and you shut your mouth. Big Sister is always somewhat melancholic, but you see genuine pain for a moment, and the surprise that steeps the air is harsher than you're used to. You pause, shocked and apologetic, but her gentle smile returns before your words do. "Sorry, I was just surprised," she soothes quickly, regaining a softer smile as her shoulders relax again. She pauses a moment, then says: "No, Little One, I do not have a name. Most spirits do not." "But why not?" It doesn't make sense to you, since you've realized that most humans are named. It seems to be easier for them, they always know who they're referring to and who they're talking about. Granted, there's moreof them, but that shouldn't matter, right? Big Sister hums thoughtfully. "Young One," she stresses, tilting your chin so that you are looking into her eyes. Her concern wavers around her, touching your palms and forehead, and in the undercurrent, a trace of grief that grows as she pulls you close. "You know that as spirits, we are more sensitive to the energy of the earth." You nod. Even now, that energy pulls at your core—an ever present tie that breathes through your body. You could swim through it so to feel the world, or you could shape it, manifesting great magic and fantastic feats. Chi is another pair of eyes, another set of ears, and another layer of skin. You would not know how to function without it. [[Next|Sis6]]

"It's safe, I promise," you wave at him and he frowns. His head disappears, and you hear them exchange some more sharp words before he appears again. This time, slowly, he stretches a leg out and carefully tests the ground. With growing courage, he steps down, his companion close behind. <<include "hhun3">>

Every spirit ages differently—Big Sister has told you stories of some even growing as fast as humans, but you have taken a long time comparably. She has said before that taking a long time means that your potential is great, but you have the distinct feeling that that was only to appease you. "I was a little faster than you," she admits sheepishly, and you pout. She snorts, placing a calming hand on your cheek, "Not that it matters, Little One. It is not good to rush such things." "I want to get bigger faster," you grumble, to which she shrugs. "If you grow any faster, my time to spoil you will shrink even more." She points out, pouting back. "And then I'll be sad." "You're making fun of me." "Yes, just a little," she giggles, retracting her hand, "But why did you grow so suddenly? Did something happen today?" *[[Tell her everything about the hunters.]] *[[Briefly mention you saw hunters.]]

<<set $bq3 to false>>"Only what I told you. They come from the south, and they have traveled far," she shrugs. "But I know as much as you do, Young One. There are many, many travelers in our mountain these days." This is true. Since summer started, the roads have been packed with merchants and migrating people trying to move as quickly as possible before the rainy season hits. The river is especially populated, with this vicious heat, and so you suppose that Big Sister is telling the truth about knowing very little about this party. The way she looked at them makes you think she recognized them, though. Perhaps they have traveled this way before. You wonder if she keeps track of all the humans that pass this way. <<include "bigsisq1">>

Today's sunset seems to last forever. You race uphill to the redwoods that tower over the rest of the Red Mountain. One of the great trees is more gnarled than the rest, and you climb it with practiced ease until you reach a good enough perch. The cool air relieves you from the heat of the afternoon, and you lift your chin to enjoy the view as it blooms before you. The sun has already lost its petals at this time of day, and it's a perfect red circle as it begins to dip into the horizon. On the ground, crickets chirp at you, overtaking the cicadas with their higher, shriller calls. You lean against the bark, and your eyes closed to take in the chi that swells around you. Dusk is as active as dawn. The transition of the sun to moon sends deep reverberations through the earth as some animals prepare to sleep, and others prepare to rise. You relish in the waves that pull at you, tugging and pushing against your soul. [[The sky, more than ever, is a deep, unending red.]]

You cup your hands over your mouth. "Hurry!" Yali snaps her head up, almost losing her foothold on the rock, but her companion instantly grabs her elbow to steady her. "Did you hear that?" "No," he follows her gaze, squinting his eyes against the sun. "What is it?" "Bells," she murmurs, and for a second, you are certain that she can see you. Her dark eyes are wide with wonder. "I hear the chiming of bells." "And you still think it's safe to follow?" grunts the man as soon as he helps her up the last ledge. "We can't even see what's leading us." "Too late to stop now," she sighs, "if this all goes wrong, we can go crying to Jiaqi later." "Oh joy, I love disappointing your sister." [[Next|hhunvis1]]

"No? Humans shape the world and therefore shape everything in life," Big Sister has a faraway look in her eyes, "There is a reason why we try so hard to keep human forms. They are the blessed beings, after all." <<include "bsriver1">>

She hums in surprise, and tilts her head, "Oh, really? I thought you'd be rejoicing." "It's easier being small," you admit with a pout. "Is it?" she rests a hand on your head, grinning ruefully, "Ah. Is it because you know I won't spoil you as much once you get bigger?" "You're making fun of me," your scowl worsens and she laughs again. "Just a little," she admits, stroking your hair fondly, "But you know, if you don't like getting big, you can always shrink yourself a little more, right?" "It's not the same!" "If you say so," she chuckles and relents, raising her hand in surrender, "But why did you grow so suddenly? Did something happen today?" *[[Tell her everything about the hunters.]] *[[Briefly mention you saw hunters.]]

"Yeah," You reach into your pocket and take out the small jade, revealing it on your palm. With it out, you are now certain that it is the same color as Big Sister's eyes, "I found this." "Oh!" she gasps and reaches forward, hovering over the pendant. She does not touch it—she seems afraid to—but her eyes scan it carefully, "Stars, Little One…" She pauses, soaking it in, watching as the white streaks catch light and then recovers, looking at you in awe. "This belonged to the previous god of the mountain." [[You have never heard of them before.]]

"I don't want to lose to anyone," you raise your arms, frowning at how soft and small they look compared to hers. "I have to get stronger." "And you will," she taps your knuckles. "In truth, you are strong, Young $Origin. You just have to wait for your body to catch up--but since you're so impatient, I will teach you what you want." Big Sister straightens her back then, and takes a few steps back, sinking into a fighting stance. <<include "teach1">>

"How are you so bad at this?" you preen, bouncing on the branch tauntingly. Yali flips her head up, and scowls. "You can't even catch me!" "I'll show you what hunters are like, Little Spirit," the huntress snarls and yanks the bow from her shoulder. "Hm? Did it say—Yali, wait!" the man is ignored and she nocks an arrow so quickly that you barely have time to scramble down from the tree before it lodges itself in the trunk behind you. You laugh, pleased by that reaction, and land gracefully on the ground. With a grin over your shoulder, you dive back into the underbrush and they go chasing you again. [[Next|t_hun1]]

"Since I was asleep yesterday, I wanted to talk to you today," you hold onto her sleeve, eyes wide as you plead with her. "Can't I, Big Sister?" "My, my," she giggles, cupping your cheeks fondly. "Who taught you how to act so cute, hm?" You tilt your head, uncomprehending, and she laughs again as she releases you. <<include "Sis2">>

"I will," you promise vaguely, jutting your face out of her reach, and she laughs at the noncommittal answer. <<include "Sis2">>

"I slept all of yesterday," you mutter bitterly, lifting your face out of her reach, "I won't get any stronger at this rate." "Your body is not yet stable, Young One, you need to let it rest," she laughs and folds her hands in front of her, "and you're plenty strong already." "I'm not though," you grumble, making her snort. <<include "Sis2">>

"And then I'll get even taller," you announce determinedly, puffing your chest, "And I'm going to get stronger, too!" Big Sister grins, "Oh, I hope so. After all this time, my neck has grown quite sore from having to look down at you, you know, Little One." "Soon it'll get sore from having to look up," you jut your chin out, and she quirks a brow. "I'm sure," she snorts, eyes shining with mirth, "but why did you grow so suddenly? Did something happen today?" *[[Tell her everything about the hunters.]] *[[Briefly mention you saw hunters.]]

"I plan on changing the world," you remember all the stories she's told you about the gods, of ascending to a place near untouchable. Of power so uncontested, even humans bowed to them. "And to do that, I have to get stronger, right?" "Of course. It takes much to be called for divinity," she giggles at your answer, but the words are suddenly weightless, without the warmth you expected. "…Is it impossible for me?" you search her, but the source of her unease feels complicated and hidden, beyond what you can decipher. "No," and in an instant, she tucks her emotions further beneath her skin where you cannot pry and smiles wryly at your attempts to reach them. "Not impossible, Little $Origin, not for you." Then she sinks down into a fighting stance, and the rest of your questions stop at your throat. <<include "teach1">>

"I'm going to be strong enough to protect you," you swear it, hand over your heart. The mountain is not always safe, not even for spirits as immovable as your sister. You have to become bigger, even tougher, so that one day, you'll be able to support her as much as she's protected you. Big Sister's eyes widen, and then they narrow fondly, and she reaches down to press her hand over yours. She can feel your heartbeat—small, but steady and true. You’re a bit unbalanced by the waves of emotions that come off of her, but even among them, you can feel warm swells of pride and affection holding you tall. "I already rely on you a great deal, Little $Origin." You tilt your head, confused on how that could be, but she releases you without an answer. Instead, she takes a few paces back and sinks down into a fighting stance. <<include "teach1">>

"I'm really not sleepy yet," you whine, clamping down on the yawn that bubbles at your chest. Big Sister snickers, not fooled in the least, and shakes her head. <<include "Sis2">>

"Does it matter?" you ask hesitantly, feeling awkward without a concrete answer. "No, it doesn't." Her fingers brush your cheek comfortingly, washing you with that familiar scent of the river and the wet earth. "I'm just curious, but it is okay if you don't have a reason at all. You will have plenty of time to figure it out--time that you should probably be using to rest, yes?" Your face flattens at her teasing, and you glare at her. "But I want to keep talking to you!" "And I will always be here for you to talk to—even after tonight," she assures, patting your head with an apologetic laugh, "you can't stop growing now, Little $Origin, not when you've been becoming so strong lately." <<include "btselect">>

<<set $bbs4 to false>><<set $kknow to true>>"Who would still be tending to an abandoned shrine?" You frown, remembering how well-kept the ruins were despite the age, "Do the human monks visit it?" "No, I don't think they do," she hums and thinks for a moment before slowly admitting: "No, it…it must be him, the Watcher of the mountain. The Watcher. The Guardian. You are only vaguely familiar with that title. He is supposed to be a named spirit, one who wards away wandering humans, but you have never met him. In all honesty, a part of you always thought he was just another of Big Sister's myths—how could there be another spirit stronger than her? Then something hits you, "Why would the Watcher still be caring for a dead shrine?" "Because he was once in that god's service," Big Sister stares out into the trees, "He must still feel obligated to care for that place." <<include "bsqs2">>

<><<set $bbs3 to false>> "Ah," her eyes grow soft, "Jade itself is a beautiful thing to have, and is given those whose hearts you want to protect."<> "But what about jade owned by a god?" you press. "It is still just a stone, Little One, you know that it can't even hold chi" she giggles, but the sound passes right through her. Lightly, she adds: "Such sad memories must cling to it, and its wearer is long gone." <<if $h_jade is true and $lie_jade is false>>*[[I offer to give it to her.]] *[[I decide to keep it for myself.]] *[[I want to bring it back to the shrine.]] <<else>><<include "bsqs2">>

“I don’t want to fight anyone, you’re just so cool!” “Am I?” she preens a little at that, letting herself be charmed by your wide, awestruck eyes. “Alright, fine. Since you are being so sweet, I will give in to your wishes today as well, Little One.” She pokes your cheek affectionately before taking a few steps back and sinking into a fighting stance. <<include "teach1">>

<<set $lie_jade to true>>"Not really," you shrug, trying not to fiddle with your sleeves for fear that she will see right through you, "just old furniture and some carved stone." "I'm amazed there is any furniture left at all," she laughs incredulously. Her eyes scan you, curious, but she does not pry, "It has been a long time since the old god lived there." [[You have never heard of them before.]]

"Why so?" Big Sister folds her knees up and rests her chin on them. "The way they hunt, and the way they destroy the land whenever they settle down," you mutter, reminded of how a group of humans once uprooted an entire glade just to place one of their houses there. "And they die so quickly. What's the point of so much destruction if they don't even live long enough to justify it?" She nods her head absentmindedly. "Yes. I guess that's true, they live such short lives, it doesn't seem worth it. It's hard to believe that they are the blessed beings at all." <<include "bsriver1">>

"Boring?" Big Sister laughs and crosses her arms, "Humans are anything but! What makes you think they're boring?" "They can't do anything," you whine, "they can't use chi, can't see us, can't go to the spirit world—I'm glad I'm not human!" "They might not be able to use it normally, but that doesn't mean that they can't do anything," she prods you in the cheek. "They can create cities, countries, and families. They can do more than we ever can with just our powers. That's why they are called blessed, Little One." <<include "bsriver1">>

<><<set $mknow to true>><<set $bbs2 to false>> "Who is the current god?"<> As soon as the question leaves you lips, the breeze picks up, whirling around your figure and you shiver. Big Sister, too, seems to shudder before she shakes her head, "The current god, hm?" You do not know the emotion that she is encased in. It lifts from her skin like mist, like the miasma of a ghost that refuses to leave. However, Big Sister ignores it and smiles, and her dark hair rippling from her shoulders, "The current god lives further down the mountain. Perhaps, I will take you to the new shrine, one day." "Do you know them?" "No." Her smile grows tight. "I have not met her personally either." <<include "bsqs2">>

She sends you on your way after that, letting what you've just learned sink in as you slip through the cold forest. Energy ripples from the ground to your fingertips, as if stronger now that you're aware of it, and it stings deeper than the lingering cold. You put your hand against a tree, feel the chi within respond and ripple, and remove your fingers to marvel at the threads that pull back. How much longer do you have until you're fully grown? How long until you can bend reality to your will? The world grows dim, and finally, your body gives up. Your form fades and your thought dwindles out, and soon, you've faded back into your true body. The air is colder, your senses are dulled, but you nestle into sleep, surrounded by the smell of flowers and melted snow. [[It is the smell of youth.]]

<<set $huq3 to false>>"Humans don't usually feel like anything," you frown, and to prove your point, you reach out to the human camp across the river. There is no feedback, not like the pressure you felt before, "But why do we feel them when they pray?" "I am not sure why, Young One." Big Sister laughs quietly. "Like you, I can only feel chi, but I do not know for certain why it is." She hums, and flexes her hand, and a wave of energy follows the motion. "If I had to guess—because they are the original enlightened beings, chi reacts stronger when they are using it to pray, to the point that even you and I can feel the effects of it," she tastes her own explanation, and shrugs, "That would explain why we become stronger when they give us names too: their awareness alone is enough to bolster us." "So they don't have to be praying? They just have to be thinking about us for us to feel it?" "Yes, chi is not biased." She cups your cheek. "Perhaps to our creator, reverence is the same as disgust—and we, as vessels, are fit to carry both. Because of that, we become strong, no matter how the humans regard us." <<include "hu_q2">>

You duck down and the kits jolt apart, stumbling over each other as they clumsily scurry away. "Hush," hisses another voice, and you wince at the harsh, strained sound, "you'll get us killed!" "I will!?" There's no energy, no beacon of chi to detect. These voices are so weightless to your ears, but you know fear when you hear it. Beyond the trees, half-hidden by the foliage, two tall, tense figures are in a standoff. Your vision settles, and you see them dressed in dull-colored, complex tunics—their arms wrapped tightly with white cloth to keep the sleeves up. Humans, you realize. Silver metal glints from beneath their belts, and you see lithe bows slung over their shoulders. Hunters. Not uncommon to see on the mountain, but it was rare to see them so far north—in fact, you've never seen humans past the upper river ever. Behind you, there is a timid squeak, and you realize that the red pandas are still right next to you, shrinking back into the dense foliage. *[[I follow the red pandas.]] *[[I creep closer to the humans.]]

<<set $lie_jade to true>>"Yes, there was a jade pendant," Said pendant weighs heavily against your skin, but you ignore it, pressing your hands together to keep yourself from giving it away, "In a small box." "Jade?" she repeats, tilting her head curiously. After a beat, her eyes widen and she gasps, "Was it small, Little One? Green, with some streaks?" Your pocket burns, "How did you know?" "To think it still…Stars," she presses a hand over her mouth in shock, not noticing you squirm, "That belonged to the previous god of the mountain." [[You have never heard of them before.]]

"Yes, there was a jade pendant," You remember the small box, the smell of smoke, and you shiver. You press your fingers together tightly to regain balance, "It was in a small room." "Jade?" she repeats, tilting her head curiously. After a beat, her eyes widen and she gasps. "Was it small, Little One? Green, with some streaks?" Your chest burns. "How did you know?" "To think it still…Stars," she presses a hand over her mouth in shock. "That belonged to the previous god of the mountain." [[You have never heard of them before.]]

"I don't want to lose to anyone," your fingers grip hers, and Big Sister smiles proudly above you. "I will be the strongest spirit of the mountain." "Why do you want to be the strongest?" "Isn't it better to be strong than weak?" you huff, and she laughs. "I guess so, but you know Little One, to grow stronger, you have to listen to your body," she wiggles her hand free and then prods a sharp finger between your eyes. "Go rest. You cannot handle being awake for so long." You scowl at her, covering your stinging forehead. "But I want to keep talking to you!" "And I will always be here for you to talk to—even after tonight," she assures, giggling. "You can't stop growing now, Little $Origin, not when you've been becoming so strong lately." <<include "btselect">>

"I'm going to ascend, and change the world," you vow solemnly. "I'll become a god worth following." Big Sister is stunned into silence. She blinks, amazed, and then smiles and frees a hand to brush it over your forehead. "Oh? Now that is a difficult path, Little $Origin, to be called for ascension." "But not impossible," You search for the source of her faint misgivings, chasing the tiny thread of doubt in her voice, only for it to snap as soon as your attention lands on it. Her fingers come back down on your hand, so much smaller than her own, and she sighs. "No, not impossible, not for you," she admits, before a sharp coyness returns to her eyes, "however, you won't be able to ascend if you keep refusing to sleep, you know." Your face flattens. "But I want to keep talking to you!" "And I will always be here for you to talk to—even after tonight," she assures, patting your head, "you can't stop growing now, Little $Origin, not when you've been becoming so strong lately." <<include "btselect">>

"I want to help you," you mumble, a little shy. Warm adoration floods from her palm to yours, and you flush in embarrassment, turning away. "I'm going to protect you, no matter what happens." "Will you?" she hums, beyond pleased, washing you with the scent of the green earth and the cold river. "I'm honored, but you know, you won't be able to protect me if you're always swaying on your feet, refusing to sleep." Your face flattens, and you whip around to glare at her snickering. "But I want to keep talking to you!" "And I will always be here for you to talk to—even after tonight," she assures, patting your head with a gentle laugh, "you can't stop growing now, Little $Origin, not when you've been becoming so strong lately." <<include "btselect">>

"I'm going to leave this mountain," you swear, gripping her hands back just as strong. You are still too weak and unstable to leave the place of your awakening, but the boundary of your limits expands by the day. "I'll leave and see everything in this world." "So few get to see beyond the place of their birth, but if anyone could leave this place, it should be you," her fond smile turns slightly bitter, and then she pokes you between your eyes, "but, that will not happen if you keep refusing to rest! I've done what you asked, right? Now it's time for you to sleep." You frown at her. "But I want to keep talking to you!" "And I will always be here for you to talk to—even after tonight," she assures, patting your head. Her expression turns wistful, "you can't stop growing now, Little $Origin, not when you've been becoming so strong lately." <<include "btselect">>

<<set $bq1 to false>>"Me? No," she blinks laughs and her expression clears. "Not to me, Young One. But you felt it, didn't you? Their earnest and reverent plea." Is that what you felt stirring within the silent earth? That quiet but breathtaking power? You're uncertain, but you nod anyway, because that must have been it. "Who were they praying to, then?" "I'm not sure," she says lightly. You can tell, however, that that is not the full truth. "It would depend on what they were asking for." <<include "bigsisq1">>

"Wh-what are you?" The words spill out of you before you can stop them, and you flinch at how weak your voice is. It is swallowed by the air, muffled completely by the dry, heavy breathing of the beast. But it hears you. It must have, because it's long, triangular ears flick back sharply, and it begins to chant under its breath. It stalks closer to you, and as it does, you can hear words—no. You can just hear one word, spoken like a mantra from its torn, mangled lips. Curse! Curse! Curse! *[[There is no point, I must attack!|pro_fox_fight1]] *[[I have to run!|Flight!]] *[[I can talk them out of this!]]

