World Tree MUSH

    Jing Yuan, General of the Xianzhou Luofu, sends a missive a day after the ceremony. Inviting all the off-worlders to come to the Seat of Divine Foresight.

    He's still wounded, leaning heavily on his desk as the group arrive, but his voice is still deep and commanding, despite the edge of pain in it. "I am glad you could come, benefactors, Yanqing has made sure I am recuperated, but the touch of an Emanator of Destruction leaves deeper scars than normal healing can restore... I will be hale in time, but that is not why I asked you to come." He pushes himself straight, wincing visibly with the effort. "Before you leave the Luofu, there are two things I wish to gift you."

    March makes a comment about conscience and making up for all the hard work. Stelle just bows and thanks the General.

    "I am sure that Lady Fu has given voice to this already, but the Luofu is greatly indebted to you. Therefor, on behalf of the Luofu Cloud Knights, I hereby present you with a jade abacus - a symbol of our alliance, and lasting friendship." He places an ubiquitous looking device on the desk, and slides it across, where Dan Heng reaches to pick it up. "It, could be considered a souvenir of a certain variety. But not one you could find in a gift shop."

    Clara has recovered from crying her eyes out at the ceremony, so when the missive comes, she and Svarog are ready to go see Jing Yuan.
    So it's off to the Seat of Divine Foresight!
    So he has two things to gift...
    The jade abacus is presented and Clara's eyes light up.
    "Ohhhhh." A souvenier! Neat!
    "... What's the other thing?" She asks in typical childish fashion, wanting to know more.

    "An abacus does seem like the kind of thing you'd be interested in," Jessica notes. She's looking at it though... a jade abacus is kind of fancy! So she has a tail sway that's slow but pleasant, even if the tone of the meeting isn't one she's jumping for joy over.

    "I'm sorry that our um... situation here ended on such a sad note," she says. "But I hope things will improve now?"

    Bi De tilts his head, staring at the thing. It doesn't really matter much to him what it is... he gets the symbol though. The bird bows, wings spread. "Thank you, General. As Jessica said, we only wish that things could have ended better. I am not sure what we could have done, but we did all we could."

    Jing Yuan smiles to Bi De. "That is all we could ask of you my friend." he assures, he then addresses the rest, "When the Alliance was first established, many thousands of years ago, the Xianzhou ships swore an oath, etching the record into a jade abacus. The world may crumble and the heavens may fall, but this oath shall never be broken." he gestures at the abacus in Dan Heng's hand. "The same is true of this jade abacus, it is a record of the Luofu Cloud Knights' promise to the crew of the Astral Express and their allies. It is also a beacon, grip it tightly, and it will send a message to the jade abacus I hold here." he shows the matched other half of the part he gave over. "No matter the distance, even in worlds outside of our own, the Luofu Cloud Knights will always come to the aid of the Express, her Crew and her allies." he explains.

    "As for the second gift, Dan Heng. I hereby recind the banishment decree, in accordance with the edict of the Ten-Lords Commission. You may now come and go freely on the Luofu." Dan Heng bows. "Thank you General."

    "However, there are those aboard who would not be moved by a paper edict, we can guarantee your freedom of movement, but /not/ your safety from these individuals and groups."

    "I understand General."

    "With this issuing of gifts brings a sense of relief. Though I feel, my efforst would be overshadowed by Lady Fu's erudition, I feel a call for a line or two of poetry... another time, perhaps." he smiles warmly. "The Express and its passengers have a long voyage ahead of them. May that voyage be smooth and untrammeled." he bows, "I bed you Farewell... and remember the abacus, though please do not use it for trivial matters."

    "Ohhhhhhhh."
    So the jade abacus is both a physical gift and the gift of a promise. Clara gets that. But then Jing Yuan gets to the second gift.
    Dan Heng is no longer persona non grata.
    "Oh that's wonderful!" Clara says beaming brightly. Even Svarog nods approvingly at this, though he says nothing.
    But then Clara is pouting.
    "It really is time to leave now, huh?"

    Jessica blinks a few times, "Not that I would, but is there um... a limited battery or something? I don't think I know how to use one properly, so it isn't going to matter... but now I'm curious."

    The catgirl splays ears, "It's nice to hear about the banishment, but I guess it is going to be a long trip."

    "OF course the symbolism is important," Bi De agrees. He bobs his head. "Thank you. Is there anything else we can do before we must be on our way? While we had our share of struggles here, the ending is somewhat... unsatisfying to leave this way."

    "There is nothing more to be done now, however I will extend an invitation to return for the War Dance ceremony, a time of celebration that we hold in the Xianzhou on a fairly regular basis. It brings together two or more Ships with representatives coming to compete in the War Dance ceremony, to show off the fighting styles of the various Xianzhou ships warriors. My lieutenant, Yanqing is entering as the Xianzhou champion this time." Jing Yuan says, gesturing to the blonde boy, whoe startles a bit when he realizes he's being spoken about.

    It's funny because Jessica is in a PMC, so she should be a lot more formal with military stuff. Instead, she nods and gives a small wave. "Thank you for everything! We'll take good care of it I'm sure. And maybe we can come back sometime..."

    Jessica said that and Bi De can only bow again. "If I could give any advice, it would be this: do not rely so heavily on your diviners. Their information is no doubt useful, but reliance upon it can trap you without options."

    War Dance Ceremony... "Oh a competition. ... We can't stay to see it?"
    Clara could go for watching some INTENSE BLOODSPORT.
    "Maybe Bi De can enter, too."
    Bloodsport in which a rooster kicks everyone's ass? Sure why not.