Meet the Landers: Feng Huang

It takes a great deal of time to get to a place such as this, while circumventing patrols from the nearby city of Lumina Cloth. However, once past the greenlands of Kallamore, one enters into the deserts above it. Here, nobody travels. That is to say, only a few rare ones come all this way. And right now isn't the season to come here to pray to the temple of Feng Huang.

What they find, on approach of this highly dangerous and monster-infested desert, is a low circular building about the height of a regular house. Upon the top of that, another circular extrusion, a bit smaller than the first and half its height. And finally, at the top of that, a massive silvren statue of a bird with red tailfeathers. Its wings out, as if it were staring down upon its domain...

A domain of wasteland and nothing.

Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!

All that the need to is enter into the rounded building with half-columns, with bronzed doors the size of the first 'stage' of the building at the front. Enormous, and difficult to open. Requiring no doubt a powerful group of people to have any chance at opening.

Haru has not been to the Palace Lands in quite some time. The trip back was nostalgic. He was but a crafter back then that took to Adventuring as a side activity instead of the other way around. Then everything changed with the Fire Nat-- when Seeker's Landing was attacked. It gave him a bit more fire in his step. That quiet sort of determination that keeps little red hearts from breaking.

The kind of determination that puts a noodly armed Artificer onward and outward through a highly dangerous desert in search of Feng Huang. Haru steps up to the statue with the sort of backlighting that makes it eclipse the light. "I honestly don't know what to say to this," huffs the young man. Travel is rough. "Except," he rolls up the sleeves of his cloak-jacket, "that," and approaches the doors, "I have come too far to give up now." Noodle arms, activate! At least in his head he thinks he is summoning the deep reserves of 'hero power'. In reality he is straining against the entrance, not even the first trial, the same way that people strain on a door they should 'pull' open when they are pushing.

Yeowang has joined the group venturing deeper into the Palace Lands in hope of learning the answers to some of her questions, though since it's not her quest, what she learns is not guaranteed to be what she wants to find out. But what she finds out is generally useful once she finally works out where it fits into the overarching Lore. Well, usually others figure it out. But when they explain it to her, she finds it interesting. So. She will approach the door that needs to be brute forced open, and she will apply some brute force. She is brutally forceful, using all her major muscle groups to the maximum extent possible, a frown of concentration on her face as she exerts herself.

Gwen is actually in plate today rather than her infamous Desert outfit that Morri likely had something to do with. Well she's not in it now at least. Gwen will look at concenr at Haru. At this point she's made up her mind to drag Haru into a physical training set up until he gets some muscle on those arms of his. For now though she'll head to it and turn her now rather inhuman strength at least by earth standard to work on thi.

"We'll get this done..."

This is Curtana's first trip ever to the Palace Lands, and it shows with how much he had been looking around at first. Though once he realizes that it all didn't suddenly look completely different than Yamato has looked for the last two years, his rubbernecking had lessened a good amount. Still, the self-styled knight was still keeping a constant eye out.

Cracking his knuckles a little ackwardly in his gauntlets, the Pooka starts to push at the door with his considerable might. Sure, he's not quite like some people here, but he had been able to toss a few boulders once. With everyone's muscles (plus Haru) it should be easy to get this door open! "That's...the spirit! Now, together. Push!"

It takes a great deal of working together. The strength of everyone working together opening the door. Haru can feel the door moving almost 'easily', since everyone else is doing most of the work. But eventually, they manage to get it open enough that they can squeeze through the gap. The beasts outside hopefully too large to fit through the gap they've created.

Within, they find a sand-filled hallway that rounds around in a circle, and an inner entrance straight ahead.

The inner entrance, which is just an arch at a human height, comes into a beautiful place. There's the sound of songbirds throughout this place. All kinds of unusual and colorful birds flying through a forest area that takes up an 'inner ring' against the building's inner walls. Further inwards, water. And then, a long stairway leading upwards to a large bird-perch. Upon which sits a mighty avian, gazing tired and grey of body. Looking elderly and beyond its time.

Yeowang wipes her brow on a hankerchief and tucks it back into a pocket. Looking around proceeding inwards, she pauses and considers this inner ring, and how it might be operated. The unusual birds pique ther curious sreeak as well, and she willwatch them for a few moments before continuing.

After the great devestation that lay behind them past the cracked doorway, Curtana was expecting ruins, perhaps a few golem servants and an omnious presence the further they head inside. One out of three was a far cry from what he expected, but he would be lying if he wasn't pleasantly surprised by reality. Watching a multi-colored bird similar to a parrot fly overhead, it takes the Pooka a moment of physically shaking his head to get his mind back on the more important topic. "An oasis in the desert, but..."