<<set $mknow to true>><<set $huq2 to false>>"What do you mean by the god 'bridges the gap between us and humans'?" you glance again at the humans across the river, "What exactly does the god do?" "The god of the mountain must always listen to the humans," she sighs and touches her neck gently, "But she must also protect us. How she maintains that balance is something I do not understand entirely either, Little One, but she is obligated to watch over us all." Her tone is heavier than you're used to hearing, and the hair on your neck raises uneasily, "Do you know her?" "I have never met her," she replies airily, and after a long pause, she smiles thinly, "Maybe one day, we will go to visit her shrine together." <<include "hu_q2">>

<<set $bq2 to false>>Big Sister jolts and looks at you curiously. She seems to consider not answering, but then, she nods, and answers in a quiet voice, "She reminds me of someone I used to know." "The pregnant woman?" She nods again, and her hair loosens from behind her ears, "There used to be someone like her a long, long time ago. A human girl who lived in the mountain." You scoot closer, eager for a story, especially one you've never heard of before, "What was she like?" "She was beautiful, and very fragile," Big Sister smiles at a memory you can't see, but warmth flutters across your chest, sending butterflies to your stomach. Her voice comes out warm and sweet. "But she used to play music by this river, and she was a Seer." "And then?" "And then she met her husband, and he swept her away," she lifts her head and looks at you, and you watch sorrow flash across her eyes before it dissipates into mist. "And I don't remember much after that." You pout, displeased by the bare tale, and she pinches your chin affectionately. "I will tell you more about her later. It's not an interesting story though." You'll have to be satisfied with that, so you turn back to the people at the camp. <<include "bigsisq1">>

<<set $kknow to true>><<set $huq1 to false>>"Humans live on the mountain, too," you add, "So why doesn't he let them further in the forest?" "He does it because humans have overstretched and abused the mountain before," A bitter emotion traces her words and she crosses her arms, "I…do not blame him, but I also do not completely agree with his action." You stare at her hand, and then at her carefully impassive face, "What happened?" Big Sister looks at you, and tries to keep her tone light, "The old god of the mountain, his previous lord, died because of humans." "How can humans kill a god?" "Easily," her words shake the wind, making you unsteady, "Gods are fragile, and dependent on humans. It does not take much." Then she clears her throat, and begins again, stronger, "However, beyond that, I think the Watcher must feel obligated to protect the rest of us." Something bothers you about her answer, and you tilt your head to rid of that unpleasant feeling, "Do you think he is right?" "Ha. I think times have changed, and I think he's biased," It's rare to see your Big Sister look so harsh, "But I understand how he feels. He is not wrong, and everything considered, he can be very reasonable." You do not think she is angry, but the emotion that surrounds her is not entirely amiable either. <<include "hu_q2">>

Big Sister laughs, "Because they can't see you? You'll have an acolyte chasing after you if you cause too much trouble, you know?" You scoff. Seers are humans who can see spirits, and apparently acolytes are the most important seers—not that it really matters to you. "They can't hurt me." "No?" she grins, "I wouldn't underestimate them, Little $Origin. Even the strongest spirit is no match for an army of humans." <<if $phys lt $magic>>"I'm still stronger than all of them," you cross your arms.<<else>>"So I'll just blast them away!" you insist.<</if>> She shakes her head in defeat, "Don't come crawling to me then, when you fight them and see why they're the blessed ones." <<include "bsriver1">>

"I agree," Big Sister smiles at your answer and her face turns gentle. "They are the blessed ones after all." <<include "bsriver1">>

<><<set $bbs1 to false>><<set $souk to true>> "What were they like?" you wonder, your heart pounding as if you were back in the ruins, surrounded by that ancient flow of power.<> "He was kind and benevolent," she drags her eyes across the river, looking somberly at the camp, "And too generous to the humans who lived here." Her choice of word sits wrongly in your ears, and you turn your head to dislodge that unpleasant feeling, "What do you mean, 'too generous'?" She grows quiet, solemn, and crosses her arms to hide how white her knuckles had become, "The old god of the mountain died because of them." [[Next|sou1]]

"You'll never make it by sundown at this rate!" you shout impatiently, crossing your arms as she struggles to get up. "Is...Is $he yelling at us?" the man stares at you in shock. "$He_s calling us slow," she huffs, sending you a dryly amused look. "Forgive us, Little Ko, we do have mortal bodies after all." "Don't annoy $him!" You laugh brightly at that. [[Next|hhun2]]

<><<set $bday to "winter">> <<set $Bday to "Winter">> You awaken to snowfall, to frost and a sky so blindingly white that your eyes ache from the expanse of it. <> Snowflakes fall against your skin, dancing in their short-lived clumps before melting into beads of silver water. <<include "skin">>

<> <<set $bday to "summer">> <<set $Bday to "Summer">> You awaken to harsh sunlight, blinded by the green leaves clattering above you, shaking from their branches like jade stones on a chain.<> The humidity of the air presses down against your lungs—your skin feels both sticky and slick. <<include "skin">>

<><<set $bday to "spring">> <<set $Bday to "Spring">> You awaken to a sun shower, underneath redwoods that stretch to an orange sky as you lay breathlessly at their roots.<> Rain whispers over your skin, beading into a million colors you have never seen before. <<include "skin">>

<> <<set $bday to "fall">> <<set $Bday to "Fall">> You awaken to the scattering of leaves, surrounded by flecks of scarlet and gold that reflect the waning sunlight.<> A wide maple leaf floats to your chest—its soft, fluttering weight sending goosebumps across your skin. <<include "skin">>

You come to, hours later. You lift your head and wince. Every bone in your body grinds with pain, but you tell yourself that it means you're still alive. You can barely make out your surroundings, but you still smell the forest—or what's left of it. The trees around you have scores of claws raked into their bark, and you do not hear, nor feel, any life around you. You taste blood in your mouth. You freeze, horrified, and then relax when you realize it's your own. Your palms, too, have marks where your own nails have torn into them. Everything hurts. Nothing makes sense. There is a numbing pressure in your head you do not understand. You feel something heavy wrapped around your soul, but you are too afraid to address it now. You don't want to know what it is. [[You have to leave.]]

<> <<set $he to "he">> <<set $He to "He">> <<set $he_s to "he's">> <<set $He_s to "He's">> <<set $him to "him">> <<set $Him to "Him">> <<set $his to "his">> <<set $His to "His">> <<set $his_s to "his">> <<set $His_s to "His">> <<set $he_h to "he has">> <<set $He_h to "He has">> <<set $he_wants to "he wants">> <<set $He_wants to "He wants">> <<set $he_does to "he does">> <<set $He_does to "He does">> <<set $he_is to "he is">> <<set $He_is to "He is">> <<set $Lord to "Lord">> <>As soon as you could, you drew yourself into the image of a boy, mirroring the humans that you have seen traveling through the forest. Granted, you still cannot conjure a full body yet, but your effort is slowly coming through. Your hair, which would flow past your shoulders by now, is drawn up in a once-neat bun that is starting to come loose. <<include "name1">>

<> <<set $he to "they">> <<set $He to "They">> <<set $he_s to "they're">> <<set $He_s to "They're">> <<set $him to "them">> <<set $Him to "Them">> <<set $his to "their">> <<set $His to "Their">> <<set $his_s to "theirs">> <<set $His_s to "Theirs">> <<set $he_h to "they have">> <<set $He_h to "They have">> <<set $he_wants to "they want">> <<set $He_wants to "They want">> <<set $he_does to "they do">> <<set $He_does to "They do">> <<set $he_is to "they are">> <<set $He_is to "They are">> <<set $Lord to "Lord">> <>As soon as you could, you began to model your form after the image of the many children that wandered into the forest. Granted, your technique was still unfinished, and you had more growing to do, but your efforts were really starting to come through. Your long hair is drawn up, tied just as Big Sister had taught you, though some loose strands were now tickling your nape. <<include "name1">>

<> <<set $he to "she">> <<set $He to "She">> <<set $he_s to "she's">> <<set $He_s to "She's">> <<set $him to "her">> <<set $Him to "Her">> <<set $his to "her">> <<set $His to "Her">> <<set $his_s to "hers">> <<set $His_s to "Hers">> <<set $he_h to "she has">> <<set $He_h to "She has">> <<set $he_wants to "she wants">> <<set $He_wants to "She wants">> <<set $he_does to "she does">> <<set $He_does to "She does">> <<set $he_is to "she is">> <<set $He_is to "She is">> <<set $Lord to "Lady">> <>As soon as you could, you drew yourself into the image of maiden, copying the human girls who wandered into the forest. Granted, your form was still imperfect, and you had a lot more growing to do, but your effort was slowly coming through. Your long hair is drawn up, tied just as Big Sister had taught you, though some loose strands were now tickling your nape. <<include "name1">>

You shrug idly, shaking your head, "I found a weird place, but nothing much." "'A weird place'," she echoes with a grin, getting a sense of your evasiveness, "How was it strange, hm?" "Dunno," you frown, and you are only telling a half-lie. You are not sure if you really comprehend what you saw, "It was just…old. Lots of weird, practically built of chi." "The shrine of the old god," she says before you even finished speaking, and you shut up quickly. Visions of the place swarm your vision, coating your tongue with ash, and under her scrutinizing gaze, you avert your eyes. [[You have never heard of them before.]]

You cannot breathe. The impact has knocked the wind out of you, and when you try to force your mouth open, you taste dirt and blood. You roll over, searching for your attacker, scrambling with your back against the redwood. Fear. The tree is soaked in it, stained so heavily of panicked distress that it blurs your vision in swaths of crimson. The earth trembles and in the distance, a lanky, crouched shape stalks towards you. You pray that it is a shadow--just a branch caught in nonexistent wind--but then it steps forwards and you choke on the putrid smell that follows it. Long nose, sleek body, near-slitted eyes—you have never seen eyes like these before. Black irises with a bloody red ring seeped in the center. They burn into your skin, pick apart your entire being, and you find yourself both mesmerized and repulsed. It's gaining on you. It takes long, feline steps, but its face is like that of a dog's. Its name rings in your mind, clear as day. <center><h3>[[Fox]]</h3></center>

"Have you come to cool down too?" Big Sister waves at you from her seat on the bank when you come up next to her. She's perched the low branch of her willow tree, obviously taking advantage of the dewy shade, and pats the spot next to her. "Just for a little bit," you admit, hoisting yourself up. You nod your head towards the makeshift camp. "What are they here for?" She shrugs, resting on her palms as she turns back too. "They are traveling north and have stopped for camp. One of the women is pregnant so she tires easily." She points a slightly crooked finger and sure enough, you see the bulging stomach and labored breathing of one of them. The other members hover over the woman, helping her eat and massaging her legs despite her shy smile. There's a tangible, joyous bubble around them, one you can see but not feel, though by the way their voices travel, they also sound anxious. Big Sister hums softly. "Do you like humans, Young One?" *[["Yes, they are so different and interesting."]] *[["Yes, they are fun to tease."]] *[["No, they are dangerous to the mountain."]] *[["No, they're boring."]] *[["I don't care for them."]]

She always starts these lessons by moving through her forms first, testing her own balance as she steps over uneven ground. It is as much a demonstration for you as it is a warm-up for her, and once she has cycled through a full set of motions, she beckons you to join, this time restarting at a much slower pace. You try to mimic her, trying to focus your tired mind so you can remember what she taught you last time: you remember to lift from your dominant leg, you tighten your core, you keep your stance wide—each step is a checklist of reminders that you’ve built up over time. But even then, you are still nowhere near as graceful as your sister. You fight to keep your limbs from wobbling, and it takes so much to just remember which form to shift to next. To be honest, you don't really understand how this will make you fight as well as your sister. You have tried to listen to her poetic lectures of balance and forms, but the words she uses are far too complex and you're always too distracted by your own feet to really be listening. Still, she says that you'll get it eventually, and she has never lead you astray before. So you slowly make your way, step by step, to the end of your exercise, highly aware of her eyes that latch onto your every mistake. "How did you learn this?" you ask, trying to mirror her current pose, straightening your back as far as it will go without toppling over. Big Sister smiles and shifts her weight smoothly, making you scowl with envy. "By watching monks, and by watching soldiers." [[Next|Sis3]]

The painted dragon watches you, judging you with hollow eyes, but no matter how long you stare, they do not blink. Its claws are outstretched, and made to look so sharp that you hesitate to go any farther. However, you cannot sense anyone inside. You strain your ears and all your senses, and nothing responds. There is no spirit, at least, lurking behind the door. *[[Enter.]] *[[Turn back.]]

With whispering wind and coaxing branches, you lead them to an even darker part of the woods where nests of thick bramble snag their clumsy ankles. Light as a feather, you ghost over the thorns yourself, letting just the slightest breeze coax them upwards towards your bumbling prey. The sharp scent of pine stings your nose, and behind you, the huntress curses as she snags her sleeve again on a stray branch. You skid to a stop and whirl around, perching on a dense patch of leaves to watch the man help her wrestle herself free from the foliage. [[Next.|t_hun3]]

<><<set $bq1 to true>><<set $bq2 to true>><<set $bq3 to true>> The leaves still for a moment and your breath stop in your lungs. Big Sister closes her eyes. <> Her head tilts ever so slightly, and suddenly she looks younger than you've ever seen her. She basks in the quiet, as if absorbing it all within her, and touches a soft hand to her heart. The humans rise from their prayers, and the wind returns. You bite your lip when your sister's eyes reopen. <<include "bigsisq1">>

Your vision goes dark, and air rushes back into your body, slamming against your sore diaphragm. Your body slumps limp, but you feel so light, you think you might float. A million emotions and feelings course through your body, rippling like electric shocks across your skin, yet you cannot muster the strength to address a single one. Instead, you press your palm to the ground and close your eyes. You feel something tugging at you: a tiny feed of energy that drips against your palm, your body, and your soul. You run along that stream with your mind's eye, tracing it to an origin deep within the earth. You reach out to it, focusing onto it with the instinctual knowledge that it will save you, and a gentle blanket wraps around your tired soul. The sensations die out. You are at peace. [[The bells continue to whisper.]]

<h4> The Red Mountain, Two Decades Ago. The last day of your youth.</h4> -- Summers on the Red Mountain are always brutal. The sun roasts everything it touches, and perhaps would have burnt through the entire forest if not for the relentless humidity that makes the air too damp for flames. Blistering sunlight filters through the trees, dappling the ground into patches of hot grass and scorching light that you are determined to avoid. The view today is bright, blindingly so, and your eyes ache when you turn to glare at the brilliant blue sky. The air smells slightly sweet—somewhere, some tree is bursting with overripe fruit. By your feet, the underbrush trembles endlessly as rodents dart to and fro, having grown fat from the surplus of food brought by the warm spring. Flushed, you push your hair back, trying to catch the brief puffs of wind that sweep the mountainside, but it all feels like hot breath fanning in your face. [[Next|Sum1]]

<> <<set $origin to "apple">> <<set $a_origin to "an apple">> <<set $Origin to "Apple">> <<set $quality to "kind">> <<set $tree to true>> <> You once resided in a grove in the deepest part of the forest, where you provided fruit that was supple and sweet. For years upon years, you have given to your neighbors, and in return, the divine has chosen to awake you (or so you believe). Your created form, this human shell, is merely an extended part of you, one that can roam about the home you have lived in for decades. Among all your new senses, sight is the one you like best, as you are finally able to see the sunsets that halo over your leaves. <<include "oriconfirm">>

You have to move. You have to move! *[[I launch my body at them.]] *[[Energy swells in me like never before!]]

"Not really," You shake your head and avert your eyes, focusing instead on the distant tree-line, "But I saw some hunters today near the ravine." "Oh? That's unusual," If she notices you hiding something, she doesn't say so and follows your gaze with a frown, "They usually don't go that far. I wonder if they made it back to the main road." Your tongue curls but you keep it firmly behind your teeth as you shrug. [[Next|hu_q]]

You cringe from the scorching heat, but the pain is not there. It sears your body, licks your flesh, but the agony does not come. It will not come. You know, you somehow just know, that this will not harm you, yet you cower all the same. Your chest stretches out, your heart becomes swollen and heavy with this fiery //thing// that expands beneath your breast. The heat is an anesthesia that numbs as some essential part of you is being eradicated. Ripped away. <<linkappend "//Devoured.//">> You hear it cry in your chest as it is swallowed by flame. *[[It is the thin wail of a beast.]] *[[It is the hiss of a withering leaf.]] <</linkappend>>

You want to laugh and correct that there is only one of you, but this is a good advantage to have. Chi pulses from your feet to the forest floor, lifting leaves from the ground as you pass. They dance around the hunters, swirling so all they see is a storm of brown and green. The air crackles, rippling with energy that tears out of your skin, bursting out of you in hot waves. A bolt of your awareness escapes your body, sinking into the tornado, until you can feel the hunter's breath, heartbeat, and sweat as though they were pressed against your own. Their fear is obvious, and as you curl the wind viciously through their lungs, you grin. Their arms thrash out, flailing randomly, and so focused you are in trying to tame them, you don't even notice that the man has gotten close to you. A large knife cuts through the mirage and you dart back, your spell dissipating in an instant. As soon as the pressure drops, they tear themselves out of your orbit and bolt. A deep and frustrated sound bursts from your chest. *[[They're not getting away!|mag_pursue]] *[[I let them go, that was a lesson enough.|mag_restrain]]

<> <<set $phys to 0>> <<set $magic to 1>> "I still don’t understand what you said last time," you admit, taking a seat next to her. Big Sister looks surprised. <> "Ah. Maybe I said too much then, let's try something simpler this time," she says sheepishly, and opens both her palms for you to take. "<<if $origin is "snake">>As a snake, you are closer to the earth than most other animals. You should learn this quickly." <<elseif $origin is "ginseng">>The roots of your kind have long been used by oracles and mediums because of how closely tied they are to the earth, Little Ginseng. You will learn this quickly." <<elseif $origin is "lily">>As a red lily, you are an omen yourself and already tied to the emotions of so many others. You will pick this up quickly." <<elseif $origin is "owl">>Humans believe owls to be symbols of a world that they cannot see, and that alone might be enough to strengthen your connection with the earth. Perhaps you will learn this quickly." <<else>>Energy of the earth is what we spirits come from, Little $Origin. Don’t think about this as a lesson, but as a means of rediscovering what you are." <</if>> She places your hands flat on the rock, and you wince at the icy surface. Non-living things do not hold chi well--you remember that much--but from the soil beneath, a soft pulse of energy responds to your call. Lethargically, it bleeds into the boulder, crawling up to your fingers where it warms your skin. Your Big Sister keeps speaking above you, her voice slow and patient, "Do you know where chi comes from?" You shake your head. "As spirits, we are vessels of chi," she tells you as it starts to wrap around your chest. "And chi is an energy that is created by all beings, us and the living. Our emotions, our births and deaths—it all echoes and leaves ripples on Jia Hun's pool. These ripples emanate chi." Jia Hun. The name makes you shiver. You have never heard it before, but you know it well. It is familiar and powerful, and you know that it is the name of your creator. The Creator of All. [[Next|Sis5]]

Paces away, there are two stones that sit on either side of the entrance. Weather has worn away the details, but you think they were probably stout, four-legged beasts, given the paw-like mounds at the base, and the pointed ear-like stubs at the top. There is that cold chi once again at the edges of your awareness, but it is faint, as if warded away from this place. In its stead, something else tugs at you from the cave. It resounds against your soul, makes you ache, and with misty eyes, you realize that it is grief. Like the forest, this cave mourns as if the stone itself weeps. But how? Rocks cannot carry chi because they are inert and non-living, so how can it carry this much emotion? [[You are drawn inside.|My chest burns. I walk in.]]

The smell of fire, blood and flowers clings to you, taunting you. Your heart pounds, gravid and heavy, and sinks down into your stomach. [[What happened then? What did those Foxes do to you?]]

<<if $comp is "c_w">> The hen screams, and feathers explode within the room. <<elseif $comp is "c_m">>The snake shrieks and jolts backwards, his skin turning a deeper shade of green. <<elseif $comp is "friend">>The squirrel shrieks and scurries under the table, his body shrinking into the floor. <<else>> <</if>>You spit a curse, leaping out of your seat so suddenly that you fall back over the low table. The Fox growls again, limbs spread wide over the window frame, but it just lingers. Its gaze is glazed over, and though you were so close, it doesn't even flinch your way. The ward is still in effect. It can see the building, but it doesn't notice any of the occupants. *[[I throw a spell at it!]] *[[I kick it in the chest!]] *[[I stay silent and still. It will eventually pass.]]

<center><h1> ❖ </h1></center> <<timed 2s transition>>You have been running with your eyes firmly shut, pretending that what hunts you is a monster. <</timed>> <<timed 7s transition>>You imagined that the rocks under your feet were its jaws snapping at your heels. You told yourself that the wind against your cheek was its breath, hot on your skin.<</timed>> <<timed 15s transition>>You convinced yourself to fear it, and you did. You had nightmares of it, in a shape warped beyond what you imagined. You ran, and dreamed, and lied, and screamed, for years and years and years.<</timed>> <<timed 23s transition>>But now your lungs have given out, and your legs no longer work. You ran until the chase became more painful than the truth, until you desired to be caught by a monster that does not exist.<</timed>> <<if $ch1_ts is true>><<timed 28s transition>><center>[[Next Chapter|Chapter_1_start]]</center> <center><h1> ❖ </h1></center><</timed>><<else>><<timed 28s transition>><center>[[Finish Demo|pro_demo_end]]</center> <center><h1> ❖ </h1></center><</timed>><</if>>

<><<set $origin to "eagle">> <<set $a_origin to "an eagle">> <<set $Origin to "Eagle">> <<set $quality to "brave">> <> For the first time, you felt as at ease on the ground as you did in the air. In many ways, your human form is stronger and better for surveying the forest, but you will never completely relinquish flight, of the power that soars through you with each blow of your wings. Even now, despite the joy that comes from having fingers and toes, a part of you can't help but to long for thinner air and clearer skies: for the world that exists up and beyond the mountain mist. <<include "oriconfirm">>

<<set $magic += 1>><<if $magic lte 1>>You blast the Fox back with a powerful wind, sending it reeling back. Burn marks flash across its side, turning the air bitter and dark, and it turns to you, teeth gnashing. You dodge. You work up the energy to throw another powerful gale at it, and the Fox is flung through the air, further into the forest. You whirl around, reaching for Big Sister, only to find that the other two are now facing you. They hiss and spit at you, tense and more prepared than their fallen comrade. You take a step and they shriek and pounce. Behind them, Big Sister hangs from her tree, limp. Your vision goes black. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]<<else>>You blast the Fox back with a powerful wind, and it howls with pain. Burn marks flash across its side, turning the air bitter and dark, and it turns to you, teeth gnashing. You dodge, feeling the elements respond to your call. When the Fox careens to the ground, you pin it with the leaves it lands on, squeezing the air from its lungs. The wilted flower blossoms on the Fox's skin shrink more into itself and red eyes bulge at you furiously. You do not realize you are crying until you taste tears in your mouth. The Fox stills and you fling it aside, turning to Big Sister, only to find that the other two are now facing you. Big Sister hangs from her tree, limp. They tense, shriek, lunge--your vision goes black. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]<</if>>

<<set $charsheet to true>>You cast ripples across that endless pond and feel the effects of a million others doing the same. Their waves push and pull against you--contorting you, reshaping you, irrecovably changing you. This life, your past lives, and all your lives to come exist within this pool. This is not the first time you have crossed its depths, and it will never be the last. Remember: within the cycle, nothing ever truly ends. *[[(春) The scent of rain.]] *[[(夏) The burn of the sun.]] *[[(秋) The gold of the leaves.]] *[[(冬) The frigid snow.]]

<><<set $pro_ruins to true>> You slide your palm against the handle and it slides open with surprising ease, revealing to you a much smaller room than you were anticipating. The walls are shallow and the ceiling is rather low—when your eyes adjust to the lack of lighting, you also see that it is rather sparse. <> And oddly enough, there are no markings of any fire. The room is covered in dust, but you see no trace of soot or ash, not even so much as the remains of a lantern or torch. Yet, the smell persists, permeating from every item of the room, growing as you step further in. The floor is covered in soft, woven bamboo that sinks a little under your feet, and in the corner, a dusty futon is tucked away. There are no cabinets or large chests here, but on a low table in the back, there is a small box in the center, held tightly shut by a clasp. *[[Open it.]] *[[Leave it be.]]

