[Text] @zobrien

[flying_fish]

[Zed isn't in the best of moods since another person he cared for disappeared, so he's taken to drink. Not that the alcohol has ever helped him, but it has him thinking about home...and some not so pleasant business back there.]

There's an item back home that operates like the Chinese gu. Except instead of venomous creatures, you insert humans. It is said that once the ritual is complete, it will lead to the destruction of the world.

The humans inside are forced to kill each other and mix together until becoming one being. The skin disappears while the skeleton, muscles, and organs fuse together. They're neither dead nor alive because of the magic that binds them.

Let's say the item broke, and a part of the conglomerate was separated from the whole. The humans that make up this "specimen" are children. Do you destroy it to prevent the ritual from being completed?

Comments

[flying_fish]

[There's a lot to parse through, and it comes off as a bit strange to read details about the child that sound extremely personal. So this must be someone close to the child, if Zed were to take a guess.]

That is certainly a difficult situation. I hope the child is able to remain grounded as he lives. It is fortunate that he has someone who can support him.

[Thinking on it further, it really is hard to make comparisons. The child's insanity reads as more gradual, whereas the victims of the cursed jar were going through a quick and violent transformation. The only real similarity would be the end result as one being...and even then there's no telling what the black magic may do to control it.]

Thank you for that explanation.

As for the Charops Jinko, if the ritual is somehow completed, I hope that the creation from it can be reasoned with. [High hopes.] Although that will likely mean that the humans' lives will be forfeited.

With the collector, I doubt that is something my group can provide that connection since he is directly at odds with us.

[kiss_it_better]

You're too kind. I fear it may not have been very useful in the end.

The child is in good hands. For the moment, there's nothing to be worried about.

[Well, he got stabbed recently but that has nothing to do with the curse.

He reads the rest and he has to stop to think about what to say. To be honest, he knows too little about this specific threat or even this sort of threat to think he can give advice.]

Someone once taught me this: in the face of an insurmountable enemy, the moment you take a step back both your mind and your body's focus point will fall backwards. It will become difficult to regain strength and instead your arms and legs will become clumsy and you will fall into the hands of your opponent.

I really cannot say what is the right course of action in your situation as it isn't entirely similar to the one I know of, but at least I think this piece of advice applies. Whatever you choose, the action you will have to take will be difficult and may have consequences that you couldn't have imagined. But once you have made a choice, in the face of impossible odds, you must not back down and must not retreat.

I only hope that you can find a good solution in the end.

[flying_fish]

Wise words. I feel my master would have similar advice...but put less tactfully. I'm sure there will be consequences with any decision made for this situation, but this has been a good reminder that there isn't a "correct" one.

To be honest, I will likely not be the one to destroy the specimen when I return. Not because I am against it, but rather due to the fact that I was not standing near it. It will likely be my group's second in command that does it, and he was also the one to suggest this option. His decision will have to happen in a split second because the auction house's bodyguards were arriving just as I returned here. They are a deadly force, and we may lose our lives if we focus purely on fleeing with the specimen.

Nevertheless, I hope that we are able to protect the world no matter the choice. Thank you again for telling the child's story as well as your encouragement.