He trails off softly as he looks upwards at the top of the stairway to gaze upon what must be the phoenix they were helping Haru to seek out. His first time meeting such a legendary creature in this new world, and it looks close to burning out completely. That wouldn't be a problem if the legends of rebirth about the phoenix was true, but there was a weight of sadness upon seeing such a majestic creature ravaged by time. Even still, there was awe in his voice when he spoke next. "Oh my..."

Haru's ego decides to take credit for opening the door even though he knows it was a team effort. Like moving a couch and you are 'totally helping'. Swol Enchanter. It is the sound he hears first. Birds singing. The whole notion of grandeur melts to a different kind of memory. It is the kind triggered when you dont think about summoning them. The kind with a specific sound or smell. A sight.

"My mother always loved birds," Haru says out of nowhere. The topic just leaped out and took wing. "She worked at a favorite hot springs that was so remote you could hear them against the sound of running water," he says as he steps further in. Pace is unhurried. "They were the best memories of her childhood. Wanted them to be the best memories of her children as well. My older brother didn't appreciate it, but I did. It was something special we shared, one caged bird to another." There is a pause in his tone as the mental record skips to something less pleasant. Not all memories are sunshine and rainbows. Some of the happiest times only draw shadows against the times that follow. Even when her mind started to fade, she remembered the birds. It was always the path back to the present. To remembering she grew up. Had a family. Had two sons. The birds and their songs, their instincts that let them migrate even when they have never flown the path before in thier lives, connected to something deeper. The red plumes of a ruddy kingfisher. The song. It helped her remember.

Until it didnt.

Haru is familiar with the sight of one so tired there. Elderly. In the winter of its life. He approaches it with head leaning up, taking stock of the stairway as he climbs it. "I mean you no harm," he offers, "I have traveled far to be here." What does he /want/ though? The footsteps take him to the top, that he may compare the stature of a mighty avian against that of a human. Vast. "I seek answers," he says. No. Not answers. Something more than that.

The ancient but enormous bird - easily twice as tall as anyone that is here, gazes upon those entering. Behind them, the door seems to close on its own with a lazy bronzen creak. The wrinkled eyelids of the bird open only a bit, before they close again. They remain closed longer than they stay open at any one moment in time.

The silvren body of the creature shifts a bit, its wings flicking, and it buries its head down under one of its wings, preening one of its pinions for a moment. Its head quickly flipping left and right and left and right again as it cleans its old feathers, then rights itself up, its long neck - for a bird that is - craning a bit.

As the group gets closer, the din of birdsong doesn't really get any quieter. As such, the being doesn't answer yet until the group has gotten close enough for it not to have to raise its voice to be heard.

"I, Feng Huang, permit thee to speak. So speak quick, and let your desires be known." It answers with a slow and regal tone.

Gwen works up a bit of a sweat but with the efforts of everyone they get it oipen she looks pleased and then head on in trying to keep up to the front.

"I didn't expect something like this."

She grins a bit it is pretty but wait what's this she stares for a moment at the large avian and just is in awe for a moment.

When it becomes clear that this great bird is waiting for everyone to approach, Yeowang will draw closer. She understands old people not wanting to have to raise their voice, her grand-dad is like that. So, she approaches and listens to the words in that regal tone. When it commands us to let our desires be known, she looks to Haru. This is his expedition, and she is curious what purpose has drawn us all here.

She maintains a balanced stance as she waits. There's nothing like an obvious threat, but she remains alert for not-so-obvious threats while keeping one eye on how this all plays out.

"I want to know your conditions for entering a binding contract with you, Feng Huang," Haru says with a slow blink. Communing. Connecting. He had seen it done with other Divine Beasts such as Kirin. However he isn't able to do such with empathy. Pride, even a touch of audacity in it, but the one blue eye that Haru has visible against the snowy tresses has conviction. He is serious and does not mince words.

Curtana doesn't comment, couldn't find the words he would want to say for such a story. There's joy there, but at the end there was hints of tradegy as well. Everyone here has their own memories, their own story to tell. Now was just the time to listen.

Even after he ascended the staircase, Curtana doesn't say more than he already has. This was Haru's search after all, but the majestic aura that Feng Huang has was even more noticable this close.