<<if $origin is "rabbit" or $origin is "snake" or $origin is "lily" or $origin is "ginseng" or $origin is "magnolia">>You shrink to a size closer to your true form and you bound away as Foxes snap at your heels. Leaves and roots seem to rise to trip you, but you are fast and you trust your legs. The growling behind you never stops, steaming foul breath along your shins. Something slams into your body and you are flung from your path. You kick away furiously, only to find that it is just a startled deer. It looks at you, shaking, and then jumps away again. [[You also cannot afford to stop.|no_scar]]<<else>>You dash for the underbrush, but your body is too large and you are caught by the branches. The Fox growls behind you. <<if $phy gte 2>>You lash out a leg as it lunges, slamming your heel into its snapping jaws. Shaking yourself free, you propel yourself forward, your feet burning as they hit the forest floor. There are more of them. One emerges from the shadows next to you, seeming to grin with a smile cut high on its face as it charges after you. Hot breath batters your heels and you throw yourself forwards, but it is not enough. Claws rake down your back, pinning you down, and you crash to the floor. [[Your vision goes dark.|scar_back]]<<elseif $magic gte 2>>It leaps from the shadows and you fling yourself back, sending a shock wave of chi to its snapping jaws. It reels back, whimpering, and you propel yourself forward, your feet burning as they hit the floor. There are more of them. One emerges from the shadows next to you, replacing the one you left behind. Cut high against its face is an eerier, starving grin. Hot breath batters your heels and you try to focus your energy to make it leave, but it is not enough. Claws rake down your back, pinning you down, and you crash to the floor. [[Your vision goes dark.|scar_back]]<<else>>You struggle, but it is no use. It pounces and your back comes alive with pain, shredded by hooked and jagged claws. Your limbs twist, and you convulse, howling in agony, but struggling only sinks the claws deeper, spraying acidic heat across your shoulders. You are tossed into the air. Frigid release greets you, as does wind, far too fast and too heavy, and then the ground slams into you, and your vision goes black. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]<</if>> <</if>>

You swallow and lift your hand, running your fingers down your neck where the skin is smooth, hairless and thin—as delicate and soft as a petal. You shiver at how vulnerable it feels. In the back of your mind, you feel a thought pulsing its way forwards. <<linkappend "//What am I?//" t8n>> The question drums against your skull, pressing against bone and whispering in your ear. //Human?// You think idly, turning up to face the sky. <> <<if $bday is "spring">> You hear the rain beating against you, each drop magnifying as they envelop your body. You gasp, but the air passes right through your lungs. <<elseif $bday is "summer">> The humidity grows, turning your skin slick and flushed, suffocating you in oppressive heat. You gasp, and your lungs are filled with water. <<elseif $bday is "fall">> You can hear the wind keening in the distance, the sharp sound ringing dizzyingly in your ears. You gasp, but the air passes right through your lungs. <<else>> The snow begins to linger against your skin, each flake growing heavier until they are pinpricks that bite into your flesh. You gasp, and your lungs are filled with ice. <</if>> <> [[No.]] <</linkappend>>

Every strand of your body is begging you to run, and yet, you know that running will not be enough. You have to fight. You have no choice. <<include "pro_fox_fight1">>

Your fear surges through your body, pushing you through the trees with the monster howling behind you. You know this mountain, and you still survive this if you know your strengths just as well. <<if $bird is true>>*[[I mean to fly away!|birdescape]]<</if>><> *[[Escape through the underbrush!]]<><> *[[Run through the rocky ravine!]]<><> *[[Go find Big Sister!]]<>

You know nothing else about it. You do not recognize the beast--how do you know it's name? The Fox stalks closer, and you smell blood and fire and flowers. *[[Fight!]] *[[Flight!]] *[[Freeze!]] *[["What are you!?"]]

It approaches you. Saliva drips from its wide, snarling mouth, surrounded by words you cannot distinguish. It is chanting, singing a mantra, growling it out in a heaving, staggering song. You think it is smiling, but then you realize that it has bared its fangs. That putrid, rotting smell drowns out everything else. *[[My eyes close.]] *[[My head turns.]] *[[I cower.]]

<><<set $origin to "ginseng">> <<set $a_origin to "a ginseng">> <<set $Origin to "Ginseng">> <<set $quality to "sense">> <<set $flower to true>> <> You had lived a life stifled by your own body, bursting full of energy that you simply could not express as a simple life. And so, when you awakened, you simply exploded. Emotions, thoughts, words that you hadn't known were now bursting from your chest into a world that accepted your new form with all its dizzying hues. Where you once had no voice at all, you are now fighting to keep everything you feel contained. Honestly, it is almost too overwhelming, with chi bursting through your veins as readily as blood, but solace is always found when you take rest back at your roots. <<include "oriconfirm">>

The man seems torn, but then he growls loudly and stalks after her. Pleased, you bound ahead, pushing away underbrush as soon as the huntress gets close to them. She walks stiffly, as tense as the bowstring on her back, but then she bends low to avoid a stray branch, and your heart pounds in your chest when her face comes close. Her eyes are dark and dull, unlike the subtle glow of your own, but they are real. Her skin, too, is a map of sun spots and soft, faded scars. Every inch of this woman is a mark of one who is alive, one who truly breathes and bleeds—you have never been so close to a human to notice all this before. Helping them now, even in this silent, invisible way, feels as though you are crossing some incredible barrier. You have never done anything like this before, and you wonder what your Big Sister would say. Spurned, you leap away take them up a moss-covered slope, giggling when you hear the hunters hit a branch that you so deftly dodged. With a pair of dancing leaves, you get them to climb after you, though they are much poorer at it than you thought they would be. *[["Hurry up!" They probably can't hear me, but it doesn't hurt to try.]] *[[They can take all the time they need—there's no rush.]]

You whirl around as the thought hits you. You have to find Big Sister. She will know what to do, she will know what is going on. [[The forest rages around you.]]

<> <<set $phys to 1>> <<set $magic to 0>> "You promised you'd keep teaching me," you remind her. "Our last lesson was ages ago!"<> <<if $origin is "leopard">> “But aren’t you capable enough, Little Leopard?” Big Sister swings up to her feet, ruffling your hair as she draws to her full height. "What is there to learn from me when you're already so strong?” That is a lie. Her presence alone is enough to suffocate you, and you know that even now, she must suppress her chi so that it doesn't overwhelm your senses. Time, and time again, she has plucked you up like a newborn child regardless of your protests—if she wanted to, it would be nothing for her to drown you in the river. Even though you have ulterior motives for asking her to train you today, you do hope that you will one day be as powerful as her. "But you fight differently than I do!" you protest, scrambling to follow her as she leaps down from her boulder. "I want to learn how you do it, like how the humans fight!" When Big Sister fights, she is swift, deliberate, and effective. She moves with purpose, with an aim to hit her opponent’s weak spots—a fighting style that could only come from humans, unlike your kind who only knows how to stalk and pounce. <<elseif $origin is "magnolia">> "Young Magnolia, are you not strong enough already?" Big Sister raises her eyebrows and stands in one fluid motion. "In raw strength, I'm sure you are much stronger than I am now, at least." That is a lie. Time, and time again, she has plucked you up like a newborn child regardless of your protests—if she wanted to, it would be nothing for her to drown you in the river. Even though you have ulterior motives for asking her to train you today, you do hope that you will one day be as powerful as her. "I still don't know how to fight though," you protest, scrambling to follow her down from the cold rock. "I want to learn how you do it--how humans fight!" When Big Sister fights, she is swift, deliberate, and effective. She moves with purpose, with an aim to hit her opponent’s weak spots—a fighting style that could only come from humans, unlike the flailing and pouncing of animals that you are so used to seeing. <<elseif $origin is "eagle">> “Young Eagle, I think your talons hurt more than whatever I can do,” Big Sister rises in a single fluid motion, stretching her limbs until they tower above you. “I’m sure you don’t really need me to teach you anything at all.” That is a lie. Her presence alone is enough to suffocate you, and you know that even now, she must suppress her chi so that it does not overwhelm your senses. Time, and time again, she has plucked you up like a newborn child regardless of your protests—if she wanted to, it would be nothing for her to drown you in the river. Even though you have ulterior motives for asking her to train you today, you do hope that you will one day be as powerful as her. "But it’s different, I don’t know how to fight in this form," you whine, scrambling to follow her as she steps down from the rock. "I want to know how humans fight!” You only know how to swoop onto unsuspecting prey, but when Big Sister fights, she is swift, deliberate, and effective. She moves with purpose, with an aim to hit her opponent’s weak spots—a fighting style that could only come from humans. <<elseif $origin is "pine">> "You don't really need me to teach you, do you, Little Pine?" Big Sister hums as she rises to her feet. "Your skin is tougher than mine, surely." "But I don't know how to fight!" you protest, scrambling to follow her as she leaps down from the rock. Tough skin or not, your sister has long since proven how easily she could overtake you. It's not even a matter of her chi engulfing your own; when Big Sister fights, she is swift and effective. She moves with purpose, with an aim to hit her opponent’s weak spots—a fighting style that could only come from humans, unlike the flailing and pouncing of animals that you are so used to seeing. That is what you want to learn from her. <<elseif $origin is "owl">> Your sister smiles wryly as she raises to her full height, "don't you have big scary talons, Little Owl? I don't see why you want to learn from me when you can fight so well already." That is a lie. Her presence alone is enough to suffocate you, and you know that even now, she must suppress her chi so that it does not overwhelm your senses. Time, and time again, she has plucked you up like a newborn child regardless of your protests—if she wanted to, it would be nothing for her to drown you in the river. Even though you have ulterior motives for asking her to train you, you do hope to be as strong as her one day. "I can hunt, but I can't fight like you do," you whine, scrambling to follow her as she steps down from the rock. "I want to know how humans fight!” You only know how to swoop onto unsuspecting prey, but when Big Sister fights, she is swift, deliberate, and effective. She moves with purpose, with an aim to hit her opponent’s weak spots—a fighting style that could only come from humans. <<else>> Big Sister hums to herself as she stands to her full height, towering over you as she leaps down from the rock. "Was it really that long ago?" "I completely forgot the forms you taught me," you continue, egging her on when you see her tilt her head thoughtfully. "I really want to learn how to fight like you do." Like how a human fights. Your Big Sister moves as if she had trained with human soldiers--with purpose and an aim towards her opponent's weakspots without ever being clouded by rage or hunger. Even though you have ulterior motives for asking her to train you, you do hope to be as strong as her one day. <</if>> "You're unusually motivated today," she leads you to a dryer part of the bank, ruffling your hair. "I hope this will never be necessary for you, but who exactly are you planning to fight?" *[["I just want to become stronger."]] *[["No one. I just want to know how to you do it."]] *[["I'm going to protect you and this mountain!"]] *[["I'm going to become a god!"]]

"Trust me," she continues in a calmer voice, and he grimaces when her hand rests on his bow, "we cannot be here any longer than this. The climb is less dangerous than being caught by the Guardian." His expression sours further. "As if The Venerable Watcher is going to kill us just for getting lost. He has bigger things to worry about, doesn't he?" "You think him merciful? You think he cannot sense us now?" she snarls, and on cue, an abnormally chill breeze freezes the sweat on your back. "You think he hasn't been watching us this whole time? I'd rather not take my chances." You shiver, hand clamping on your nape as static zips your neck, and by her widening eyes, Yali feels it as well. The Watcher of the Red Mountain. The title is familiar to you, Big Sister occasionally mentions a named spirit who stalks the forest in search of intruding evils. You've never seen him, but sometimes, you feel as you do now—your skin slightly tingling as a great presence sweeps its awareness over you. Do these hunters count as "intruding evils", though? You whirl your head towards the direction of that oppressive feeling, but see nothing within the trees. "Fine. Fine," the man grunts at last, finally tucking away his bow. "Damn it all. Don't blame me when we fall to our deaths." "Oh, with how you climb, you must have been a monkey in your past life," Yali smiles at his glare. "You'll be fine!" With that, they turn around and begin to head in the other direction, their argument effectively over. You have an idea of the ravine they are heading towards: it is surrounded by sheer rock that is slick due to moss and the nearby river. While that direction is the shortest way to the main road, you may know an easier way around the cliffs that doesn't involve the treacherous climb. *[[I could lead them back.|h_hun]] *[[It might be more fun to lead them further astray.|t_hun]] *[[They have been wandering here long enough, I'll attack them!|a_hun]]

You shake yourself from your thoughts. You will have plenty of time to contemplate your superior existence later. For now though, you want to talk to Big Sister while you still can. She is, after all, waiting for you. [[Next|meetsis]]

<<if $origin is "rabbit" or $origin is "apple">>"What do you mean?" Your throat burns, but you stand your ground, legs shaking, "What curse?" It flinches at the word, recoiling and whining like you've physically struck its face. It grinds its nose into the dust, crying and moaning, batting at its own snout. "Our--Curse--"it snarls, saliva dripping from its mouth. Its head snaps back up, its scarlet eyes turned so vivid you think it might start crying blood. "What happens?" you shout back, feeling like you are at the edge of a great, gaping cliff. There is no turning back now, you can only jump, "Tell me about it!" The Fox growls and whines, shaking its head as if to rid its ears of a bug, "Our--[i]Life[/i]. [i]Death![/i]" It snaps viciously at the word, choking on it, and then lunges, but you are ready. You dodge nimbly and dash away through the trees. Your head is spinning. You do not understand what any of that meant. [[Next|Flight!]]<<else>>"Don't curse us!" you plead desperately, scrambling for foothold against the stifling sense of doom, "We have done nothing!" The Fox snarls in response, saliva dripping from its mouth. A fresh wave of rot exudes from its body and you recoil, and it takes that opening. You scream as its claws take your shoulders, as the ground slams against your back. Its chanting grows louder, pounds into your ears, driving that heavy word into your soul. You taste blood. You feel fangs at your throat. A thousand heartbeats rush in the distance, and suddenly, that is all you know. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]<</if>>

Can't breathe. Can't move. Curse! Curse! Curse! They are chanting it. Chanting it as they tear her apart. *[[My eyes close.|close2]] *[[My head turns.|turn2]] *[[I cannot move.]]

You can only stare. Continue to watch. Her cries have dulled to you. But their voices never stop. Cursed! Cursed! Cursed! They swear it. Spitting it into the ground long after Big Sister hangs limp from her tree. Finally, it stops, and they turn their bodies to you. Claws meet your soft skin. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]

<> You pause, and then step around it. Its ears flick at your footsteps, and it rolls onto its back to watch you walk away with wide, brown eyes.<> Then it flips upright, shakes its sunset fur of dust, and chirps at you, tilting its head curiously. Sensing another opening, its friend crashes into its side again. <<include "Sum2">>

You flinch away from it, reeling, and it leaps. Hot breath swamps your skin, seeping down beneath your clothes, filling you with regret, sadness, defeat, defeat, [i]defeat[/i]— Your vision is filled with fur stained red, and then the claws meet your skin. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]

Big Sister once told you that most humans cannot see spirits naturally, and indeed they haven't noticed you at all yet, but the tension between them forces you silent anyway as you step closer. Bracing yourself against the tree nearest them, you peer at their twisted expressions. "We need to get back to the main road," snaps the first voice, a tall, burly looking man. Sweat dampens his tunic, and his face is bright red from both heat and frustration, "it isn't safe to be this far out." "Which is why we head east," His companion grips a small knife hanging from her belt, her dark eyes sweeping the forest nervously, "we'll get back faster that way—" The man seems to swell. "And go back through that damned climb?" "Yes," she growls, and he throws his hands up. "We'll actually die this time!" They glare at each other so fiercely, you wonder if you might see a real fighting match between them. *[[I pity them. I'll lead them out of the forest.|h_hun]] *[[It could be fun to lead them further astray.|t_hun]] *[[This has gone on long enough, I'll attack them and chase them out!|a_hun]] *[[It's so strange getting to see humans up close. Maybe I'll learn something new if I keep watching.]]

You close your fingers around the pendant, and hold it tight to your chest, and your sister smiles. "It suits you," she says fondly, tapping your hand, "I hope that it will bring you good fortune." <<include "bsqs2">>

<<set $lie_jade to false>>Big Sister rises to her feet. "Now then, Little One, if you are done with your questions, can I begin to ask mine?" You gasp when she suddenly lifts you from your armpits, effortlessly dropping you down onto the smooth bank. Her eyes glow, becoming sharp and all-knowing, and you shiver. <<if $search is "ruins">>"What is this chi clinging onto you?" she pokes two fingers into your forehead, transferring a cold wave from her skin to yours. She frowns, rubbing her fingertips, and suddenly concern outweighs her curiosity. "Are you alright?" *[[Tell her about the ruins.]] *[[Admit that I found something, but don't elaborate.]] <<else>>"Did you grow again? You're taller than you were yesterday," she laughs, waving a hand over your head to check your height. "Am I?" You thought it was just that weird feeling earlier, but you see that she is right. Your eyes are just above her shoulders now, and you bask in her bubbly pride. "Look at this," she tilts her head in confusion when you bump your forehead against her palm. "What exactly have you been eating to grow so fast?" *[["I won't stop growing until I'm taller than you!"]] *[["Did you grow as fast as I did?"]] *[["I don't want to grow that fast."]] *[[I shrug impassively.]]<</if>>

<><<set $search to "ruins">> Two striped tails flick back and forth through the brush, beckoning you to come after them. They whirl around when you approach and chitter at you happily, bouncing around your feet before taking off again. <> The shadows grow deeper, and behind you, the voices of the hunters fade away, replaced by the hushed swaying of leaves. You look up, and watch as the soft mulberry and maples give way to tall pines and redwoods. Your surroundings go from dazzling green to dark blue—your feet no longer sink into the detritus, but hit solidly into packed ground. Ahead of you, one of your new friends squeaks impatiently. *[[I hurry after them.]] *[[I take my time to enjoy this part of the forest.]]

<> <<set $hunt to "attack">> <<set $phys +=1>> Power surrounds you in a cloud even hotter than the midsummer sun. It wraps around your chest in a vice, spreading to the rest of your limbs like spilled ink. You let it grow darker, let it stain into your body, concentrating it into your flesh. <> The heavy condensation of energy shakes the air, and the huntress shivers, her eyes snapping to you. <<if $type is "animal">><<include "a_ani">><<else>><<include "unshaped_a">><</if>>

<><<set $kind += 1>> Its sunset fur is soft and plush, and you feel a little bad for the kit for having to suffer such a harsh summer.<> You pluck it, and it rolls in your hands, staring at you with wide, brown eyes. Gingerly, you set it back on its feet, and it shakes its fur of dust. It chirps at you, tilting its head curiously, and—sensing another opening—its friend crashes into its side again. <<include "Sum2">>

The wind here is colder and feels good against your flushed arms and neck. You raise your head, laughing as you chase after the kits. They squeak delightedly, running just in front of you, ducking and skidding through large tree roots that you barely squeeze through. Forgetting entirely about your lethargy, you push yourself up and over a fallen log, smiling when you see that one of the red pandas has been waiting for you on the other side. <<include "Sum3">>

<><<set $phys +=1>> Its glassy eyes seem to mock you as you stand, as if knowing what will come next. You pivot on your good leg, slamming your foot into the chest of the Fox—you feel its body crumple against your heel. <> It gargles as its neck is snapped back, its eyes bulging forwards with a sickening lurch. It sees you. It sees you. It reaches into the room with a clawed, mangled hand as if to grab you, but that causes it to lose its grip on the wall. The Fox howls—an earsplitting, unearthly screech—and lunges for the window frame, but it is too late. It falls, and you hear the smashing of wood below, but you don't dare approach the window again to check on the damage done. <<include "Inn5">>

<<set $phys += 1>><<if $type is "animal">>You barrel into the Foxes, clawing at them with your hands which have grown elongated and sharp. You try to pry them off her, to stop them from hurting her!<<else>>You barrel into the Foxes, pounding at them with limbs that have grown to vines. You try to pry them off her, to stop that awful screaming, to stop her blood from turning into air.<</if>> <<if $phys lte 1>> You try to grab one of them, but they are too sleek and too strong and you only end up kicked in jaw. Wilted flower blossoms turns to dust in your hands as you weakly reach for the Fox. You reel backwards, gasping, falling to your back, winded. One of the Foxes pounces, and your chest is crushed under the weight. You stare, unable to move, and past the Fox, you see Big Sister hanging from her tree, limp. Your vision goes black. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]<<elseif $phys gte 2>>Wilted flower blossoms turn to dust beneath your hands as you tear your hands into the Fox. It finally sees you, but it is too late. You dig into its neck, not realizing you are crying until you taste tears in your mouth. You fling the Fox to the trees, reaching for Big Sister, only to find that the other two are now facing you. Big Sister hangs from her tree, limp. Your vision goes black. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]<</if>>

<<include "bs_end">>

You run your finger over the edge of the round pendant, and then pull it out of your sleeve to your sister, whose eyes widen. "Little One…" "I want you to have it," you insist, holding the pendant over her heart, "So that it can protect you." She inhales sharply, and closes her palm over the jade, but she pushes it back to you, shaking her head, "Thank you, my Little $Origin. But it would be better if you kept this." You frown, "You don't like it?" "It is a wonderful gift," she shakes her head, "But it would be difficult for me to wear this, and personally…" She opens her palm, and the jade glitters when she presses it to your cheek, "I think it would look much better on you." She drops it back into your hand, and though not fully satisfied, you hold it close. <<include "bsqs2">>

They'll be able to see you in your true form, but sight will do them little good. <> <<if $origin is "owl" or $origin is "eagle">> <<include "bird_fight">> <<elseif $origin is "leopard">> <<include "leo_fight">> <<elseif $origin is "snake">> <<include "snake_fight">> <<elseif $origin is "rabbit">> <<include "rabbit_fight">> <</if>> <>

"I grow all the time," you point out, and she snorts. "Yes, thank you for reminding me," she drops her hand, her eyes glittering with mirth, "But not usually this quickly. Did something happen today?" *[[Tell her everything about the hunters.]] *[[Briefly mention you saw hunters.]]

