video | un: clouded.judgement

[calmness]

[The video starts with a shot of the snow covered ground, foliage overgrown but peaking out from under the white powder and very much of a hoppy nature. The person holding the camera is walking through it, lower half clad in pale blue and white robes embroidered with cloud patterns.

The camera spins, catching a glance of the run down farmhouse before settling on the man holding the smartphone. For someone with sticks and snow stuck in their hair, he still manages to look put together and the forehead ribbon he's wearing is not out of place and while there's a crease in his brows there's also an upward turn to his lips. Unfortunately for the protagonist of this story, he also really has no idea what the phone he's holding is or that he's recording and will soon be blasting a video out to the whole of the network.

Fortunately for him, the tumble he took earlier is not recorded. At least it hasn't started snowing. What luck.]

For a nightmare, this feels horribly tame... [There's no rain or snow suddenly falling but Lan Xichen is. The camera broadcasts the video, flies into the air, and then cuts out with the blue clad protagonist of this tale sitting in a lotus pose in a pile of snow. No scream and he nailed the landing, but is definitely worse for wear.]

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[calmness]

[Oh.

Oh dear.

For all that Lan Xichen does not understand about this world, why he has ended up here, he understands that it is not good that so many people he knows are calling. It means they have been pulled from their homes, were once also feeling this sense of dread and confusion that has seeped into his bones.

The device -- which has a camera, he now understands, but does not know its name -- is somewhat familiar now. He lifts it again, looks at the screen with brows creased and breathing not as steady as he would like.] Sect Leader Jiang. [He is not sure what to say next, as anything that follows seems obvious.

Yes, he is also here.

No, this is not alright.

But --- perhaps another sect leader has some idea what is going on.] What--- what is this place?

[legbreakings]

[ And normally, Jiang Cheng would now kick off his usual "congratulations, you have been kidnapped for murder" spiel but considering this is Lan Xichen, a respected authority person of his own society, he finds himself at least wanting to try to be more tactful.

He is silent for a moment, weighing how he should best go about it. ]

It is a large prison, of a sort. We have been abducted and are kept trapped in this area, consisting of a village and the lakeside community, as well as the surrounding forests and fields. We don't understand their goals fully but they use us... as sacrifices to their gods, as a sort.

[ Okay, so there is really no nice way to put this. ]

[calmness]

[Ah.

Well, that is an answer where before he's received no insights into the world around him. He is thankful for that, for Jiang Wanyin's honesty.

The hammering in his chest does not stop, his brows crease together and for a moment Lan Xichen feels like he is about to topple over in the snow. He could blame it on snow, he is shaking after-all. But it is not the cold. For a moment, he wonders if perhaps this folly came from choosing to leave seclusion, to return to the world.]

As sacrifices? Is it possible to remain unharmed? [Can they survive? Can they keep themselves and others safe?]

[legbreakings]

[ Yes, right to the important question. That is good, it is a relief, honestly. Not just a relief to have someone from his own world who shares his focus on the battle, but to know there is another sect leader here now. Especially with three of their cultivators being Lan, and Jiang Cheng never feeling inclined or entitled to wield authority over them.

He thinks for a moment, thinking beyond his usual curt, dismissive answers ] I believe our opportunities are limited. They leave us alone for weeks and months at a time. I have spoken at length to a girl called Namine who has many thoughts on their reasons. There may be more to it than simply killing. That there is a ritualistic element to it, which means we can't simply be killed over and over again. But once they attack, there is very little we can do. We can fight but the dangers they throw at us... It is limited what we can do against them. If they are determined to kill us, we won't be able to fight them off. They can throw wave after wave at us.