text; un: ᴊᴜᴇʏᴜɴ ᴄʜɪʟɪ (open to all clans)

[cutcloud]

My family say that birthdays are big days for Tianheng Thaumaturges and that we should never take them lightly.

I had planned to go up the mountain to perform prayer rituals with the elders of my clan this year ... that no longer is possible. Still, I'm left thinking about how it would have been, as well as what I would have listed for my wishes. I know that I would have prayed for my cherished friends, and those that I've met. Since I can't climb Mt. Tianheng for the ritual now, I'll say it this way.

I wish you all pleasant journeys, safety, and peace.

Aside from that ... one great wish I have this birthday is to learn more about the spirits and supernatural of other worlds.

Since we have all come from different places, I was hoping — will you tell me of your experiences with the otherworldly, when you were back home? I'd like to hear true stories, but I do also really enjoy a good hair-raising story or legend if you know of any.

( spooky stories for september! ♥ feel free to threadjack as you please. )

Comments

Text | un: Tsukuyomi

[blackabyss]

I was unaware that it was your birthday. Happy birthday, Chongyun-san.

If you would like, I do happen to have a few tales of the supernatural that I have come across during my reading back home. I cannot claim any to be true, but that is a part of their mystery.

[cutcloud]

Thank you. I hadn't really told anyone, but suddenly found myself nostalgic today. It's funny how much can change in a year.

Yes! Would you tell me your favorite?

[blackabyss]

I agree. The passage of time can be surprising to us, even when we believe we are prepared for it. Do you at least have people who you can celebrate your birthday with?

Hmm... well, one of my favourite stories of the macabre and supernatural is from a foreign poet who excelled in such stories. It tells the tale of a man who is lamenting the death of his beloved, when one night he is visited by a stately raven. The raven can only say the word "Nevermore," and the man becomes fascinated with it, thinking it a messenger of sorts. He begins to talk to the raven, asking it questions about whether he would be reunited with his beloved in Heaven, or whether he will forget his memories of his beloved, and the raven only replies with the word "Nevermore." Every question asked yields the same answer. It drives the man further into grief and despair, and when he pleads with the raven to leave him be, the raven again replies with the same answer and does not move. The poem ends with the raven still perched over the man, its shadow cast over his form, and he claims that he is forever trapped under the looming shadow of the raven, stating that his soul "shall be lifted nevermore."

It is not exactly a ghost story, but it is a tale that is one of my favourites.

[cutcloud]

I do, I have a few cherished friends from home here with me. I’m thankful for that, even if it would be better if they were safely back in the mortal realm.

Fascinating … it does have the feeling of a ghost story, doesn’t it? I can sense that there is greater meaning in it. That said, deciphering literary texts isn’t my strongest suit… but I did enjoy it. How ominous!

[blackabyss]

I am glad. I also have a few friends here, and I find that makes things much easier to bear here. But having dear friends to share a birthday is a blessing indeed.

It is quite ominous! I'm not a literature major myself, but I always appreciated the works of this one author; they provide a sense of morbidity and macabre in the most unique ways. I've always been drawn to such stories myself, as well as anything involving the gothic and darkness.

[cutcloud]

Did they write more than the one work?

A few others have shared some stories that you may like, then. A few are quite chilling!

[blackabyss]

He did, yes. Several poems and stories, actually. His works all revolved around death or the macabre in some way, and it piqued my interest as a child. Back home I had a book which compiled them all together.

It sounds like you have no shortage of stories. Is it interesting to see each world's depiction of horror?

[cutcloud]

It is. Not only is it interesting, it's educational given my job. Even if I don't come across any of the spirits mentioned here, the knowledge from those stories I hear may end up being helpful back home in Liyue.

It's also interesting to see what people consider to be frightening.

[blackabyss]

If you are able to find use of these stories, then that is all the more beneficial. Being an exorcist must be quite the daunting task, researching various ghosts and spirits.

What sorts of stories do you find frightening, then? If you deal with the supernatural so frequently?

[cutcloud]

I have heard that in some lands there’s something called the “ghost pepper”. I haven’t been able to find much about its origins or how it haunts, but a pepper that can manifest in your food without warning is terrifying. What if you bite into a sandwich and it’s suddenly there?

Ghostly powers are too much for peppers!

[blackabyss]

A ghost pepper that haunts food..?

[Wat.]

I have never heard of such a thing. In my world we have ghost peppers, but aside from their spiciness they are harmless plants.

[cutcloud]

Are you certain they’re harmless? Have you had an exorcist confirm?

This is probably one of the funniest threads I have right now LOL

[blackabyss]

I have never had a need to. I have only ever eaten them.