<<set $vice to "drink">>You bought this bottle just yesterday from a fish who swore up and down that it was liquid fire. You didn't really believe him, but you bought it anyway because it was cheap and you were in a hurry to untangle yourself from his other, livelier wares. Unfortunately, the drink does little more than give your throat a funny feeling. It tastes fishy—how unexpected—and is far too sweet. For the moment though, you don't care so long as it distracts you from your nerves. <<include "Inn1">>

<<include "bs_end">>

<> <<if $bday is "winter">> There is no end of the sleet of gray clouds, nor is there an end to the snow that drifts from them. The wind sighs and all the flakes shift east—a few catching against your already reddened cheek. <<elseif $bday is "fall">> The smear of clouds stay motionless despite the breeze, only allowing a few fingers of light to creep through. However, as the sun climbs behind their veil, the dark blue shadows melt into pink and orange hues. <<elseif $bday is "summer">> The cloudless sky is an endless gradient of blue: going from vibrant and deep to near white as it crests the scalding sun. You tilt your head back fully, and your cheeks burn under the light—the leaves above part as if to let the sun see you in full. <<else>> The few, fluffy clouds in the sky are glowing in the sunset, puffed against the cotton pink sky. From an angle, they shimmer with a golden sheen, but now that you are facing them directly, you can see that they are more peach in color. <</if>> <> <<include "breath">>

You grip the edge of the table until your knuckles turn white, and try not to scream when the Fox dips its head into the room. Its eyes are bulging outward, unblinking and clouded over with a scarlet haze. You are so sure it can see you, it must be able to see you, but it doesn't move. The Fox growls, a wet and gurgling sound, and then it leaps up and out of sight. Its claws screech against the wood as it scales the rest of the building, but you do not dare approach the window to watch it disappear. <<include "Inn5">>

<> The red panda sneezes and rolls over onto its back. It pushes its nose up, smells something new, and freezes when it notices you standing over it.<> It flips upright, shakes its sunset fur of dust, and chirps at you, tilting its head curiously with wide, brown eyes. Sensing another opening, its friend crashes into its side again. <<include "Sum2">>

<<set $vice to "smoke">>The pipe is beautiful and your own: thin with a soft bamboo stem, held to an iron mouthpiece that you keep carefully untarnished. Sadly, similar praise can't be said for the tobacco that you bought for it. It smells rotten, was certainly overpriced by that damn witch, but at the moment, you don't care so long as it distracts you from your nerves. <<include "Inn1">>

The wind here is cooler and feels good against your arms and neck. You walk uphill, tracing your fingers over the sprawling roots that come up from the ground, accepting the ancient, calming chi that lifts from the trees. You are filled with a sense of peace. Like all parts of the forest, there is an undercurrent of grief here. You have become so used to it that you almost don't notice it now, but these trees remember more than you do, and those memories push ever-so-softly against your fingertips. You stop walking, and one of the red pandas comes bouncing back, looking up at you with wide, amber eyes. <<include "Sum3">>

The muscle in your thighs pull tight as you balance yourself upright, and you bite down hard at the yawning ache in your hips. The world swirls around you in a dizzying mosaic of light as you swing upwards and you sway, latching onto a tree for balance as nausea overcomes you. <<include "breath">>

<><<set $magic +=1>> Your body is hot with both rage and panic. Chi burns through your veins, and you build the pressure in your palms until it is almost too much to bear. <> You slice your arms up, crossing them in front of you, and a shock wave explodes from your skin, slamming into the beast. It howls—an earsplitting, unearthly screech—and flies off, its flailing claws tearing bits of wood as it's ripped away from the building. It falls, and you hear the smashing of wood below, but you don't dare approach the window again to check the damage done. <<include "Inn5">>

<> <<if $bday is "spring">> You twitch your fingers experimentally and drips of water shake free from your nails. <<elseif $bday is "winter">> You twitch your fingers experimentally, and icy water shake free from your nails. <<else>> You twitch your fingers experimentally, and your knuckles jut out from smooth skin--bony and thin. <</if>> <> Then your palm curls into a fist and you watch in awe as your forearms tense and relax. <<include "breath">>

<<set $kind +=1>>Your heart drops. You did not mean to take something so precious—this jade is not meant for you. You look down at the jade, at the swirls that curl its surface, and frown, "I should bring this back…" Your sister smiles and leans down so she is your height. "You have a good heart, Little One." She closes your palm over the pendant and gently pushes it towards you. "I won't tell you to keep it, but I will not push you to bring it back either." "But it's wrong for me to have this," you grumble, feeling a little ashamed of yourself, but she shakes her head. "Not necessarily," she stares at you, looks down at your hands, and a scent of rain washes over you, "I think he would have been glad to have you inherit this. And, if you were not allowed to take it, you wouldn't have been able to find it." Inherit. "Even still," you try to ignore the heaviness of her words, "I should give this back." "I understand," Big Sister smiles at you and brightens, "Then, how about we go back tomorrow, together?" "Okay!" <<include "bsqs2">>

Though it might be tempting to show yourself to them, they are still armed, and you don't want to risk getting stabbed just for this. Chi condenses at your fingertips, pouring into the air, making the air shimmer slightly as you reach into the threads of the world. Your enthusiasm makes everything a little easier to grasp, and you grin when you feel the trees bending towards you. *[[I turn the air a little colder and see if that will scare them a little.|t_hun_cold]] *[[I soften my powers to make it a little more inviting.|t_hun_warm]] *[[I rustle the nearby brushes to see if that will pique their interests.|t_hun_diver]]

Chi is normally invisible to humans, but Big Sister has said that condensing it enough can sometimes make it more visible. Granted, you might not be able to materialize properly—you're no named spirit after all—but you can muster enough strength to appear as an unassuming specter. Hopefully. You press a palm to your chest and warmth floods you freely, spilling into your body like water into a jug. Then, carefully, you attempt to trap it in your form, feeling lightheaded as pressure pushes against your skin, growing heavier and heavier without an outlet. The concentration of energy makes the air shimmer around you, and the huntress shivers, her eyes snapping to you the moment you become visible. "Stars—"the man spits, cut off when Yali shoves him back, her hand on her dagger, but she does not draw. Her dark eyes stare at you. Her face is taut, but she looks more frightened than hostile, like a spooked deer. Her voice, suddenly soft and reverent, seems to settle low to the ground. "Hello, Young Spirit." *[[I grin wide and extend my hand invitingly, "I can help you."|t_invite]] *[[I dash forwards to steal something from them, waving it like the bait it is.|t_bait]] *[[Without a word, I dash into the brush.|t_dash]]

You clench your fists tightly, well-aware of how small they still are. But if you had a name, if you were strong enough to grow to hold all that you call dear, wouldn't you be able to protect it all? Big Sister sees the determination warming in your eyes, and she giggles. <<include "Sis7">>

There is a limit to how far you can wander. Your body is tied to the mountain and leaving its boundaries instantly exhausts you, so right now, you can tell that this is right at the edge of what you can handle. Your body wants to go back to the trees, to the safety and warmth of the forest, but something about this cliff calls to you, too. You realize that if you have reached the boundary, then this rock can be only one thing: You are at the foot of a Guard of a Jin—one of the great, towering mountains that borders your own. *[[Touch the stone.]] *[[Take a full step back.]]

You wrinkle your nose at the lingering aftertaste and glance again at the only other person in the room. *[[It's a courtesan. She's making a show of picking at her hair.]] *[[It's a courtesan. He's yawning widely as he reaches from another drink.]] *[[It's a friend I made while strolling the street. He's rummaging into his sleeves for something.]] *[[It's a server. They only came to change the sheets.]]

It's the damn sky. The falseness of it is disconcerting, as always, but it's that hideous blot of red clouds that is really getting to you. It's the Foxes' Banner: a foggy, concentrated haze that follows a pack wherever they go. And then there's this oppressive silence that surrounds your room. [[Next|Inn3]]

This unearthly town is called Doh. You don't live here, most don't really settle down in this world, but you visit often enough to consider it a cozy, if provincial, hideaway. This inn in particular considers you to be a regular patron, so much so that they always give you a room that faces the central road. Said road that is usually clogged with hundreds of bodies, all squeezing to the nearest drink house or brawl. Music should be playing, screaming should be heard, and by looking out of your window, you should be looking at no less than three different shows of cannibalism. However, with the Foxes' Banner so close, no one dares to step outside. Even with every building overfilled with occupants, barely a single sound can be heard aside from the rustling in your own room. Some other spirits, like you, are watching from the windows, but others will be cowering under their sheets from rest of the night. Your companion shifts uneasily, "if they break the ward, could you fight them off?"' Bitterness crawls over your tongue, "No. If they pass the ward, we all die." You know that better than anyone. [[The heat in your heart never lets you forget.]]

The Foxes get closer, close enough that you can finally see each body and face. You see the long noses and uneven claws. You can smell them too—the reek of fire, blood, and, oddly enough, flowers drift to your perch like smoke. The combination is enough to turn your stomach, and you lift a sleeve to your nose to dampen it. "Foxes!" someone wails again, and several rooms quiver the building. Fresh terror bleeds from the cracks of the inn, filling the air like steam, enveloping you completely. In the next room, your neighbor whimpers loud enough to be heard and you grit your teeth. You were like that, once, jumping at every mention of Foxes, shivering beneath sheets as you prayed to gods you have never met. <<linkappend "//Don't hurt me. Don't hurt me. Big Sister, help me.//">> You bite your tongue sharply to bring yourself back. Your traitorous hand, though, grips the cloth over your chest. Your heart is hammer that pounds against your ribs. [[The Foxes have arrived.]] <</linkappend>>

You pause until it's silent again except for the panting of the pack below, and then your eyelids shut close and you slump to the floor, gasping for breath. [[Do you remember what happened the last time you faced them?]]

Frowning, you exhale and your body shrinks as you address the wound with careful concentration. The blood that leaves you soon dissipates into nothing, but the gash itself still heals slower than you'd like. The hunters fade away, their shouts and panicked footsteps thundering even from a distance. With your eyes shut tight, you dig your chi through the ground after them, making sure that they keep running. [[Next|ahun_end]]

The main road cuts through the Red Mountain, connecting the two human countries on either side. It is wide, older than you, and has been cleared of plants for a very long time. Pine trees arch overhead as if in deference to this waterless river, and as soon as you see it, you skip ahead of the hunters. The hardness of the sandy ground is jarring, and you gesture to it wordlessly as the hunters bumble after you. The man relaxes and exhales softly in relief. He steps onto the road and you bounce back, edging to the other side as they share a tight-lipped smile. Yali smiles again at you, and that warm, heart-lifting sensation intensifies. She steps forwards, her eyes shining and bright, and she clasps her hands in front of her as she bows low. Next to her, the man does the same. The world stills, and your body locks, overcome by a sensation you do not recognize. Yali speaks, and her words seem to surround you and swallow you whole, "Thank you, Ko." [[The wind sighs.]]

The Foxes tear at your body, ripping you past the point of pain--and then, after an endless time, they scatter, abandoning you to the scarlet earth. You cannot move. Terrified that they will return, you lay paralyzed with your wounds bared to the sky. Every bit of spare energy is poured into your back where your fragile skin attempts to knit itself together, only to tear again at your shallow breath. The cycle repeats over and over, pulsing with your muted cries into the dirt. You want to rest, to finally melt into the earth and fade away, but your body persists. It burns and aches with the desire to live, until you have no choice but to rise once again. Your spine pulls in resistance, and it takes everything not to scream, but somehow, you manage to take a single step. At your feet, your blood falls and fizzles away, but in your heart you know that you will never heal properly. You push the thought from your mind. Healing, in whatever form, will come later. [[You have to go|pro_end1]]

There is panting heavy in the air, but you see nothing, no one. You realize, that that is your breath. You see it in black clouds, steaming from your mouth and nose. <center><h3>[[Tainted.]]</h3></center>

<><<set $type to "plant">> <<set $plant to true>> <<set $animal to false>> <> You writhe in instinctual protest, nausea rolling up your clenched stomach, but it does not help. You grip a nearby tree root, your veins phasing between black and blue as your mortality is eaten away. Your breath is hot, burning your throat as though you've swallowed live coals. Deep within you is an instinctual fear for the flame, and you cry out in a single, strained sob. Your heart feels unraveled, undone, throbbing with a raw sensitivity that aches each time it pounds against your chest. [[Then everything becomes cold.]]

[[You laugh now at how cute you once were]]

<><<set $type to "animal">> <<set $animal to true>> <<set $plant to false>> <> You writhe in instinctual protest, nausea rolling up your clenched stomach, but it does not help. You grip a nearby tree root, your fingertips phasing between sharp and dull as your mortal flesh is eaten away. Your breath is hot, burning your throat as though you've swallowed live coals. Tears sting the corners of your eyes as you gag on the taste of your own roasted flesh. Your heart feels unraveled, undone, throbbing with a raw sensitivity that aches each time it pounds against your chest. [[Then everything becomes cold.]]

It must stop. You think at some point, the pain must stop. There is only so much your nerves can take, only so much you could be forced to endure--how can there be more? Yet it persists. It continues. It grows. The Fox throws you around and each new wound tears a scream from your lips, turning your throat raw. You feel roasted alive, the agony rots through your faux-flesh until you can hardly breathe. And then it finally, finally ceases. You are tossed one last time, and the Fox seems to vanish, but the pain it inflicted does not follow. You cannot move. Your shoulders and back are torn to strings, your fragile skin heals and tears at a relentless pace--each cycle rolling nausea through your entire body. You hear nothing, see nothing. Every fiber of your body is focused on healing, but you know that it will never be the same again. [[You lay there, for a long time.|pro_end1]]

<<set $comp to "c_m">>"D'ya think Foxes still play aroun'?" he asks vaguely, drinking straight from the bottle in front of him as he stares out the window. "Still drink 'n sleep aroun' 'n all that?" "Why?" you ask, more dry than you meant to sound. "Going to ask a Fox to hire you?" "Well, if they were rich—"he mumbles at first, but then thinks about it and shudders"—actually nevermin'. Just thinkin' of getting too close is givin' me chills." "I thought you said I gave you chills," you lean in a little and he hums coyly, his eyes sliding back to you. "You do," he purrs, slipping easily into the game, "I'm just a coward, y'see. Afraid of all things bad for me." You smirk at that, but you still can't fully commit to the conversation. <<include "Inn2">>

<<set $comp to "c_w">>"Friend," she whines, pouting as she looks nervously at the window. "I really hope they don't come tonight. I wanted to go down for some snacks." <<if $vice is "smoke">> You grunt in agreement and the long pipe droops a bit in your hand.<<else>> You grunt in agreement and drop the dish onto the table. <</if>> "Why don't you try your luck?" You try to sound teasing, keeping your voice light, but the words still come out harsher than you intended. "Maybe Foxes don't like poultry." "Hmph," she huffs and flicks her silver hair in haughty annoyance, giving you a small smile as she plays along, "my friend near the Center says that Foxes will even eat dead roaches without a thought. Such indiscriminate tongues are not allowed to taste me." You laugh at that, but you still can't fully commit to the conversation. <<include "Inn2">>

<<set $comp to "friend">>"It looks like I'm staying longer after all," he says cheerfully, producing box of pretty sweets for you, "here, my rent for the evening." "This is the nicest inn in Doh, Squirrel," you tease haughtily, pretending to pick at the box in disgust, "this is not worth even an hour of hospitality here." He clutches at his chest, his eyes widening in horror. "So you'd toss me to the streets? I'll scream. I'll scream as I'm being killed, and haunt you in your sleep!" You grimace at that. Just the thought of his already high voice being strained is enough to make you cringe. "In that case, you may stay," you concede magnanimously, popping a honeyed candy into your mouth. The both of you settle into amiable silence, but your mind drifts once again. <<include "Inn2">>

<<set $comp to "server">>They change out your bed sheets quickly, and for all your idle curiosity, you cannot tell anything about them except that they seem to be a plant of some kind due to the mossy residue they leave on the cloth. "Are the Foxes here yet?" they ask softly as they smudge out the dirt. "Not yet," you decide without bothering to check, despite the heavy atmosphere that says otherwise. <<include "Inn2">>

You jump over the tree root that separates you from them, and the woman jolts upright. Her blade sings as its unsheathed, glinting cold silver as she whirls around with it dangerously. You stumble back, stunned, but her frantic gaze passes over you completely. Her companion, completely dumbfounded, scrambles to ready his bow. "Yali," he nocks an arrow, holding its lethal point low against the ground. "What is it?" She's silent. You shiver when her eyes reach you, but they don't linger. She pauses for a second more, listening to the breeze and the faraway cicada calls, and then relaxes. "Nothing," she sighs, sounding both relieved and annoyed. She sheathes her weapon and signals the man to do the same. Your own breath slides out quietly. She must be sensitive to chi, but luckily, she's not a Seer—not one of the humans who can see your kind. [[Next|Hun1]]

<><<set $h_jade to false>>It is not yours take. There must have been a reason that this is sitting so prettily on the table—you would rather not dredge up grieving ghosts if you can help it. <> With a pounding heart, you close the box, and as soon as you slip the clasp back into place, the ringing in your ears stop. <<include "b_room">>

<><<set $open_chest to false>> It is wrong to touch it, you can tell. There is a reason why it's sitting so prettily on this table, and you are probably better off not getting involved. This whole shrine is enshrouded with some impenetrable tragedy, and you are not going to anger some grieving ghost. <> You curl your fingers into your fist, and leave the box alone. It was not meant to be opened by you. <<include "b_room">>

<><<set $origin to "leopard">> <<set $a_origin to "a leopard">> <<set $Origin to "Leopard">> <<set $quality to "strong">> <<set $mammal to true>> <> Becoming a spirit has only increased your efficacy as a predator, not that you were really lacking before. You think clearer, see better, and hear further than you ever have—being a biped is sometimes a nuisance, but you cannot deny the benefits either. You don't need to hunt as often as you used to, and with your newfound powers, it has become all too easy. Your awakened state mixed with your innate feline prowess has made you a deadly force to be reckoned with--an apex predator made only more dominant. <<include "oriconfirm">>

<> <<set $origin to "lily">> <<set $a_origin to "a lily">> <<set $Origin to "Lily">> <<set $quality to "death">> <<set $flower to true>> <> You have always been attuned to the bridge between life and death, having watched over graves and the deaths of mourners themselves. As a close witness to the inevitable cycle, perhaps it was that connection that caused you to be chosen by the gods for enlightenment. You, of course, don't know the truth, but it doesn't really matter. You have become what you are now regardless, and you are no longer trapped by your roots. <<include "oriconfirm">>

And just as you have twisted away from it all; emitting from the mountain is the faintest sound of bells. It's barely a whisper, so soft that you wonder if its just the sound of the redwood needles above you, or if you are just imagining it in your gasping delirium. But the air is not stirring, and as your head settles and clears, you hear it for certain. Ringing, calling you from deep within the rock, are those familiar and strange chimes. They grow louder. They envelop you. A single, long knell pulses from your forehead, to your temple, to the back of your ears— [[You blink twice.]]

You walk in half-darkness with your hand running against the wall to keep oriented. Within a few steps, the slatted walls give way to stone, and after a few, suffocating paces, you find yourself at the end of this tunnel. There is a large door, wooden and perfectly intact. A picture of swirling clouds stains the light-colored wood, overwhelmed by the engraving of a great, silver dragon weaving among them. It is facing you, its eyes deep and dark, and seems to snarl protectively when you approach. Your nose itches from the strange scent that wafts from behind the door. You pause and take a sniff. Sharp. Acrid. It settles into the back of your throat, and you cough. You know this—this smell at the ends of fire. Ash. [[And it reeks.]]

<><<set $origin to "magnolia">> <<set $a_origin to "a magnolia">> <<set $Origin to "Magnolia">> <<set $quality to "strong">> <<set $flower to true>> <> You grew in a clearing deep in the north, surrounded by your kin that blossomed proudly under the sun. In a brief memory, you watched human soldiers as they stooped low to bring your kind to battle, their faces meaningless to you now, but you still hold their resolve deep in your stems. When you awakened, you fell in love with the world and with your mountain home. You have come to understand why those soldiers chose to fight, and you now hold a few of your own petals to swear that you will do the same. <<include "oriconfirm">>

<><<set $table to false>> <<set $chest to false>> <<set $room to false>> You slide down a shallow slope and land on wooden floor with a hollow thunk. You flinch at the sound, but nothing responds. <> With light pouring in behind you, your stomach jumps as you step into a room that does not look as abandoned as it feels. Polished furniture sit in the dark, some you recognize—a low table, cushioned stools, and a tall, shredded partition—but there are also items that you have never seen before. Long strips of cloth with writing on them lay crumpled against the walls, and circular bowl-like metal containers are stacked and pushed to the side, smelling heavily of oil. You suck in a breath, and your nose fills with stale, sweetened wood. The room is wide, much wider than you thought given the narrow entry. *[[I take my time looking around.|room]] *[[I slowly make my way forwards.|cave]] *<<link "I reach out with my //chi// one more time." "kuuki">> <</link>>

You vision shuts and your skin is swarmed by a thick, pasty musk. Regret. Sadness. Defeat. Defeat. Defeat. The feeling crawls up your chest like sludge, seeping into your skin, tainting your soul. It goes silent, and then the claws meet your skin. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]

You stare at the trees, at the peaks and the swirling, blood-like clouds above. You cannot hear the Fox any longer, cannot feel your own body, and you think you might have transcended, might have successfully escaped— Then the claws meet your skin. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]

Your very //being// grows heavy, and you don't hear that thought so much as you feel it plummeting to your gut. Your bones become anchors, sinking you to the earth. You gasp, again, yearning for escape, but the air solidifies and turns stagnant at your throat, causing you to choke. In a slow crescendo, another thought hums against your temple, throbbing like a blotted wound. <<linkappend "//I am not human.//">> The realization slams into your fore-mind so suddenly, you are overwhelmed by the pain of this obvious truth. Your vision floats, swarmed by colors and light--and you can feel your own tears turning to mist as they drip down your cheeks. You hear bells chiming below you, around you, within you. Their ringing echoes from every corner of the earth, and your heartbeat follows in tune. <<linkappend "//I am not dead.//">> You know, because the ground suddenly burns to touch. <> <<if $bday is "spring">> Molten energy bleeds through damp leaves and jumps straight into your veins, boiling your blood in an electrifying pulse. <<elseif $bday is "winter">> Replacing frost, molten energy bleeds from the snow and jolts straight into your veins, boiling your blood in an electrifying pulse. <<elseif $bday is "summer">> Molten energy bleeds through the dry dirt with enough heat to rival the searing sun, jolting straight into your veins, boiling your blood in an electrifying pulse. <<else>> Molten energy bleeds through the fallen leaves and jumps straight into your veins, boiling your blood in an electrifying pulse. <</if>><> Your limbs lock. The muscle in your neck strains and cramps like a rope about to snap. [[But it does not hurt.]] <</linkappend>><</linkappend>>

<><<set $open_chest to true>> Your hand barely covers the top of the box as you carefully pry it open. The hinge creaks, sounding like split wood, and a new wave of that burning sensation stings your eyes until you squint. <> Sitting on soft, white cloth is a round jade pendant, its diameter just larger than your thumb. It has a hollow center, in which a silver fastener hooks it to a soft, worn cord. White swirls ripple across the pale green surface, and you swallow dryly. You hear those bells again, louder than your heartbeat and breath, emanating from the surrounding walls, crowding you in. *[[Take it.]] *[[Leave it alone.]]

