text ; un: lan.sizhui

[lanofsizhui]

So, I heard today is Mother's day. Question and advice.

How to...how do you honor your mother? What should I do? I was thinking of getting flowers.

Comments

[wildsorcery]

Seven strings? That sounds like it would be a lot to keep track of!

It sounds like you had a lot on your plate, then. Was it for something special or just to be able to defend yourself?

[lanofsizhui]

It's difficult to master, and it took me years to play a very complex song out of it. But then my difficulty in learning it, because, in my clan, we used the instrument as a secondary weapon in battle, so there's that.

It's in a special in a way, my clan deals and specializes in calming and exorcising evil restless spirits through music.

[wildsorcery]

Oh, like a bard?

[ D&D logic™ ]

That sounds like a very important job. You don't have to do that here, though? Right?

[lanofsizhui]

I think like a bard, yes.
But what's a bard? It's a type of musician?

My father expects me to master everything he knows.
He passed down the songs and traditions of our people to me,
so I can learn and know everything and passed down to the next generation.

[wildsorcery]

Someone who weaves music and magic together? They can cast spells through their instruments! Even make people stronger with their music, I think... it's a very interesting kind of magic.

[ Pause. ]

...that all sounds very strict, but understandable. You haven't run into any evil spirits here, though?

[lanofsizhui]

Then it's exactly like that. A bard.

If you think it's interesting, I'll be happy to show you a demonstration. It's not often I play music for other people as an audience.

No, I have not. No evil spirits or lingering ghosts. If I did, I would let my father know of it.

[wildsorcery]

I... uh... I would like that.

[ He has to war with himself for a moment, old thoughts of shyness and worry seeping in. He has to remember that he's allowed to want things, so Connie collects himself. ]

That would be lovely. I'm glad there aren't any evil ghosts around, too.

[lanofsizhui]

[Switching to video mode, it reveals to be a spirited young youth wearing an all-white snow robe and wearing a white headband around his head]

I have some time to show you through the video if you like? If only for the length of a few songs, so it won't be long.

[He brings up his instrument guqin to show into view of the video and it's a zither-type instrument with seven strings]

[wildsorcery]

[ It... would be polite to show himself too, right? Especially since this guy was being so kind to show him his (amazing!) instrument and offering to play.

He did say he was taught how to deal with evil spirits and ghosts, though, and Connie's not sure if a green person with horns was going to be received well. Mumbling softly under his breath, he casts Disguise Self and the illusion of a human is put over the somewhat fiendish features.

Then he turns on the camera. ]

That is such a pretty instrument, Mr... Sizhui?

[ Connie will go with that, since the username looked like an actual name. ]

I'm Confidence, by the way. Connie is fine, I apologize for not introducing myself. I would like, um, I would love to hear a song.

[lanofsizhui]

[Sizhui has seen a lot of strange beings in this world, and when he sees Connie for the first time, he only smiles.]

It's only Sizhui. No need to be formal. It's nice to meet you, Connie.

What I'm going to play is a folk song that I know from home.

[Just as graceful to his company, playing host to his audience over the video, he summons his guqin on the table, pluck a few strings with his fingers and begins to play a tune, a slow beat, a light-hearted folk song.

When the song is over, he explains]

That's a folk song. I haven't used any magic. Being a cordis, I'm careful to cast spells, lest I'll strain myself. I hope you like the song.

[wildsorcery]

[ Connie's still glad for his human guise, and sits back with his camera to be comfortable as he watches the man in the pretty clothes. The summoning of the instrument isn't too strange, even if he smiles and is even more reminded of bards - and then he listens.

It's a very unusual instrument and it makes such a lovely song, reminding him of a guitar with more vibrato, and a curious way to play it.

Once it is over, he gives a little, timid applause. ]

It was really pretty, you're so talented! Thank you, Sizhui.