(mostly) open journal post

[legbreakings]

Sender: Jiang Cheng
To: Everyone (except for Wei Wuxian)
Subject: A request for bow-makers

I have a question for the people of Songerein: Are you or anyone you know well-versed in crafting bows and arrows of good quality?

I'm seeking to commission the making of bows mostly to be used for hunting, though if they are sturdy enough to be suited to battle as well it would be all the better. We are currently using bows we found around town, which are serviceable enough but no permanent solution.

I can provide the materials and I will pay for your work in bartered goods or labor.

Comments

Re: 2/2

[legbreakings]

I don't know these Dark Ages you speak of but we don't like in a particularly dark time anymore. Unless this refers to an upsurge of demonic cultivation in general.

[hashtagwoof]

What? That's not what I was talking about!

And what do you mean "upsurge of demonic cultivation?" Are people farming demons or something???

[legbreakings]

[ Huh. ]

That is actually not the worst description I have heard for it. Demonic cultivation uses the resentful energy of restless spirits for spells, while orthodox cultivators our own body's cultivated qi for this purpose.

But that doesn't even matter! You still haven't explained what you do mean with Dark Agees, if not this.

[hashtagwoof]

[ Geez, talk about pushy. ]

I meant like are you from ancient times. You know, swords and castles. No cars. No electricity or indoor plumbing. That kinda thing.

Though now that you're talking about this cultivation stuff I'm probably way off the mark. What even is qi supposed to be, anyway?

[legbreakings]

Why did you not say so right away!

Yes, then I am from what is "ancient times" to you. We fight with swords, not these rifle things, we use carriages or ride on horses, or cultivators will fly. We certainly don't have automatic lights and our cold boxes are in the basement and kept cold with slabs of ice, or cooling talismans.

Qi is one of the energies inside all living bodies. Normally, it is simply there, like blood, and can cause health problems if imbalanced. Cultivators cultivate their qi and use it for what other people describe as magic.

[hashtagwoof]

IDK I thought you would know what that is.

[ As for the other things... Uh... That's a lot for the kid to wrap his head around. At least he has confirmed the bow and arrows guy is definitely from ye olde times of some sort. ]

Okay, you're definitely from some kind of alternate universe where humans just have magic soul stuff. Closest thing I've ever heard of that was from that one guy whose cousin had an owl for a spirit animal or something. And I met that bloke on here too.

[legbreakings]

We don't normally keep spiritual owls. Only animals like spiritual dogs, turtles, pigs and rabbits. Sensible domesticated animals. There are exceptions though where other kinds of animals are controlled with demonic cultivation.

[hashtagwoof]

I wasn't saying pets. I was saying that guy said his cousin turns into an owl sometimes in dreamscapes? Huge difference.

[legbreakings]

I turned into a pumpkin the first time I went into the dreamscape so I will believe it, unlikely as it sounds.

[hashtagwoof]

[ . . . ]

What.

[legbreakings]

I was a pumpkin. The first time I woke up in the dreamscape, when I was practicing. I grew my body back piece by piece, until I managed to fully transform myself.

There were rodents trying to gnaw at me, so I was motivated.

[hashtagwoof]

Again. WHAT.

[legbreakings]

Don't tell me! Tell these tapirs! They turned me into a pumpkin! Do you think I wasn't furious about it!