<> <<set $origin to "owl">> <<set $a_origin to "an owl">> <<set $Origin to "Owl">> <<set $quality to "death">> <<set $bird to true>> <> You were once a hunter, and your body hasn't yet shaken its habits. Even in this new body, you find yourself softening your steps and silencing your breath. Your eyes are always drawn to movement, well-trained to find rodents who try to hide within the leaves. For the first mornings after your awakening, you marveled at the sight of the sun crawling through a striking blue sky--at the colors and lights that played across the world when you usually slept. But what once was novel has turned into the standard, and by now, you have gotten used to seeing the sun in the afternoon as often as the moon at midnight. <<include "oriconfirm">>

<><<set $origin to "pine">> <<set $a_origin to "a pine">> <<set $Origin to "Pine">> <<set $quality to "brave">> <<set $tree to true>> <> You stood at the top of this mountain for a century before you awakened. Through rain, hail, war and peace, you were an unshakeable force, a lone slice of permanence within an ever changing mountain. Your strength and unwavering presence has followed you into your new life, and now you relish in the legacy that you have cultivated. Even when you revert to your true form, animals still flock to your shade as if it will shield them. It seems that regardless of time, you will always have the scent of a protector about you. <<include "oriconfirm">>

<h4> Half a Century Ago, You Were Young </h4> -- You are at the peak of your life, and better yet, spring is coming once again. It has been several decades since you awakened as a forest spirit, though your memory of that evening is still as clear as ever. Waking up, breathless, being ripped apart then built anew. You stare at your hands, like a human would, and deep pride warms your belly. You can hold this form for days on end now, and soon, you know that you will be able to change into it whenever you want, for however long you want. But, for now, you are nearing your limit. You can already feel your control slipping with the coming of dusk, and your body is demanding rest. In about an hour, you are going to return to your original form as<<if $type is "animal">> another hungry mouth, indistinguishable from the other prancing fauna. Your true form, a mirror of your previous life as an animal, is strong and stable, though it is a simple and uncomplicated sort of strength. Your senses are streamlined as a beast, and your thoughts become not words, but urges and actions. Everything makes sense as it is—one doesn't need words to understand how to run, how to eat, or how to live. Thinking about it, you were always clever with survival, and it was probably that craftiness that let you awaken as a spirit in the first place. <<include "anichoice">> <<else>> another silent mouth, near invisible amongst the other flora. The world is so different when you go back to rest in your true form. All your physical senses become muffled then, but all of the inner ones suddenly bloom in contrast. Your connection with the earth's chi always seems to strengthen when you have roots digging into the ground; the energy of the world flows through your veins so easily when you are just a leaf. <<include "plantchoice">> <</if>>

<center><h1>Prologue</h1></center> <center><h1> ❖ </h1></center> <> <center><h3>The Red Mountain Stands Between the Guards of Jin.</h3></center> <<timed 2s transition>><center>[[Start Chapter|Prologue Start]] </center> <</timed>> <>

<><<set $origin to "rabbit">> <<set $a_origin to "a rabbit">> <<set $Origin to "Rabbit">> <<set $quality to "kind">> <<set $mammal to true>> <> You are still not accustomed to the security you have as a spirit, as opposed to your previous life as prey, but each day brings new confidence. As your created form grows, your paranoia lessens, and those who used to stalk you hungrily now avoid your mere presence. With this newfound freedom to relax, the forest seems smaller and less daunting—more like a home, though you only learned the true meaning of that word recently. <<include "oriconfirm">>

<<if $origin is "leopard" or $origin is "pine" or $origin is "apple">>You turn and make for the ravine, trying desperately to escape the hot breath on your heels. When you reach the rocks, you pull yourself up powerfully, kicking at the monsters that came too close. You hear something fall, but you are still running so you do not stop. Something bowls into you, sending you close to the edge, and you thrash defensively. Only to find that its a goat, running from the same threat as you. It looks at you with alarm before bounding off again, and you are not going to fall behind. [[You cannot afford to stop.|no_scar]]<<else>>You turn and make for the ravine, trying desperately to escape the hot breath on your heels. When you reach the rocks, you scramble trying to get up. The Fox gains on you. <<if $phy gte 2>>You kick out when it gets too close, and vault over the rocks with newfound strength. You hear long claws clicking against stone behind and you spur yourself forwards. But it is not enough. Something collides with your back and pain explodes from your shoulder to your hip. You try to wrench yourself free, but the Fox only grips tighter, sinking its claws into your hip. You scream. Your legs thicken and lengthen to you pull yourself out of this grasp, but it is not enough. [[Your vision goes dark.|scar_back]]<<elseif $magic gte 2>>Your power swirls around you and you lift yourself over the rocks, kicking back at the Fox that comes too close. You hear long claws clicking against stone behind and you spur yourself to run faster. But it is not enough. Something collides with your back and pain explodes from your shoulder to your hip. You try to wrench yourself free, but the Fox only grips tighter. You scream. The earth responds to your anguish, and you feel energy being fed to you through the ground, but it is not enough. [[Your vision goes dark.|scar_back]]<<else>>Claws snatch your heels, yanking you from your foothold, and you are flung to the ground. You scream, thrashing, but the pain only sinks deeper and deeper— You are tossed in the air, and when you land, your vision goes black. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]<</if>> <</if>>

God of the Red Mountain is rated, and intended for, //audiences ages 16+//, though this is subject to change and an announcement will be made if the rating has increased. Players should be advised of the following content warnings: Violence and mentions of bodily harm: body horror, gore, cannibalism, depictions of blood and injuries including scars. Alcohol and substance use: tobacco use, alcohol use, mentions of substance abuse. Psychological trauma: suicide, death, PTSD and other lasting traumas. While not explicit, mentions of sexually suggestive themes are also present. Please be warned that this will not be an exhaustive list and this page may be updated over time. Thank you for your understanding. [[Return to First Page|Start]]

<><<set $mischief +=1>> Tasting the river on your tongue, you stretch your arms and a burst of wind slams against him, yanking him towards you.<> The hunter squawks, pitching forward, his feet slamming down against the wet slope just in time. With another hearty wind, he stumbles forwards a few more steps. Cursing, he stomps right past you, slumping against the moist rock wall when he's safely at level ground. Behind him, following at a leisurely pace, Yali chuckles and helps him reorient himself, "What an impatient Ko." "Yes, how humorous. I am grateful for the help," he grits out, accepting her hand ruefully. He looks around, crossing his arms, "…It looks like it leads back downstream." <<include "hhunvis2">>

"So be it. You are determined to see me, and here I am," she kicks a foot up and icy water scatters across the rock. "What would you like from me today?" Answers, you think. However, the topic you want to hear is one that she is chronically evasive about—you're going to have to lower her guard first. So instead, you lightly tug on her sleeve, "Can you teach me?" She hums and leans down to listen, "Teach you what?" *[[How to fight like she does.]] *<<link "How to control //chi// like she does." "Chi">> <</link>>

You scrunch your face at that. You don't often see soldiers, but you have seen the human monks who live further south. They are, as far as you can tell, a somber group of people who move serenely through the forest and were never bothered by anything. You have no idea if such slow-moving creatures could ever move as swiftly as your sister, especially if they were wearing those long robes. "Were the monks good fighters?" "Yes, they were," Big Sister drops her stance to correct yours, a firm hand pressing between your shoulder blades. You squeak as you begin to tip over, but she steadies you. "Back then, they were trained and used weapons. When they all gathered in the morning to start drills, I would watch them, and I learned, just like you.” A memory clicks then, and a story she's told you about before comes to mind, spilling out of you without a thought. "Was this during the war?" She frowns, and if you weren't focused on trying to keep your feet in line, you would have noticed the clouds that pass over her expression. "Yes, it was during the war." [[You know this tale already.]]

"See?" she laughs when the motion causes you to sway, righting you again with another firm push. "You should be resting right now, Young One. Enough with trying to distract me." "But I want to keep talking to you!" you drop your stance and whirl around on her, tugging at her sleeve again. "And you can come back to talk to me after you rest," she kneels down and takes your fingers in hers. "You can't stop growing now, you've gotten so strong recently." <<include "btselect">>

But then you soak in her words, and tilt your head. "What do you mean, 'us and the living'? Aren't we alive, too?" "Are we? What do you think?" her eyes crinkle and she removes her hand from the rock to rest it on your forehead. "We are vessels that hold the divine energy, Young One. But does that mean we are alive?" "Doesn't it?" Because of course it does, to you at least, since you are obviously with her now, speaking to her like this. The dead cannot do that. "What are we if we aren't living?" She stares at you thoughtfully. "I'm not sure, Little One. Maybe some third thing, between the living and dead. Or maybe I'm wrong, and I have been alive this whole time." You lean closer, hoping to probe her, but she squeezes your hand to silence you. With a soft huff, she taps your nose and her emotions recede back into smooth, opaque jade. "We're getting distracted. You still wanted to me to teach you how to control chi, right?" You nod, willing to let it go, and her appreciation breezes over your ears. Big Sister flips your palm over again and chi pushes itself from the rock to your chest, swelling beneath your lungs. You exhale and a familiar flash of heat bursts out of your fingertips, momentarily turning the stone hot. She tells you to follow that rhthym, and you do so, tracing the patterns of your veins as you breathe in and out. With her guidance, you map out the corners of your created shape down to the smallest cell, reaching as far as you can into your own limits before coiling back to your center. It a slow, meditative process of familiarizing yourself with your own body, and after a few cycles, your curiosity, too, begins to ebb away into lulled nothingness. And then, once satisified with your progress, your sister squeezes your hands again and brings you back to the surface. "Tell me, Little One, when you become strong enough, what will you use your power for?" *[["To be stronger than anyone. "]] *[["To protect you and this mountain."]] *[["To see everything in this world."]] *[["To become a god!"]] *[["I...don't know yet."]]

"Because of this, we are powerful," she says carefully, "and we grow more powerful as others become aware of who we are—their thoughts, their emotions and their opinions of us all turn to chi." Big Sister strokes your cheek and then pulls away to lead you back to her tree, "for example, I am stronger than I was before because you know who I am." "Really?" Your eyes widen. You always thought Big Sister was simply strong because she was older, wiser, bigger—you didn't realize that you contributed to any of it. As you think this, you're suddenly aware that a part of the swirling power around you seems to be coming from her direction. "Then—" you flex your arm and that invisible stream responds, tugging on your forearm like cobwebs"—am I also stronger because you know me?" "Yes, you are," she laughs and folds your arms back down, "if that sort of power is emitted just because we know each other, how much would you gain if more spirits knew you? If more humans knew you? "Names are powerful. With a single name, knowledge of your existence could be passed on and worshiped by those you've never met," her words are laced with a warning, spoken gravely despite her warm affection. The grip on your wrists tightens ever so slightly, "so we cannot name ourselves. It is forbidden. Only gods and humans can name us, Young One, once we have earned the right." *[[So I must gain a name--it is the key to power, fame and glory.]] *[[The sounds dangerous. A name could just as easily be used as a target.]] *[[If I had a name, I could better protect what is important to me.]] *[[That sounds like something beyond me, I cannot even imagine what it would be like.]]

"But!" She grins now and cups your cheeks, snapping you out of your reverie, "You are far, far away from this honor. As I said before, Young $Origin, you will have plenty of time to build yourself before your big moment comes, if it ever does." You squirm indignantly in her grasp and she lets you go, straightening her back once more, "now, is that all? Are you going to rest?" Exhaustion takes over you as soon as she asks, and you nod tiredly, rubbing your eyes, "Yes, Big Sister…" "Good," her expression becomes lighter, like the gentle current of the river, soaking through to your heart. With a warm, she pats you soothingly on the head. "Sleep well, and become stronger." [["Sleep well to become stronger than even me."]]

<><<set $origin to "snake">> <<set $a_origin to "a snake">> <<set $Origin to "Snake">> <<set $quality to "sense">> <> Long, sprawling limbs were new to have, but even those pale in comparison to the rest of the elements that you are now exposed to. Similar to the sensation of shedding skin, everything that you see, hear and feel is raw to experience—it's as if you've been born anew (and you suppose that, in a way, you have). Your connection with chi, the energy of the earth, is stronger than ever. Even when you revert back to your true form, you continue to hear it whispering in chimes and bells, ever reminding you of your special existence. <<include "oriconfirm">>

Your eyes grow round at the prospect of becoming so strong that none else can stop you, of being so known that your name is whispered across the lips of humans who cannot even see you. Big Sister reads the desire in your eyes and laughs warmly. <<include "Sis7">>

You pass into the broad-leaved grove, and instantly feel a little better. The maple and mulberry trees grow here, and with their wide, full branches, they create an impenetrable canopy that feels like a balm to your burning skin. You sigh, relieved, and keep walking with no real destination in mind, sinking into a natural path until you hear chattering--more like squeaking--ahead of you. Two red pandas tumble into view, playing with each other as they bounce through the roots of an old tree. One of them bats the other, and the little thing squeals as it rolls towards you, unhurt but definitely stunned. *[[I help it get back to its feet.]] *[[I carefully walk around it.]] *[[I stop to watch their shenanigans.]]

They continue to wrestle, sending a flurry of dust into the air, and you're about to continue on when something loud shouts to your right. [["Sun and Stars, Yali!"]]

You reach a hand down and it bumps its nose to your palm before taking off again, reuniting with its chirping companion. They run off—tails held high—nipping at each other as they dash through the trees, taking you through a section of the forest you haven't been to before. The pines disappear completely, taken over by dense, gnarled redwood. It grows darker, again, and suddenly the floor becomes much harder to see. Your foot catches on a huge root, and you yelp as you stagger forwards, your balance thrown off. [[The shadows thicken.]]

You are. <center><h3>[[Cursed!]]</h3></center>

You stumble backwards, and air surges into your lungs—since when did you stop breathing? Chi leaks from your body, drawn to the cliffside by some old and ancient power, of a being no longer active, but still very prominent. Then, awakened, a rush of power lurches for you, grabbing you by the heart, trying to pour its essence into your body, but you are not enough. You are not big enough, not strong enough, not stable enough to maintain this wave of old, newly reawakened chi. Nausea clenches your stomach as this unknown energy rolls through your body and you shuffle even further back, scrambling for safety. You feel like you might burst. <<include "M1">>

<><<set $h_jade to true>>You hesitantly touch the jade, almost disappointed when nothing happens. It is cold in your palm, and though it is so light, its weight is almost more than you can bear. <> You carefully curl the silk cord into itself and then stash the pendant into your clothes, shivering at how strange its glassy surface is against your skin. Around you, those bells continue to sing, not growing any louder, but certainly not fading. [[Next|b_room]]

I found a cave in the Western Guard of Jin," you squint your eyes when she taps your nose. "And it still had old furniture in it." "In the Western mountains?" she freezes and slowly pulls away from you. She stares at her hand, brow furrowed, and then you drown in her gaze as she realizes where you have been, "You found the old shrine." You swallow. Visions of the strange place fills your mind—its unidentifiable furniture, its strange layout, its not quite dead energy—and you realize now that she must be right, "Was I…not supposed to be there?" She's silent, and you realize that she didn't hear you at all. "Big Sister?" You ask tentatively, and she jolts. "Hm?" she blinks and a pressure you didn't even notice she was exerting, vanishes. Slowly, her smile returns, "Oh. Yes. It should be fine if you go. Did anyone stop you?" You shake your head. "Then don't worry about it. No one lives at that place anymore, Little One. Was there anything else in there?" <<if $open_chest is true>><<include "jade_qs">><<else>>"Not really," you shrug. "Just old furniture and some carved stone." "I am surprised there is any furniture left at all," she laughs incredulously. "It has been quite some time since the old god lived there." [[You have never heard of them before.]]<</if>>

<<if $hunt is "attack">>"I found hunters in the deep part of the forest," You turn your head towards the trees, narrowing your eyes, "They overstepped their boundaries." She stares at you, and gently reaches her hand out. Before she touches you, though, her fingers curl gently, "You fought with them." Though healed, your wound twinges and you nod. "And you're alright?" You nod again, a little more smug this time. [[Next|hu_q]]<<elseif $hunt is "tease">>"There were hunters in the deep part of the woods," You turn and jerk your head towards the trees, "They were lost and I played with them a little." "A little?" she sighs knowingly, "Did you anger them?" You remember the hunter's flushed faces and their growling as they left, and you grin innocently and repeat, "A little." She shakes her head in exasperation. [[Next|hu_q]]<<else>>"I helped some hunters who were in the deep part of the forest," You press your hands together as you turn towards the trees, "They were lost so I helped them back to the main road." "Hunters? That far in?" she laughs softly in disbelief and follows your gaze, "You are kind, Little One. It would have been difficult for them to come back after having gone that far." Your chest swells with her praise. [[Next|hu_q]]<</if>>

Your purse your lips, and then nod in understanding. In your heart, you can feel the energy pulsing gently to your limbs in soft, rhythmic beats. How would it feel to even become stronger than you are now? What burdens or boons would come into be? Big Sister sees the confusion in your eyes, and laughs. <<include "Sis7">>

The earth shakes under their stampede, and their cloying scent pools further into your room. Their long snouts are jutted forwards, so reminiscent of wolves, but their fur is sleeker and their eyes are tinged with that wicked carnelian rust. They were not originally this way. No one is ever born a Fox, they are forced to become one. Plant, animal, god or otherwise—a Fox is a tainted spirit that has lost their identity. Turned so rotten, they forget their own true form. First, they lose their minds to rage, and then they lose their bodies as well. From your window, you see that not all of these Foxes have changed completely. Some still have feathers sticking out of their necks, others different animal heads that make their bodies into grotesque chimeras. The red glow of their eyes, though, is constant. As is their labored breath, loud enough to be heard even from your safe distance. You swallow and move to finally turn away. There's a scraping of claws tearing into wood. A growl, low and deep. Hot, uneven breath soaks the skin of your shoulder. Your blood freezes in your veins. A Fox has scaled the building. You are staring into bloody eyes. Your heart—the vile, vile thing—lurches towards it. [[Does it see itself within you?]]

<> <<if $type is "animal">><center>Spirit of flesh, you shall right my wrongs. </center> <<else>><center>Spirit of earth, you shall right my wrongs.</center> <</if>><> <center> [[And then they silence.|Prologue Title]] </center>

<<set $bs_end to true>>The river. You find the river. It runs red, but you can't tell if it is a reflection of the sky or if its seeped with blood. You run along the bank, tripping over yourself in your haste, screaming for your sister. You smell iron. You smell the bittersweet scent of wood torn apart. "Big Sister!" Your throat tears at your own scream, and you find her. Three Foxes surround her, snarling as they take turns charging at her, causing her to scream with each strike. You rush to the bank, bursting past the dense cover, but they barely take notice. Their focus is solely on your sister, the pretty willow. She, however, looks at you, horrified, "Young One. Get out of here. Now." [[You cannot move.]]

There is a shriek and your conversation cuts again. Your companion is frozen solid, but your eyes are drawn to the streets, squinting against the thick night. You see another onlooker shaking and pointing from the window beside yours, and as you follow their gaze, your chest pulls impossibly tight. In a single moment, a dark and bulging mass has descended at the front of the town. It lurches into the streets, spilling like dense oil into the empty space of Doh, still too far for you to pick out any individual body. Years ago, the Foxes hunted alone. They are monsters, solitary beasts corrupted by some curse—their minds so festered and infected that companionship and camaraderie is their antithesis. Should be their antithesis. Yet, lately, Fox packs like these were forming out of nowhere, drawn together by some invisible common will. Just one of them is a problem enough, but a group? Especially when they seem so drawn to towns and crowds? The dread that fills you each time you see those murky crowds is an icy, rigid one. After all, the first time you've seen a group of Foxes working together like this was only a few decades ago, when you left your small mountain. <<if $comp is "c_w">>The hen does not dare follow your gaze. Instead, she wraps herself in the sheets and watches your expression. She can feel your fear, and that does not bode well for her. "We will be fine," she squeaks unconvincingly, "the wards are working. I watched the Head Hostess inspect them myself." You hope she's right. Those wards are spells that every building in Doh has scrawled onto their doors—a divine seal to hide its occupants from Foxes. A creation by the gods, and a necessity for every town in the spirit world now. <<elseif $comp is "c_m">>The courtesan does not dare look out with you. Instead, he hisses uncomfortably and shifts his body away from the window, watching you with wide eyes. He can feel your fear, and it does not bode well for him. "I was jokin'," he murmurs unconvincingly, "the wards work. They always do. We'll be fine." You desperately hope so. Those wards are spells that every building in Doh has scrawled onto their doors—a divine seal to hide its occupants from Foxes. A creation by the gods, and a necessity for every town in the spirit world now. <<elseif $comp is "friend">> Your friend lets out a few nervous chitters and scoots over to the far end of the table. He can feel your fear, and that does not bode well for him. "Luckily, the wards always work, right?" he squeaks, shrinking as he talks, "I was only speaking hypotheticals, Friend." You hope it stays that way. Those wards are spells that every building in Doh has scrawled onto their doors—a divine seal to hide its occupants from Foxes. A creation by the gods, and a necessity for every town in the spirit world now. <<else>>The server senses your cold fear and winces. They mutter a prayer and then excuse themselves from the room, bowing low before hurrying away into the hall. You tell yourself that everything will be fine. That the wards will work, as they always do, because the Head Hostess would never overlook something so vital: the spells that every building in Doh has scrawled onto their doors—a divine seal to hide its occupants from Foxes. A creation by the gods, and a necessity for every town in the spirit world now. <</if>> [[Next|Inn4]]

You trip into empty space, and for a moment you think you've reached a clearing, but your eyes adjust and you find yourself just inches away from sheer rock. Unlike the twisted, rough bark of the nearby trees, this wall stands straight and oppressive, its face looking too much like the flat side of a blade. You catch yourself, lean back sharply, and the momentum makes you fall on your rump. This cliffside stretches tall, its top completely obscured from your view by the canopy of nearby trees. Cold air sighs from above, and giving you goosebumps as it brushes your skin. Where did all that summer heat go? [[In your chest, your heart beats slowly.]]

You shift uneasily, suddenly keenly aware of how vulnerable and thin your skin really is. Something that is difficult to obtain would only be coveted by many--to gain a name is to become a target to hordes of power-hungry spirits. Big Sister sees your fear and chuckles gently. <<include "Sis7">>

For the first time, you feel them emitting chi, though it is unlike anything else you have felt before. Rather than emotion, a wave of power both warm and cold seeps into you, filling you with clarity, making your vision sharp and your ears burst. Your back straightens. You feel tall. Taller than you've ever been before. The feeling continues to flow into you until they stop bowing. You deflate, but electricity still surges within your skin, racing wildly through your veins. "We have little to offer, but please have this, Ko," The man reaches into his pack and pulls out a small wrapped cloth. He walks to the center of the road, and then sets it on the ground carefully. "For guiding us home." He raises his head and, sharing a look with Yali, bows once more to you. Then the hunters, both proud and tall and human, walk down the road in the opposite direction of the setting sun. You stare at the offering that they left behind. It smells sweet. *[[My mouth waters a little, I want to try this human food.|hhunteat]] *[[Strange as it is, it's probably best left uneaten.|hhuntnoeat]]

You are tossed back into confused disorientation. <> <<if $bday is "spring">> The cursed heat dissipates so quickly that you cannot even relish in the relief—the rain is now ice on your skin, the cold penetrating deep until your core is tight within a frozen. <<elseif $bday is "winter">> The cursed heat dissipates so quickly that you cannot even relish in the relief—the once soft snow is now a glacial coffin--the cold penetrates deep until your core is tight within a frozen grip. <<elseif $bday is "fall">> The cursed heat dissipates so quickly that you cannot even relish in the relief—the unforgiving wind bites harsh against your clammy skin, its cold penetrating deep until your core is tight within an icy grip. <<else>> The cursed heat, from both the sun and the ground, dissipates so quickly that you cannot even relish in the relief—your sweat turns your skin clammy, and an achingly cold sensation penetrates deep until your core is tight within an icy grip. <</if>><> You hiccup violently, your hand clawing against your stomach as you try to dig out that oppressive, frigid feeling. It builds and grows, burrowing into your navel with unyielding weight that sinks you low into the ground. [[And then it stops.]]

Where you were able to leap up and over the ledges easily, the hunters have to heave themselves up with straining muscles. However, there is something graceful about the way they help each other, too. Despite how they argue, they do not hesitate to balance the other, and you get the sense that they have known each other for a very long time. "I wonder who you are," Yali muses out loud. She is smiling, you realize, but it is a rueful one, "and I wonder if you are helping us or leading us further astray." "And you still think it is safe to follow?" grunts the man as soon as he helps her up the last ledge. "Maybe it is not," she admits with a shrug, "But there is no point in stopping now. We'll just complain to Jiaqi later if we're wrong." "Great, I love it when she laughs at us." [[Next|hhunvis1]]

You lead them to an even darker part of the woods, and your sight dims to compensate. The scent of damp moss stings your nose, and behind you, you hear a curse as the huntress slips on slick stone. You skid to a stop and whirl around. Just above you, you find a low tree branch and jump to perch from there while they struggle with their feet. The man hoists her back up, and she growls as she wipes a smear of green from her trousers. *[[Smile and wave at her.|thunsmile]] *[[Observe them silently.|thunobserve]] *[["I thought you were supposed to be hunters!"]]

Unable to resist, you slide a palm over a jagged crack, and it bites into your skin. It is ice cold. A taste of chi burns up your forearm, spreading to your lungs. The power of an old, latent being, of something no longer active but still very prominent, gnaws into your shoulder, stiffening the joint. Your vision swims, and you snap your hand back, nausea clenching tight in your gut as the energy rolls through your body. Like a magnet, the chi clings to you, tries to absorb itself into you, folding around your form until it feels like you might crack. You feel sick. You feel like you will burst. Your body is not big enough, not strong enough, not enough to contain whatever is trying to force itself into you. <<include "M1">>

With shallow breath, you wrench yourself away from this door, pulling yourself out of the cloud of ash that surrounds it. You hurry out of the corridor, heels sore, and haste through the main room, untangling from the tendrils of chi that clings to you as you burst out of the mountain. An unknown pressure lifts from your shoulders as soon as fresh air hits you, making you lightheaded as your lungs fill again. You glance back behind you, and shiver when it seems as though the cave is smiling back at you. [[Next.|r_end]]

<> < Probably Fox Corruption stat, relationship stats, skill stats.

Slowly, he begins to follow, his courage growing with each successful step down. Yali steps down close behind him with similarly shocked eyes as she takes in the view. She reaches up and touches one of the low branches that conceal this path, her fingertips coming away moist. <<include "hhun3">>

<> <<unset $origin>> <<unset $Origin>> <> Your mind grows weary with the approaching dusk, but clarity comes back with a vigorous shake of your head. <> <<if $type is "animal">> <<unset $origin>> <<unset $Origin>> <<unset $a_origin>> <<unset $quality>> <<unset $bird>> <<unset $mammal>> <<include "anichoice">> <<else>> <<unset $origin>> <<unset $Origin>> <<unset $a_origin>> <<unset $quality>> <<unset $flower>> <<unset $tree>> <<include "plantchoice">> <</if>> <>

Your fingers dig into the floorboards, splitting the polished wood, as you try your damnedest to shove those memories away. [[And yet, here they come.]]

You have been walking without realizing it. Your feet follow the wall east, turn the corner, and as if by instinct, you stop. The wind suddenly picks up, humming low and melodic, and from the shadows, the mountain reveals a cave that yawns wide. It is not a natural alcove, the opening is rectangular and its edges are sanded down. You cannot see what is inside, but you know in your gut that it must extend deep. Everything else around you has shushed. The red pandas who led you here are nowhere to be seen. It is just you, this gaping maw in the mountain, and the wind that sings between you. *[[My chest burns. I walk in.]] *[[Cold sweat drips down my neck. I check outside first.]]

She is half-melded into her tree, her torso disappearing into the slanted trunk. Blood pours down from where her body and the wood meets. There is a wound carved deep into her shoulder, and her left arm hangs limp at her side, covered in thick green bark. Her eyes, pretty jade, are clouded with pain. Her breathing is labored. However, more than any of that, you feel it in the air. It pushes against you, urging you to run: her agony, raw as fire. "Big Sis—" The Foxes snarl and lunge for her, tearing into her exposed skin, ripping apart her branches and bark, and she screams as she is eaten alive. You think you hear them saying something. Sounds that barely resemble words reach you. *[[I can't…]] *[[Big Sister!]]

Something enters your lungs, a solid, thickened mass that sinks into your belly as an immovable weight. You have not felt so heavy since when you awakened—since you shed your mortality. <center><h3>[[It is growing. Inside of you.]]</h3></center>

<><<set $bbs1 to true>><<set $bbs2 to true>><<set $bbs3 to true>><<set $bbs4 to true>> This mountain is large, and you always knew abstractly that there must be a god who resided here. You could feel it in the wind, in the pull of the very earth, that some great being controlled the land, but you never really considered them as an individual.<> And now, your sister is telling you that there is another god who has since passed? Why hasn't she told you this before? <<include "bsqs2">>

You know how to open the gate to the spirit world. That knowledge is a part of you as much as your faux-flesh and bones, it comes to you as easily as breathing. You've never been tempted to do this before, but now, you have no choice. You don't want to stay here. You cannot stay here. There is nothing left for you here. You press your hands to the floor. They ache as they stretch, streaming blood into the dust, but you ignore the pain. The thought of slipping through the ground runs through you, overwhelms you, and suddenly you are doing just that. Your body sublimates. [[Leaves, dirt, solid stone.|pro_sw]]

Human history is convoluted and hurried—bursting and violent like a flooded river, but your sister has told you some of it: That there is a country to the north and one to the south, and that the Red Mountain is a part of the border that separates them. She's told you about the fight for this land, how laying claim to it would have ensured victory to either side, and how that conflict buried thousands of soldiers in your home without a true resolution. You awakened in a time of peace, so you have never seen the blood-soaked earth that is the mountain's namesake. Not to mention, Big Sister is whimsical about the stories she plucks from that time, so your knowledge is fairly incomplete. You frown, frustrated. You want to ask if Big Sister ever learned directly from one of those humans herself, but she pats your shoulder to divert your attention. [[Next|Sis4]]

<h4> The Inn at Doh, Presently </h4> -- The sky is stained red. Granted, the sky in the spirit world is usually tinted strangely, but today it's murky with clouds, reminding you of a fresh, gory wound. It is gross, unappealing, and makes you feel sick. *[[I take a drag from my pipe.]] *[[I sip from the delicate wine dish.]]

Your muscles burn and everything hurts. You are dying of exhaustion. Your limbs are leaden and dead, and though you have been squeezing your chi to maintain your body, there is not nearly enough to keep you whole. <<if $type is "plant">>You want to melt away. You want to revert back to the safety of your roots, but you know that will not keep you safe. These monsters will reach you like flame, will trap you within your immobile form and you will die for certain.<</if>><<if $origin is "leopard">>Fur covers your arms, and your hands fatten into paws. Your mind starts to slip, desperate to return to simplicity, but you fight it, biting your tongue with sharpened fangs. You cannot lose your sense, not now. If you give up, you'll become nothing more than a frightened animal, and that will get you killed.<<elseif $origin is "owl" or $origin is "eagle">>Your bones are becoming lighter. Your arms are stretching, and feathers are spreading through your hair. Your mind starts to slip, desperate to return to simplicity, but you fight it, biting your tongue with sharpened fangs. You cannot lose your sense, not now. If you give up, you'll become nothing more than a frightened animal, and that will get you killed.<<elseif $origin is "rabbit">>Fur covers your arms, and your legs are lengthening, thickening with muscle. You feel your ears elongating, and you squeeze your eyes shut. Your mind starts to slip, desperate to return to simplicity, but you fight it, biting your tongue with sharpened fangs. You cannot lose your sense, not now. If you give up, you'll become nothing more than a frightened animal, and that will get you killed.<<elseif $origin is "snake">>Scales flash across your skin, and the ground seems to be closer than ever. Your limbs start to shrink, to melt into your torso, and you squeeze your eyes shut. Your mind starts to slip, desperate to return to simplicity, but you fight it, biting your tongue with sharpened fangs. You cannot lose your sense, not now. If you give up, you'll become nothing more than a frightened animal, and that will get you killed.<</if>> You give a choked sob, a dry hiccup that pinches your throat. [[You have to keep running.|pro_end1]]

*[[I shift into my true form.]] *[[I can defeat them without transforming.|unshaped_a]]

<<set $hunt to "attack">>You see their catch—two plump pheasants hanging on the man's belt—and your veins become ice. They should not be here, this is a protected area—your area. Humans are run by habit, if they think that they can catch easy prey in this part of the forest, they will no doubt come back for more. You cannot allow that to happen. Fury arcs up your spine, drawing sharp and metallic energy from the earth, washing your tongue with iron. You will make sure that these humans do not cross here ever again. *<<link "Humans are helpless to //chi// and I will be able to stay invisible as well!" "a_mag">><</link>> *[[I have grow stronger, certainly strong enough to take on humans with a solid body!]]

<><<set $hunt to "attack">> <<set $mag +=1>> Power ripples from your chest to your arms, down the veins of your wrists into the searing points of your fingertips. You concentrate it, meld your desires into it, and the wind responds. Like a puppeteer at the end of the strings, you swing your hand up, and a crescent-like gale whips laterally, slamming against the hunters, forcing them to the ground.<> But, you must commend their reaction time. They scramble back up, their hands immediately reaching for weapons before they're even on their feet. Two long daggers are unsheathed, drawn horizontally protectively against their chests, their eyes blown wide. "Shit!" The woman spats, yanking on her companion as you prepare for your next attack. "Spirits!" [[But it is too late.]]

For the first time, you feel chi radiating from them, though it is a feeling unlike anything else you have felt before. Rather than an emotion, a wave of power both warm and cold seeps into you, filling you with clarity, making your vision sharp and your ears burst. Your muscles coil tight, and your jaw clenches—it's the sensation of being stretched from the inside. It builds until their voices fade away completely, and then you deflate, but electricity still surges within your skin, racing wildly through your veins. You stand, and your balance shifts. You stagger, catch yourself, and try again. The ground pushes up against you, but you do not falter again. Each step is steadier than the last, and the disorientation ebbs away to something else entirely. You feel strong. Stronger than you have been before. The hunters' fear, apprehension, and disdain wrap around you like armor, bolstering your strength. In the sighs of the leaves, there is a whisper of bells, ringing so faintly that you wonder if you are merely imagining it. [[Next|big_sis_meet]]

You grasp on the stream of power that links you to the wind and trees, but it's already begun to wane. The winds die down, and you curse, but trying to hang on any longer builds a migraine in the back of your head. You wince and let go of it all—the trees spring back into place and the gale fizzles out, but the hunters keep running. Shouting to one another, they haul each other forward, disappearing into the underbrush while clutching their light wounds. With your adrenaline and prey gone, exhaustion weighs on you and you sink to your knees. In the distance, you hear them cursing you, their voices traveling above the pillowed humidity. [[Next|ahun_end]]

*[[I am an Owl. The humans call my kind harbingers of death. Which is fair, to mice and small birds at least.|Owl]] *[[I am a Rabbit. The same as the kind spirit who sits on the moon, though dirtier and not as refined.|Rabbit]] *[[I am a Snake. My kind are seen as part divine; always connected to the earth and related to the inevitable cycle.|Snake]] *[[I am an Eagle. Other birds often totter in my wake hoping to catch the dregs of my prey.|Eagle]] *[[I am a Leopard. One of the very few that stalk this mountain. Spirit or not, my kind have always been feared, and from a distance, admired.|Leopard]]

Your blood arcs through the air, and you reel at the sight as it splatters onto the ground, hissing as it starts to evaporate. You yank yourself away reflexively, but the hunter turns to his companion instead, yanking her by the arm. "Get up!" She groans as he drags her through the brush, staggering weakly with his support. You jump forwards to follow, but another wave of pain bursts from your cut and you wince. [[It hurts more than you thought it would.]]

You take another glance around the room, but nothing else sticks out to you. The furnishings are plain, and you can tell that this entire place has not been lived in for a long time, despite how well-kept it appears. You take a deep breath of that unexplainable smoky smell, before turning to leave the room, <<if $h_jade is true>>your pocket heavier that it was when you entered.<<else>>the image of the box on the table burning into your mind.<</if>> [[Next|r_end]]

The wind beneath your wings takes a life of its own, turning into a silver-tinged gust that swirls outwards, lifting leaves into the air, surrounding you both in a screen. "Yali!" An arrow sails past your ear, and you shriek again, dropping her at the pain that bursts through your wing. <<include "at_end">>

It is getting late, but you are not yet compelled to sleep. Instead, excited by the day's events, you rush back to your big sister and her riverbank, led by low crooning of the evening bugs. Bursting through the trees, the sun has begun to stain the air a hot, vibrant orange. Your eyesight blurs and the light scatters, tinged slightly red at the edges of your vision. It is a strange color, and you pause to rub it out of your eyes when the bubbling of unfamiliar laughter suddenly tickles your ears. You blink rapidly and spin your head around. More humans. Not the same two hunters as before, but a larger group, all huddled together at the edge of the river as they prepare to make camp for the night. [[And across the river, Big Sister watches.]]

<<if $bq1 is true>>*[["Were they praying to you?"]] <</if>><<if $bq2 is true>>*[["Why do you look so sad?"]] <</if>><<if $bq3 is true>>*[["Do you know them?"]]<</if>><> *[[I fall silent thoughtfully.]]<>

Your blood quickens and your eyesight dims, but your hearing expands to an incredible degree. Their breath and heartbeat ring in the air, singing like pretty targets to your ears. You take a running leap, and let your wings burst from your arms. You swoop down towards the hunters with your talons outstretched, clawing down their exposed backs as they scream. The man swats at you with his arms, but the pain is dulled by your feathers, further drowned as you grow in size. Your wings stretch out, and your shadow overtakes them both. "Mountain spirit," The huntress hisses, flipping her dagger to a reversed grip. With eyes glowing like flames, she lunges at you. *[[Back out of the way!|brrush]] *[[Rush in to meet her!|brmeet]]

You hardly think. In an instant, you are lifted up into the air and though one Fox jumps for you, you spin out of its jaws just as it snaps shut. The forest looks as if its on fire. No matter how high you go, the air is saturated with an orange-tint, the sun a bloody dewdrop in the distance. The trees are shivering and you can hear the cries of humans and animals alike as these Foxes tear through your home. [[Yet, you cannot afford to stop.|no_scar]]

The shock-wave snaps your teeth together and you're blown back, but not as badly as them. They are lifted off their feet and yanked backwards, cussing loudly as they land in a pile some steps away. "What—ow!" the man yelps and yanks his hand up, scowling at a burr that's lodged into his palm. "Snake's blood, this is pointless, Yali!" "I've noticed," she snaps back, groaning as she rolls onto her feet. She pulls her hair back, wincing at all the thorns tangled there and fiercely searches for you, but as before, without any luck. Under her breath, she growls. "Let's just leave. We have to tell Jiaqi about this, too." He moans despairingly, heaving himself up. "She's going to laugh at us." "So be it," she sighs and juts out a hand for him to grab. "Hurry, before that Ko decides to come back." <<include "t_hun_end2">>

You inhale. Your lungs swell with air that is new and achingly familiar all at once, and your memory from before creeps into your mind. You were born on this mountain. You can taste home on your lips, as the breath sweeps over your tongue. You have been here all your life, though not in this body. You did not always have these thoughts. <> <<if $bday is "spring">> [[The rain feels fresh, the air tastes clean. |F_2]] <<elseif $bday is "summer">> [[The sun washes everything away. |F_2]] <<elseif $bday is "winter">> [[The snow settles, as soft as pillowed down. |F_2]] <<else>> [[The leaves give kisses as they pass. |F_2]] <</if>> <>

You snap your wings forward and the momentum blows you back, billowing her with a sharp gale. She flinches, and seeing an opening, you dive in again, clenching her body tight within your talons. Layers of cloth guard her from being torn apart, but her face contorts as you squeeze her tight. Her knife drops as her hands claw at your legs. <<include "bfight1">>

With an echoing screech, you dive in towards her, ignoring her dagger as you clamp down on her shoulders, gripping them in a vice that pins her arms low. She snarls as you snap your wings and drag her forwards, her feet digging into the loose dirt. Her face contorts as you squeeze her tight and the knife drops from her hand. <<include "bfight1">>

Behind her, the edge of the sun finally touches the horizon, and you squint as the light gets in your eyes. She turns around as well, and blinks in realization, "It has already gotten so late." "Are you going to go to the redwoods with me?" you ask, but she's already pulling away and stretching her limbs. "Not today, I'm growing tired," she turns her head to the human camp, and you know that she means to watch over them tonight. Her expression melts apologetically when she turns back to you, "I will join you tomorrow though." Sensing that she means to honor that promise, you nod and she leans down towards you gratefully. Lightly, she touches her forehead to yours, and you close your eyes to enjoy the cool sensation of willow fronds against your brow. [["Enjoy your sunset, Young One"]]

<<if $bbs1 is true>>*[["You knew the old god?"]] <</if>><<if $bbs2 is true>>*[["Old god? Does that mean there is a current god?"]] <</if>><<if $bbs3 is true and $open_chest is true>>*[["Is there something special about the jade pendant?"]] <</if>><<if $bbs4 is true and $souk is true>>*[["If the old god is gone, who is tending to the shrine now?"]]<</if>><> *[[I sit quietly, processing what she's said.]]<>

"Blessed?" You tilt your head in confusion, and she straightens her back, ready to give a lesson. "Do you know from the story of Origin, that The High Goddess Bai Wen was created to bind Jia Hun and the surface world together. She has long arms and legs to push the wooden wheel, and a strong back and neck to hold the earth," Big Sister puts a soft hand on your cheek, "and she has skin with no fur to withstand the heat of her labor. The humans were created in her likeness, and they are blessed with her cunning, emotion and thought." You imagine the great warrior, rotating endlessly in her task. It sounds more like punishment than divine duty, but then again, you do not know any gods to guess at what they think. Snapping out of your reverie, you blink at Big Sister, "And the rest of us?" <<if $tree is true>>"We trees are pillars of the earth," she says fondly. "We keep the ground knitted together. That is an honorable duty in and of itself."<</if>><<if $type is "plant">>"As plants, we are the threads of the earth," she says fondly. "We sustain all life and keep the ground knitted together. That is an honorable duty in and of itself."<<else>>"Animals are the embodiment of life," she says easily, smiling at you. "You race across the earth with no ties or barriers to stop you. That is a blessed existence in and of itself."<</if>> You shift in your seat. [["And what about us as spirits?"]]

Despite yourself, you can't help but to glow at her praise and look down at your... *[[...young, girlish body.]] *[[...young, boyish body.]] *[[...young, child-like body.]]

Deeper in the cave, everything seems to fade away. Each step into the growing gloom deafens the world and numbs your senses. You pass a giant archway, its paint long-since faded, and shiver at the stagnant air that greets you beyond. It is as if something begs you to hush. To be in reverence of this secret, doomed hideaway. [[Next|M2]]

<> <<set $chest to true>> The chests are held shut by a simple wooden mechanism that opens with a sharp click. You heave the lid open, and then frown when you find nothing inside. <> The interior smells faintly of wisteria, though you wonder if that is a lingering scent or if that is merely just a remnant of chi still pulsing within. <<include "rchoice">>

You cannot see anymore, but you can hear them. Their mantra. Finally, it stops, and then you are knocked flat on your back. Claws meet your soft skin. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]

Your chest still feels abnormally full, and when you walk away from the main road, your balance shifts. You stumble, catch yourself, and try again. The ground pushes up against you, but you do not falter. Each step is more certain than the last, and the disorientation ebbs away to something different. You feel powerful. You feel stronger than you ever have been before. In the sighs of the leaves, there is a whisper of bells, ringing so faintly that you wonder if you are merely imagining it. [[Next|big_sis_meet]]

<><<set $kind +=1>><<set $hunt to "help">> You may not be able to read their emotions, but you can tell that these hunters mean no harm. They have their catch already, and all they want now is to get home, wherever that may be.<> You inhale deeply and carefully take a cautious step forwards, drawing energy from the soft, warm earth. *[[I try to make myself more visible to lead them.|hhuntsmall]] *[[I will try to guide them without being seen.|hhuntinvi]]

Behind you, the hunter instinctively chase after you, their boots thudding heavily over the ground in a way that your footsteps never do. Their weightiness also makes them more clumsy, but they keep up all the same. You leap up a moss-covered slope, a giggle bubbling from your chest as you hear the huntress hit a branch that you so deftly dodged, and scramble to the top of a boulder to watch their progress. They are slow, but you cannot criticize their athleticism. The man heaves himself up a ledge first before helping his companion who still has her eyes trained on you. *[[Smile and wave down at her.|hhunsmile]] *[[Stare back at her as she gets up.|hhunobserve]] *[["You're slow!"]]

They finally reach you, and so you instantly spring away again. The ravine is close now, you can smell rushing water and the sharp, bitter green that cover the rocks near it. However, rather than risk the climb, you slide down to the natural path of rocks that is hidden by overgrown foliage, brushing away the branches in your way. The hunters, having seen you vanish, hesitate from above. From below, you see the man poke his head through the thick bush cautiously. "Where…" His eyes widen when he takes in the hidden trail. The ground is damp, and the river rushes down nearby, but there are no cliffs to scale down, just a gentle silt slope that leads downstream towards the main road. *[["Come on!"]] *[[Wait for them patiently.]]

Sunlight streams in thin beams through the leaves, keeping the otherwise hidden area rather bright. The two hunters are both too tall for this narrow groove, but you know this is safer than the alternative. The climb through the ravine is difficult even for you, and at least here, falling would not result in death, only in muddied clothes. Thus, at an easier pace, you lead them down, pausing occasionally when you realize they've fallen behind, trying not to feel too bad as you watch them wobble across the slippery ground. [[Next|hhun4]]

By the time you lead them back into the sunlight, it is late afternoon, and much of the day's heat has disappeared. Crickets and cicadas alike come alive as you push away the underbrush. The hunters walk near you now, close enough that you can feel the slight tremor of their falling footsteps, but they haven't made any move to touch you. They simply follow quietly, speaking only to help each other navigate the unfamiliar terrain, apparently too nervous in your presence to be bantering as they did before. Nearing the road, you turn to glance at them. The huntress, Yali, returns your look, but any aggression she had previously seems to have disappeared. Her eyes meet yours, and, though slightly troubled, she smiles. [[It is a warm and gentle expression.]]

She takes his hand gratefully. She looks confused as you regard her, but some of the fear has begun to ebb away from her stiff expression. "Should…should we really be following $him?" gasps the man once he has her up next to him. "Jiaqi always says to trust spirits, doesn't she?" she reminds him dryly, though her expression is derisive. "If this doesn't work out, then we can definitely tell her we tried." He winces. "If this doesn't work out, She'll still tell us that it was our fault." You laugh brightly at that. [[Next|hhun2]]

Slowly, he begins to follow, his courage growing with each successful step down. Yali is close behind him with similarly shocked eyes. She reaches up and touches one of the low branches that conceal this place, her fingertips coming away moist. "It looks like this leads back downstream." <<include "hhunvis2">>

You grin and her eyes widen as you wave at her cheerfully. You hear her mutter something grumpily under her breath as the man yanks her up. "What is it?" the man asks, glancing at her and you. "Is the Ko saying something?" "No," she says moodily, sighing in defeat. "$He_s just smiling at us." "Why are you angry at $him for smiling at us?" the man blinks slowly, and she flushes further. He lifts his face to the sky. "Sun and Stars, your pride will kill us. O Kind Spirit, please forgive my stupid companion, we are very thankful for your help—" "I am thankful!" You laugh brightly at that. [[Next|hhun2]]

The small bundle is even lighter than you expected it to be. You unwrap the white cloth to reveal four, powdery pink cookies, shaped into circles and stamped with a peony blossom design. Altogether they barely fill your palm, but they release a sweet, sugary scent when you shift them slightly. You lift one, and it crumbles as you bite into it, smearing against your fingers. A nutty flavor washes over your tongue, and the cookie quickly becomes a thick paste in your mouth. Dryly, you swallow, and the whole thing dissolves down your throat. <<include "cookie1">>

Just because they're not malicious doesn't mean they're harmless. Big Sister has taught you that fear and confusion can easily give way to anger and aggression—you would rather not find yourself among the quarry of these burly hunters. Chi condenses at your fingertips, pouring into the air, making the air shimmer slightly as you reach into the threads of the world. You call for the wind, pulling on it until a soft breeze drifts through your hair. You concentrate and the strength of it increases, pushing against the hunters' back. "What—"the man is shushed by Yali, her hand hovering over her dagger. She shields her eyes, squinting, and searches for you fruitlessly. "A spirit," she murmurs, her other hand over her nape, and the man goes taut. "I can feel it close." "The Watcher?" She hesitates. Impatient, you sweep your arm forwards and the underbrush bends back at the sudden gale you create, opening a path through the trees. The hunters stare in awe as sunlight streams down, lighting the way perfectly. "No," She finally replies, and her hand drops. "But I…I think they want to take us somewhere." The man rolls his eyes, "Yes, I can see that." [[Glaring at him, she begins to walk.]]

You relocate it to the side of the road. It's a lot lighter than you thought it was—it feels like a pocket of air. Regardless, when you hold it up, a faint nutty scent emits from it, tickling your nose. Some rodent or bug will find it soon, and you're certain that they will enjoy it more than you ever could. <<include "cookie1">>

Chi is normally invisible to humans, but if you condense it enough within your body, you can appear as a vision for them—or so Big Sister once said. Granted, you might not materialize properly—you are not a named spirit after all—but you should have enough strength to appear as an unassuming specter. Hopefully. You press a palm to your chest and warmth floods you, filling in your veins, but you stop it from flowing out. Instead, you collect it in your body, feeling lightheaded as pressure pushes against your skin, growing heavier and heavier without an outlet. The heavy concentration makes the air shiver, and the huntress snaps her head to you, eyes wide in shock. "Stars—"the man spits, cut off when Yali shoves him back, her hand on her dagger, but she does not draw. Her dark eyes stare at you. Her face is taut, but she looks more frightened than hostile, like a spooked deer. Her voice, suddenly soft and reverent, seems to settle towards the ground. "Young Spirit." "I can help you," you offer bravely, your heart pounding with excitement. You have never spoken to humans before, never gotten close enough—you feel as if you have crossed some incredible barrier. Your voice warbles in an unsettling way, leaden with chi, but your image does not fade. Neither of them reply, and you figure you don't need them to. You outstretch your arms, to show good faith, and with their undivided attention on you, you dash into the trees. "Wait!" [[You do not wait.|h_hun1]]

They finally reach your point, so you instantly spring away again, picking up the wind as you run. The ravine is close now, you can smell rushing water and the sharp, bitter green that cover the rocks near it. However, rather than risk the climb, you slide down to the natural path of rocks that is hidden by overgrown foliage, brushing away the lichen in your way. The hunters, having seen your signal, hesitate from above. From below, you see the man poke his head through the thick bush cautiously. "Where…" His eyes widen when he takes in the hidden trail. The ground is damp, and the river rushes nearby, but there are no cliffs to scale down, just a gentle silt slope that leads downstream towards the main road. *[[Send a gale to push him down.]] *[[Wait for them patiently.|hhunpat]]

Sunlight filters in thin fingers through the leaves, keeping the otherwise hidden area rather bright. The two hunters are both too tall for this narrow groove, but you know this is safer than the alternative. The climb through the ravine is difficult even for you, and at least here, falling would not result in death, only in muddied clothes. Thus, at an easier pace, you lead them down, pausing occasionally when you realize they've fallen behind, trying not to feel too bad as you watch them travel the slippery ground. [[Next|hhunvis3]]

By the time you lead them back into the sunlight, it is late afternoon, and much of the day's heat has disappeared. Crickets and cicadas alike come alive as you push away the underbrush. You allow yourself to wander closer to the hunters, close enough that you can feel the slight tremor of their footsteps. You feel safe in your invisibility to not need to increase the distance, and they are quiet besides—speaking only to help each other navigate the unfamiliar terrain. Nearing the main road, you turn to look at them. Yali, seems curious, but any aggression she had previously has disappeared. You watch, fascinated, as several emotions flit across her face before, though slightly troubled, she smiles. [[It is a warm, gentle expression.|huntpray1]]

<<set $huq1 to true>><<set $huq2 to true>><<set $huq3 to true>>"There has been more activity of hunters in that area recently," Big Sister muses, more to herself than to you. She touches her chin thoughtfully, "I wonder what he thinks about it." "He?" You echo, and she gives a troubled smile. "The Watcher, Little One," she lowers her arm. "I have told you about him: he maintains that invisible boundary between us and humans, whereas the god does everything to bridge that gap." The god of the mountain. This mountain is large, and you always knew in the back of your mind that there was a god who resided here. You could feel it in the wind, in the pull of the very earth, that this mountain was the domain of a god, but you never considered them as anything more than an obscure entity. <<include "hu_q2">>

<<if $huq1 is true>>*[["Why does the Watcher keep humans away?"]] <</if>><<if $huq2 is true>>*[["Who is the god of the mountain?"]] <</if>><<if $huq3 is true>>*[["So then, why can we feel human prayers?"]] <</if>><> *[[I nod silently, processing what she's told me.]]<>

The main road cuts through the Red Mountain, connecting the two human countries on either side. It is wide, older than you, and has been cleared of plants for a very long time. Pine trees arch overhead as if in deference to this waterless river, and as soon as you see it, you skip ahead of the hunters. The hardness of the sandy ground is jarring, and you let the wind curl around their cheeks to signal them of their arrival. They bumble forwards excitedly, look at each other as you let the breeze play with their hair, and share relieved smiles. That warm, heart-lifting feeling swells in your chest again. Yali steps forwards, her eyes shining in the light, and her hands clasp in front of her as she bows low. Next to her, the man does the same. The world stills, and your body locks, overcome by a sensation you do not recognize. They speak, and their words seem to surround you, swallow you whole. "Thank you, Ko." [[The wind sighs.|huntpray2]]

For the first time, you feel them emitting chi, though it is unlike anything else you have felt before. Rather than an emotion, a wave of power both warm and cold seeps into you, filling you with clarity, making your vision sharp and your ears burst. Your back straightens. You feel tall. Taller than you've ever been before. The feeling continues to flow into you until they stop bowing. You deflate, but power still surges under your skin, racing wildly through your veins. "We have little to offer, but please have this, Ko," The man reaches into his pack and pulls out a small wrapped cloth. He steps to the very center of the road, and then sets it down carefully. "For guiding us home safely." He raises his head and, sharing a look with Yali, bows once more to you. Then the hunters, both proud and tall and human, walk down the road in the opposite direction of the setting sun. You stare at the offering that they left behind. It smells sweet. *[[My mouth waters a little, I want to try this human food.|hhunteat]] *[[Strange as it is, it's probably best left uneaten.|hhuntnoeat]]

<<if $h_jade is true>>*[["I found this," I show her the jade pendant.]] *[["There was a jade pendant there, but I left it," I try not to touch the pocket in which it sits.]]<<else>>*[["There was a jade pendant, but I left it."]]<</if>><> *[["No, I didn't find anything," I lie, my throat feeling dry.]]<>

You close your eyes, and your energy flows from your fingertips, washing your attentiveness across the room. You feel adrift in a cloud. Dim patches of energy and murky half-emotions drift lazily in the room, rippling when you prod them, but vanishing when you try to decipher any single one. You feel as though you are trying to catch smoke—you know that chi exists here, but, frustratingly, you cannot fully read it at all. Some spirit once lived their life here, filled this cave to the brim with memories and experiences, but now there is barely a trace of them left. You concentrate a little more, and once again, it is the wood that captures your attention. Chi settles more easily in living and once-living things, and from the low table, you feel a stronger thread calling out to you. *[[Touch the wood.|table]] *[[Investigate deeper within.|cave]]

You fall to all fours, feeling your fur smoothly coming into place over thickening muscle and skin. Your vision sharpens and your hearing grows more keen. You feel their heartbeats in your ears, mingling with your own, and a familiar, hungry thrill rumbles from within you. Unbidden, a growl rolls through your body, shaking the underbrush, and the hunters freeze. "Shit," the man curses, unsheathing his dagger with fumbling fingers. "Shit, shit, shit." You think you may be grinning as you burst from the shadows. You charge towards the man, who screams, his burly arms swatting at you uselessly. You feel yourself growing, swelling, just about crushing him beneath you. "Back off!" The huntress screams, and lunges at you, dagger flashing in her grip. *[[Leap back!|leoleap]] *[[Overwhelm her first!|leowhelm]]

You leap away from the weapon, swiping at her as she ducks, shoving the man aside. She circles you, and you mirror her, growling again as you search for an opening. She dances with you willingly, responding to your baiting swipes with flashes of her blade. Sweat beads her brow, trailing down her wavering throat as she hisses instructions to the man. You hear rustling, a hurried whip of movement, and panic rises as you realize too late that she had blocked him from your view. From behind, he looses an arrow and you flatten yourself down—just as the huntress takes the chance to yank him to his feet, shoving him through the thicker brushes behind them. Frustrated, you charge at them, barreling through the brush, catching the huntress's leg so she falls, screaming. "Yali!" The man is on you in a second. He flips his own dagger once more, its silver blade curved down, biting into your shoulder. <<include "at_end">>

You yowl and she balks, skidding to a stop to ready a defensive form, but you are already on top of her. Beneath layers of coarse cloth, her heartbeat flutters like a trapped bird, thudding loud in your ears when you catch her by the shoulder. The hard handle of the knife slams against the bottom of your jowl, and you snarl when your teeth snap painfully shut. Behind you, the man recovers faster than you thought he would. "Back away!" Growling in frustration, you fling yourself off her when he brandishes his blade, giving them distance, but no leeway. Shaking, he helps her to her feet, weapon towards you the entire time, jabbing it forwards when you step too close. You pace in front of them, tail flicking from side to side, stalking forwards as they back away. Then, upon reaching thicker bushes, their eyes flick to each other. A signal. Your heart races and you leap to stop them. You catch the huntress's leg as she kicks out, and she falls, screaming. "Yali!" The man is waiting for you. He flips his own dagger once more, its silver blade curved down, and you barely manage to scramble out of the way before it scores across your shoulder. <<include "at_end">>

Your feet glide over the forest floor, effortless and smooth, completely silent against the thundering of their own feet. Leaves are torn from nearby branches at your call, spiraling towards the fleeing humans, who duck their heads down. Dry, splintering wind whips against the huntress's shoulders and she yelps, just before the man yanks her out of the way of a descending branch. The thrill of your power intoxicates you. You're grinning as you leap up a boulder, gaining the high ground, wondering at the extent of your strength. How far would you go? Would you be willing to test it on these humans? The forest sways at your power, caving into the two humans, trapping them in its depths. However, you do not get your answer, as your body begins to weaken. [[Next|amag1]]

You let them run. The shock of your attack should be enough to repel them from this place for at least a while, and besides, you do not want to drain all of your energy on the likes of them. Your high comes down. Slowly, you unwind the tension from your shoulders, and the leaves float back down. One finger at a time, you release your fist, and the wind softens around you, curling around you protectively before dispersing into a harmless breeze. From the ground, energy rushes up your legs to replace all that you have lost, and you fall to your knees, gasping as you're overwhelmed by it. The hunters fade away, their shouts and panicked footsteps thundering even from a distance. With your eyes closed, you follow them, making sure that they keep running. [[Next|ahun_end]]

Cold sunlight flashes across your skin as you bound through the now familiar slopes of the ravine. You know every turn, every hidden path, that will lead you to Big Sister who lives by the river with the willow tree that she is a part of. Today, she sits at the edge of the water. Her feet trail in the rushing current, and she's facing you as you step out of the underbrush. She tilts her head your way and long black hair slips from her shoulder to pool on the rock beneath her. She smiles, and despite yourself, you shiver when her cold chi washes over you. She is much, much older than you are, and much stronger as well—you can't help but to cower a little to feel her attention brush against your skin, no matter how affectionate it is. "Come closer," she extends a thin, tawny finger your way, and you force your shoulders to relax as you approach. The frozen silt has thawed a little, just enough to cushion your footsteps into silence. "You look tired," she muses, pinching your chin when you are close enough. Her eyes are the color of faded moss, matching the swaying leaves above her. "Shouldn't you be resting, <> <<if $plant is true>> Little Sprout?" <<else>> Young One?" <</if>> <> *[["I will, later."]] *[["I won't get stronger if I sleep all the time!"]] *[["I'm not tired yet!"]] *[["I wanted to talk to you first."]]

<div class="story-logo" data-passage="storyLogo"></div> Restart

"I'll be done growing soon!" you say excitedly, glancing up at your sister who nods. "Perhaps another decade or so?" She crosses her arms and leans down even more to inspect you. "Or perhaps sooner. Aging is a strange process, isn't it? It is always different for everyone." She rubs one of your cheeks with her palm, and the warm gesture sends another heavy wave of fatigue over your body. Frantically, you keep yourself from yawning. Before you revert back, you need to tell her the real reason you sought her out today. [["Big Sister, how do I get a name?"]]

<<set $scar to "none">><center>[[You run until you crash to the ground.]]</center>

Is this what you are? Are you the awakened spirit of a mountain $origin? *[[I am.]] *[[Wait...]]

*[[I am a Red Spider Lily. One of the many symbols of death. To some, it means nothing, but most would rather avoid me than not.|Lily]] *[[I am an Apple Tree. Friend to all, I have given shelter and fruit for as long as I have stood.|Apple]] *[[I am a Cluster of Ginseng. As a powerful ingredient said to be cultivated by spirits, humans used to gather my roots reverently for medicine.|Ginseng]] *[[I am a Pine Tree. My kind are considered to be sacred in this forest where we have stood for longer than anyone else.|Pine]] *[[I am a Magnolia Blossom. In times of conflict, humans would put my kind on their breasts for courage before battle.|Magnolia]]

The mountain is being eaten alive by the Foxes, and it is only a matter of time before they find you again. You cannot risk it. You have to leave. Curse! Curse! Curse! It is pounding into your skull. They are getting closer. They are monsters, grotesque nightmares that have brought blight to your gentle home, and yet their words are strangely rhythmic. Hypnotic. Their voices trail after you, lulling you and tempting you, reaching to you with their corruption that wraps like a ribbon around your neck. You have to run, but somehow you cannot. <center><h3>[[You have been cursed.]]</h3></center>

Your eyes snap open as the words scream in your mind. It lingers. The sun—big, red, and half sunken—stares back at you, frozen in place, like a half-lidded eye. Your pulse quickens. The crickets silence. [[Something is wrong.]]

It bursts in your mind again, and this time, you recoil violently as it bites into your core. It thunders over the mountain, and for one, awful second, time has stopped. There is no wind. No sound. You cannot feel anything except your own terror dripping through your body. You inhale sharply, and the air turns leaden in your lungs. Your blood pounds in your ears and you press a hand against your temples. No. Not your blood. You hear a thousand heartbeats in the distance. Faint, at first, but rapidly growing in volume, shattering the silence. Your jaw trembles. Your body is screaming at you to run, but you have no idea why. Something hurls itself into your tree and you are shaken from your branch. You shriek, your voice piercing the heavens as the ground rushes up to meet you. [[All of it is red.]]

You scramble to your feet, but are still overwhelmed by its size even at a distance. The Fox growls at you, a low sound that rumbles through your bones. Its gnarled muscles are bunched, ready to spring, and it takes a single, weighted step. To your left, you notice that there is a small gap that you might be able to run through, if you manage to fight it off first. *[[Attack to kill!|profoxfi2]] *[[Fight to flee!|profoxfi3]]

The layers of the earth rush past your body as you are drawn to something even deeper. It is dark. You feel something being ripped from your body, unable to pass, and there is a long, suffocating moment of suspension. [[Solid stone, dirt, leaves.|pro_sw2]]

You are pushed into existence again, and your lungs swell for air as you are tumbled forwards. Your jaw meets the ground, but the landing is soft. You regain control of your body and with your remaining strength, you roll over. Sharp pain shoots through your spine, and you let out a low moan, your voice echoing around you. You inhale. You hesitate before you exhale, fearful of what you might see, and you hold it until it feels like your lungs will burst. The air that finally escapes is clean, but you are no fool. You can feel darkness eating at your insides, chewing through your body as it nestles into your bones. You cannot fight it, you don't have the energy or the will to repel something so deeply buried. Slowly, you lift your eyes, and you are met with a red-tinged sky. [[END PROLOGUE]]

The Fox lunges, ugly claws tearing the air where you once were as you throw yourself to the side. Your limbs elongate and your muscles thickens, coming to solid form just as you whip back around to catch the Fox with a heavy punch. Its neck crunches as its flung back, its body crumpling the ground with a gurgling whine. Blood gushes from its mouth, its bones cracking underneath matted and shredded fur. It retches and you watch in horror as the blood that splatters to the ground lingers on the leaves at its feet. <<link "//What?//""profoxfi4">><</link>>

It pounces again, but you've prepared for it. Your fingers elongate, gaining sharp points and hardened skin that you rake into its sagging cheek, ducking under its jaws. A screeching, furious whine erupts from the beast, exhaling as smoke from its slack mouth. Before it recovers, you slam your leg into its side, and it yowls as its thrown into a tree, slumping down in a writhing heap. Your hand feels slick. Its blood is oily and dark, and you watch in horror as it runs down your arm. <<link "//What.//""profoxfi5">><</link>>

That’s not possible, you think numbly. Spirit blood should disappear almost immediately—its only chi after all—so once it leaves the container, it vanishes into the earth. Unless this monster is alive, a real animal—but how can that be? Energy ripples off of this monster in droves—how could it possibly be anything but a spirit? Yet its blood continues to soak the dirt. You swallow hard. <<if $phys is 0>>You rush the Fox again, but its not as winded as you expected it to be. It ducks under your swing, and slips its sleek body between your arms. Red-ringed eyes fill your vision, reaching into your body, pulling out your core. Every sound muffles, and a mouth of fangs opens. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]<<elseif $phys is 1 or $magic is 1>>You rush the Fox again, grabbing a fistful of its coarse fur. Its teeth snap at your ear, its sharp whine piercing through your courage, but you grip tighter, trying to keep its jaw back. You manage to pin it for a second, before it bucks wildly underneath you and slams its back legs into your stomach, flinging you back. Winded, you scramble to your feet just in time to avoid its claws on your face, but not fast enough to dodge when it lunges again. The Fox seems to laugh, a cruel sneer cuts its face into two. You feel claws on your skin. You scream. [[Your vision goes black.|scar_back]]<<elseif $phys is 2 or $magic is 2>>You rush the Fox again, surged by your own strength, and slam its face to the ground. It thrashes, but you bind it with chi, sewing it to the scattered leaves beneath. Your muscles continue to bulk, your hands become larger and mangled, knotted with bone as you grip the beast by the neck. Veins pop from your arms, running like rivers beneath your skin, and you are so concentrated on crushing the Fox, that you don't notice when it stops moving. But it is not dead. Its body refuses to disappear. It lays, limp and silent, sticky blood dripping from its nose and mouth. Black miasma rises from underneath your fist, clinging to your skin, and you reel back, flinging the monster away. With your heart pounding, you bolt, turning to the darkened, blood-clotted trees. [[You have to run while you can.|no_scar]]<</if>>

Spirit blood should disappear almost immediately—its only chi after all—so once it leaves the container, it vanishes into the earth. Unless this monster is alive, a real animal—but how can that be? Energy ripples off of this monster in droves—how could it possibly be anything but a spirit? But it's blood drips from your elbow, and beads in the dirt below. The Fox growls and starts to stir. You don't have time for this. You whirl around and fling yourself into the underbrush, leaving it and your questions behind. [[Next|Flight!]]

Outside, the sun has begun its decline, and with that, the humidity is not as bad as it was before. As you travel again through the redwoods, you put a hand over your heart, unsurprised at how it pounds underneath your clothes. Though you leave the cave, something is stuck to you, clinging to your wrists as you leap down the mountain: The scent of rain, wind, and heartrending grief. [[Next|big_sis_meet]]

Adrenaline burns through your veins and pulses into the ground, sending leaves up into the air in a shock-wave around your form. "Yali!" The man bellows, and you flinch when thundering footsteps jolt you out of your reverie. You scramble off of her, but not before another dagger glances across your shoulder. <<include "at_end">>

You fall to all fours, feeling soft fur coming to place over thickening muscles and skin. Your field of vision expands and blurs, and in its place, the sounds of the hunters flood your mind: you hear their breath catch and their heartbeats quickening, sending warm blood down through their already heated veins. Hunters becoming prey. It is truly poetic. Your body swells, becoming larger and more formidable, and when your shape solidifies, you charge. The forest floor glides underneath you as you launch yourself towards the man, teeth gnashing viciously. He shrieks in surprise, swatting at you with his hands, but the pain is dulled, taken over by satisfaction when he falls to his back, wheezing with effort under your increasing weight. "Mountain spirit," the huntress hisses, and you hear the ringing of her blade as its taken from its sheathe. *[[Dodge!|rabdodge]] *[[Overwhelm her first!|rabover]]

There is a faint whistle as her dagger curves harmlessly over your head, missing as you duck low. She twirls the blade, angling it down, but you leap away, too fast for her to follow. She stumbles forwards from the momentum, giving you time to leap to the side and pounce—landing on her back, sending her to the floor. Layers of cloth softens her fall, but her face contorts and she heaves, winded. You growl as you lean close, listening to her fluttering, panicked heartbeat. <<include "rabat1">>

With an echoing screech, you abandon the man and lunge for her, ducking under her crescent arc. She gasps, over-stepping due to the momentum, and you pounce, knocking the knife clear out of her hand and shoving her to her back. Your weight continues to grow, and her face contorts with pain when you squeeze her chest. Through the layers of cloth, you can feel her heartbeat, fluttering like that of caught prey. You try not to feel too pleased by the irony. <<include "rabat1">>

<><<if $chest is false>>*[[Search the chests.|chest]] <</if>> <<if $table is false>>*[[Look at the table.|table]] <</if>> <><>*[[Investigate deeper within.|cave]]<>

<><<set $room to true>>You know a little about dwellings like these, enough to know that this is no normal home.<> The opening of this place once had sliding doors, and by the remaining frame, it must have been a grand one. The low table and chests are beautifully carved, engraved with cloud-like markings, and despite time's best efforts, the floor you are standing on is hardly splintered at all. Then there is the breadth of this room to consider, the fact that it is a carved space on the side of a mountain, and you wonder what kind of great and wealthy spirit lived here. <<include "rchoice">>

<<set $scar to "back">><center>[[It is agony.]]</center>

<<set $scar to "front">><center>[[It must stop.]]</center>

Skin. Human skin. Skin that is soft and supple and sensitive to every touch. Is this your body? *[[I twitch my fingers, slow and steady]] *[[I test my legs, let's see if I can stand.]] *[[I stare at the sky, my vision has never been so clear.]]

You sink into the earth, your nerves streamlining and shifting as your form drastically changes. Your sight dims, but in return, a million sensations dart across your long body—the hunter's breath and heartbeat sends shivers across your skin, becoming perfect targets for you to strike. You approach quietly, barely moving leaves as you glide between them, until you reach the feet of the hunters. The man, by chance, glances down, and his face grows white, but it is too late. "Sna-Aaah!" he shrieks, falling backwards and dragging the huntress with him. You strike, body lunging for him, and he kicks at you, but the pain is muffled. You feel yourself swelling, becoming larger, and the hunters gape with undisguised horror. "Mountain spirit!" The huntress spats. The grip on her dagger changes, and with eyes of molten flame, she lunges at you. *[[Dodge!|sndodge]] *[[Rush in to meet her!|snmeet]]

Adrenaline races through your veins to feel her trapped beneath you, the excitement lifts the leaves from the ground, covering you in a dazzling screen that dapples her panicked expression. "Yali!" The man bellows to the side and you flinch, unraveling yourself quickly, but not before another dagger slices across your smooth side. <<include "at_end">>

You twist back, flicking your tongue tauntingly as her knife curves through open air. She stumbles, and seeing the opportunity, you lash out, coiling around her body. Coarse fabric keeps her from you, but you feel her rapid heartbeat all the same as you squeeze with all your muscles. Her knife clatters to the floor. <<include "snakefi1">>

A hiss splits the air as you strike her, coiling around her knife hand. The flat of the blade traces down your back harmlessly before its wrung from her grip, clattering to the floor. She snarls, wriggling to get her arms free, but you tense every muscle and she is forced to be still. You feel her heartbeat, rapid and quick like a caught mouse, fluttering against your sensitive skin as you squeeze her tight. <<include "snakefi1">>

<<set $souk to true>>"What?" you sputter, "How can humans kill a god?" "Gods are more easily killed than you realize, Little One," she says, so quietly that it blends into the rushing river. Then she clears her throat, "The previous god died of heartbreak many, many years ago." "Heartbreak?" She opens her mouth, and then quickly shuts it. She looks at you carefully, wonderingly, at your small form and searching eyes, "you don't think it's possible? To be so sad, so in pain without your loved one, that you'd wish anything to stop your loneliness?" Now it's your turn to pause. Not because you can imagine it yourself, but because you feel swallowed by the green sea in your sister's gaze. You are plunged in cold water, in the numbing, fathomless depths of her words. You don't understand how heartbreak can kill, but your sister evidently does. "And...and that is what happened to him?" "Yes," your sister's words pull at you like the current, washing you downstream, "the humans killed his wife, and shortly after, he had departed too." You stare at the river, frowning deeply, and Big Sister rests a hand against your shoulder. "Sorry Little One, I know it's not a happy story." With a deep breath, you shake your head. You were glad that she answered, regardless, and this is something that happened a long time ago anyway. <<include "bsqs2">>

<><<set $pro_hunt_knife to true>> You practically fly to the hunter's side, suddenly interested in his belt. He recoils violently, but not before you've wrapped your fingers around his dagger and taken it out of its place. <> "Hey!" It's sharp, and a lot heavier than you thought it would be, with its blade nearly as long as your forearm. You test its weight curiously, when a crunch of leaves snaps you from your observations. The hunters stand tensed, eyes darting frantically between you and the weapon, and you grin. With your fingers firm over the leather grip, you waving it tantalizingly and then dash into the trees. "W-wait!" <<include "tease1">>

You shift on your weight, making sure that they really can see you, and your heart soars when their eyes follow. You can tell that you haven't quite achieved a full form before them, but that they can see you at all is a huge accomplishment—you feel as though you have just crossed some incredible barrier. The hunters stand, tensed, but their curiosity is plain to see, and an idea pops into your head. They are hunters after all, a running spirit should be enough to get them to follow. With a smirk, you spin on your heel and dash into the trees. And, sure enough, they go crashing after you. "W-wait!" <<include "tease1">>

<><<set $hunt to "tease">> You almost never get the chance to play around with humans, and now there are two of them here stuck at some crossroads? You must be luckier than you thought. <> You grin and energy surges up to you from the earth, bolstered by your enthusiasm. With it, you get a quick scope of the land around you, mapping your awareness over the bends and dips hidden by the shadows. *[[I will try to make myself more visible to get them to follow me.]] *[[I will try to lead them around without being seen.]]

However, you cannot keep this up forever. This visible form is heavy and hard to maintain, and after a few more spins around the trees, your strength begins to fade, becoming translucent as energy leaks from your skin. You stumble, unprepared for the sudden fatigue, and click your tongue. And so, making sure that the hunters are right on your heels, you turn one last corner just as your cloak of visibility dissipates into nothing. You twist out of the way<<if $pro_hunt_knife is true>> and drop the knife, just barely managing to avoid them into careening into you.<<else>>, just barely managing to avoid them careening into you.<</if>> "Where did it—"the man stares at where you had disappeared. "It's gone," spits Yali, yanking her hair away from her face fiercely as she searches for you. However, your chi has been spent, and now lurks far below what she can detect. "Jiaqi is going to yell at us." "Yell at you for being misled by a Ko, more like." The man grumbles<<if $pro_hunt_knife is true>>reaching down for his knife,<<else>>,<</if>> and she looks away sharply, cheeks burning with exertion and humiliation. "Whatever," she grunts, tightly readjusting her bow. "Let's just leave this place. I don't want to get caught by the Watcher next." [[Next|t_hun_end]]

"A spirit is here with us," she murmurs, and draws a slow hand across the back of her neck. He pales, gripping his knife tighter. "The Guardian?" She hesitates. Impatient, you sweep your arm and a gale bursts out from you, amplifying your presence. The hunters flinch. "No," she finally decides, her mouth drawn tight. "For better or worse." [[And like a moth to flame, she begins to walk.]]

Sadly, you won't be able to continue for long. Trying to hold onto so many threads in the environment easily overwhelms your body, and you frown when your strength begins to fade. Your connection to the wind fades, blurred by a growing migraine, and you pull away quickly, wincing. You brace yourself, to scavenge what chi you have left and compress it into your joined palms. It builds, stopping your breath, and just as the hunters begin to loom unknowingly over you, you let it burst. <<link "//Boom!//" "bramble">><</link>>

For the first time, you feel the hunters emitting chi, though it is unlike anything else you have felt before. Rather than emotion, a wave of power both warm and cold seeps into you, filling you with clarity, making your vision sharp and your ears burst. Your back straightens. You feel tall. Taller than you've ever been before. The feeling continues to flow into you until their footsteps have disappeared completely, and you deflate, but power still races underneath your skin, pounding through your veins. Unsure, you take a step back, and your balance shifts. You sway, catch yourself, and then try again. The ground pushes up against you, but you do not falter. Each step is more certain than the last, and when you've regained your gravity, the disorientation ebbs away to something different. You feel powerful. You feel stronger than you ever have been before. In the sigh of the leaves, there is a whisper of bells, ringing so faintly that you wonder if you are merely imagining it. [[Next|big_sis_meet]]

You exhale slowly, and the temperature drops as your breath reaches the floor. The world resists this kind of change, and your jaw aches with effort, but--like snapping a taut string--the tension bursts. The air around the hunters grow cold, sweeping over their sweated skin, making them scramble closer together, fumbling with their weapons. Back-to-back, they search for the threat—for you—and with a thrill of excitement, you realize that this is the first time you have ever gotten to interact so directly with humans. "Yali, what is that?" the man hisses the question, but she shakes her head quickly. <<include "t_hun2">>

You flex your fingers, aiming them towards the bushes on the other side of the humans, and pull chi that sleeps in the leaves, rattling them noisily. The hunters leap away, their hands snapping to their waists, and deep satisfaction fills you. You have never interacted with humans like this before, and a thrill of excitement burns through you when you realize you've crossed that huge milestone today. "Yali, what was that?" hisses the man, but she shakes her head. <<include "t_hun2">>

Defeated and grumbling, they begin to shoulder their way out of the clearing, and you shiver. For the first time, you feel them emitting chi, though it is unlike anything else you have felt before. Rather than an emotion, a wave of power both warm and cold seeps into you, filling you with clarity, making your vision sharp and your ears burst. Your back straightens. You feel tall. Taller than you've ever been. The feeling continues to flow into you until their footsteps have disappeared completely, and you deflate, but power still races underneath your skin, pounding through your veins. Unsure, you take a step back, and your balance shifts. You sway, catch yourself, and then try again. The ground pushes up against you, but you do not falter. Each step is more certain than the last, and when you've regained your gravity, the disorientation ebbs away to something different. You feel powerful. You feel stronger. In the sigh of the leaves, there is a whisper of bells, ringing so faintly that you wonder if you are merely imagining it. [[Next|big_sis_meet]]

Defeated and grumbling, they begin to shoulder their way out of the clearing, oblivious to your laughing that chases them out. [[Next|t_hun4]]

You relax your muscles and bring your arms down slowly, and the heavy pressure of the air lessens. The humidity resists your attempts, and you have to push a little more to get it to work with you, but it eventually gives. The air dries a little, giving the hunters just the slightest reprieve from the oppressive summer heat, and they both shiver, then look at each other in shock. "Do you feel—" The huntress nods to his question before he's finished, and with better accuracy than him, she turns to face your general direction. <<include "t_hun2">>

You give your sweetest smile, adding soft blush to your cheeks to make yourself look even cuter, "I can help you." Their eyes grow wide when your thin voice warbles towards them, and you realize that this is also the first time you have ever spoken to humans. Your heart pounds with excitement—you feel as if you have just crossed some incredible barrier. They don't reply, but you know you have them hooked. With an unbidden giggle, you wave at them, and then dash into the trees. "W-wait!" <<include "tease1">>

<> <<set $table to true>> You carefully press your fingertips to the table, sliding it over the edge. The surface is smooth and the lacquer finish has held well—it is still beautiful and shiny underneath the layer of dust you brush aside. <> And beneath even that, a slow pull of chi rises up to meet your skin. It curls between your fingers, whispering against your wrists in near-silent, indecipherable tones. Broken emotions filter through this single touch, none of them you can make sense of, except for one: You feel love. Love that is colored like sunset, like a dying flame that will soon burn out. You grasp it, pulling in hopes to reveal more, but the feeling snaps like a spider's thread, and then it dissipates again. <><<if $room is false>>*[[Continue searching the room.|room]] <</if>> <<include "rchoice">><>

Big Sister breathes from her stomach, from the source of her endless energy, and grounds her feet into the dirt. The earth, lively with coming spring, silences. Your keen ears catch the air as it moves through her lungs, to the false blood that slides through her veins. You watch as her raised arm slowly lowers down, and as it reaches its lowest point, she lifts her right foot forwards. [[And her dance begins.]]

the hunters shout as they give chase, their boots thundering over the ground in a way that your footsteps never do—you wonder how any animal could possibly be caught by them, loud as they are. You leap up over a fallen tree trunk and laugh when you turn around to them tripping over the wayward branches. They scramble after you, hoping for both a foothold and a chance to snag you, but you bound away again. [[They cannot come close.]]

You frown, bracing a hand on the tree trunk, and sensing your attention, she glances up at you. Even in the low light, you can see the deep creases in her forehead and the dark flush that covers her cheeks as she glares at you. <<if $pro_hunt_knife is true>>"Damn it," spats the man as his boot sinks into yet another wet spot. "If it weren't for that stupid knife!" "I can't believe you let a spirit steal it from you," she shoots back, and he scowls. "I can barely see the Ko, how was I supposed to know it was near me? If anything you with your half-seeing eyes should have—" She whips around, eyes flashing. "Oh, it's my fault?" "Yes! It's also your fault that we're this far north in the first place!" While amusing, you're not too pleased at having them distracted by each other, so you jump down to shock them into silence.<<else>>"Should we—"the man curses mid-sentence as his boot sinks into yet another wet spot"—should we even be following this spirit?" "I thought it wanted to be followed," she grumbles back. "But that doesn't mean we're being helped, does it?" Not keen on having them use their brains, you jump down immediately to shock them into silence.<</if>> They start on impulse, and you dive back into the underbrush, grinning when they start chasing you again. [[Next|t_hun1]]

You meet her eyes and you grin, waving at her even as her face burns red. "What?" the man looks at you, then at her with confusion, "is it saying something?" "The Little Spirit is mocking us," she grumbles, yanking her leg up again as it sinks into the mud. Her eyes turn darker than before, and suddenly she starts stomping towards you. "Mocking—hey! Wait, Yali, don't—"the man grabs her shoulder, but she shoves him off, her eyes intent to catch you. You laugh and leap from your place, graceful as ever, unable to stop grinning when she yells furiously after you. [[Next|t_hun1]]

You want to cover your ears, but your arms refuse to move. You can hear them. Their mantra. Their angry screaming and vile breathing. Finally, it stops, and you are knocked onto your back. Claws meet your soft skin. [[You are caught.|scar_front]]

Adrenaline burns through you, and leaves spiral up from the ground in a shock wave around your body protectively, blurring the surroundings into a swirl of brown and green. "Yali!" The man bellows to your right and you flinch, jumping back quickly, but not before another dagger slices through the dust storm, grazing your shoulder. <<include "at_end">>

She lunges and you slip to the side, angling your shoulders parallel to her wrist. Her eyes grow wide as you disappear from her momentarily, and she pivots to leap back, but she is too late. You spin on your back leg, sliding against the willing forest floor, and swing a kick against her open back. She lurches forward, snarling, and you pull away when she twists to slash at you again. She falls on her side, and you drop to your haunches, prepared to leap again. <<include "u_fight1">>

Not that sight will do her any good. With chi racing down your veins, you rush forwards, your feet gliding over the forest floor. You see their faces—their shock, confusion, fear—and it stirs a warm rush of satisfaction as you draw your arm back. You duck low, beneath the reach of their flailing limbs, and then shoot up, connecting a fist to the man's unguarded gut. Air flies out of his lungs, the force of it crumpling against your arm, and you grin. He grunts, doubling over, and you twist your body to the side for another strike, when a flash of steel has you jumping away. The huntress twirls the dagger and her grip changes. With an arm across her chest, she darts in again blindly with the blade in your direction, which you sidestep. Her footwork is good, and she has the balance and poise to be deadly, but even her expertise do not match your weightless movements. You can tell now that your condensed energy is enough for her to sense you, if not see you properly. Her gaze shifts near your area, and she shoves the man back. You have the advantage—you are faster and the man still cannot see you, and you smile when you see that she has realized the same. Regardless, she coils her body tight, and her dagger flips again. "Mountain spirit." *[[Dodge!|unsdodge]] *[[Parry!|unsparry]]

Her knife comes at you from below, angled up to plunge into your ribs, but you're faster. You slam your forearm down onto her wrist with a sharp crack and she cries out as the knife jerks out of her fingers. Following the momentum, you slam your palm against her jaw, and her neck snaps back. She wrenches herself from you and shoves you back, but you drop to your haunches just as readily, prepared to leap again. <<include "u_fight1">>

<<set finished to false>> <<set impossible to false>> <<set fake_test to false>> <<set test to false>> <<set $name to "luo">> > <<set mem_redmountain false>> <<set inmemg to false>> <<set inmemb to false>> <> <<set impossible to true>> <<set he to "he">> <<set him to "him">> <<set his to "his">> <<set his_s to "his>> <<set he_is to "he is">> Don't do the above <<set $he to "he">> <<set $He to "He">> <> <<goto "Start">>

<h1>END OF DEMO Jan 16, 2025</h1> Thank you so much for reading the current demo for God of the Red Mountain! As it is, this is a soft launch to itch due to the impending end of Dashingdon and only includes the completed prologue, which I have been admittedly hiding for a very long time. Due to school, I will not be doing any major updates until around March 2025, but I wanted to post this for everyone who has been so patient with me the last few years—though many of you are probably tired of reading the prologue at this point, my apologies (｡T ω T｡) Though, I did also want to say with this release that I certainly haven't forgotten this project! Despite everything, I am still tinkering and slowly transferring Chapters 1-3 to Twine, as well as making headway narratively on Chapter 4. It's just been harder for me to write updates on the Tumblr blog, especially with my progress so slow and a personal aversion to social media, but things are going well, and I hope to send out more good news after March. Stay safe out there, and thank you again for reading <3 <center>Friendly Bowl of Soup</center>