Feng Huang stares at Haru for a moment as he remarks that he desires a binding contract. And the avian stares for a good few moments... before it turns its head and tilts its butt. Preening and cleaning its long dull-red tail feathers. Slowly taking some time to just clean itself before it rights itself once again. "No." The creature simply answers Haru. "What thou seeketh is not a 'binding contract'." It explains. "What thou seeketh is a /Bond/. These are not the same. Much as thee would not ask thine wife, or thine friend to sign a contract." The response is curt and to the point - with a slight tone of old-man-judgment.

Yeowang's glance goes between the old bird and Haru like watching a tennis match, and the idea of considering this to be a bond between friends rather than something like a business deal is a thing that at first confuses her. But she understands another sort of business deal, one between friends with no conytacts written, and this must be what its referring to. But, a /bond/? Is Haru marrying a bird? This would have been a pertinent part of the mission briefing prior to going in, but of course there was no briefing because it's all run by gamers, who Yeowang considers poorly organized most of the time. Haru's -usually- better, but she was not quite ready for this. Nor was Haru, to judge from the conversation, so the best she can do now is keep her eyes and ears open and work out what's going on.

Despite himself, Curtana chuckles softly upon hearing Feng Huang's dismissal, though he does look ashamed of himself for letting it slip. But upon realizing just why he found it so funny, a flash of pain crosses his face and he looks to his side. He knew someone back in the 'other world' who used to speak like that to him from time to time, and the sudden reminder hits harder than he was expecting. But, if this Bond is what he suspects it could become, Feng Huang would prove to be a good match with Haru Nox. Then again, he could be completely off base here.

Haru stands there for a time as the proud bird judges him. It wouldn't be the first time. Kunies. Mentors. Guildmates. Fathers. He is used to the abuse. When he doesnt speak with words, he speaks volumes with his body language. A proud stance fitting in as much as any Baron. A moment of silence to show that the words do not shake him. It'll take more than being judged to stop him. Let the flames come, he isnt afraid to get burned. "Indulge me in what passes judgement for a Bond with then. I am sure you don't want to go hang out in the desert for a while, talk about the weather in Yamato, and share our feelings over a slice of watermelon," he says with an even tone, "and, as requested, I do not wish to waste your time nor my own."

The blue eye doesnt break contact, "I saw you at Carmina. You did not look happy." You deserve better, boo.

Gwen watches and listens as Haru enters into discord with the Avian with intrest she's paying attention as he knows talking things likke this are not her thing. She also pays attention to info on the life Haru had before Elder Tale Online. She does pay attention something seems to be wrong for Haru? What is is? Who knows she will find out at some point. Not today however.

She's looking over the powerful Avian for a moment longer and she does throw the odd concerned look at Haru..

The Avian calms his gaze a bit as Haru mentions the encounter in Yamato - at Carmina. "Ah." A pause. "You must be referring to one of my bonded ones. Though there is a connection... it is not like I am personally traveling with those I have bonded with." It isn't something easily explained; "You spoke to that person's Mind Guardian. The Guardian of one's Cosmosphere." Feng Huang explains, raising one feathered wing up as he explains this, like a tutor pointing a board. Yet, there is no board to be found. "The Crown interferes." Feng Huang explains.

"But you are right. Small talk is no way to bond with people. So how about this..." The Avian looks amongst the people here, and then to Haru. "Tell me a story."

There is a pause there, before he explains further; "A personal story. Tell me... the story of your Father." Before the bird's eyes close. "From start to finish. You can skip the boring stuff. I want to learn about -you-. So... tell me about your Father, his story, and your relationship to him." Amongst all of these people around him.

The bird knows how to ignite a fire in Haru and then threaten to burn the whole place down. It won't be his body that burns, it will be the friendship of people who were willing to cross a sea, travel through monster infested lands, and open the door he could not. Yet Haru starts off with a, "My name is Haru Himekawa, son of Genji Himekawa, acting CEO of Himekawa Electronics of Japan. My father, son of Shinji Himekawa and acting CEO before him, just as his father before." Boring stuff? Certainl... "A mass murderer with a pen." ly. Haru's hand sweeps out dramatically as he continues on, "In the world we came from, the Adventurers of Yamato, we were merchant kings and princes. And all royalty is faced with decisions that can enrich or damn the lives of those they govern. My father chose profit of his kingdom at the expense of he health of others. Millions Dead in a Flash that could have been prevented with equipment we provided left vulnerable to it. We did not light the powder keg. We just stocked the city full of them."

The hand lowers. "We. For as a Prince I saw this and failed to convince my father otherwise. I failed because I did not try, such is the relationship I had with that man. A proud man sitting high passing judgement. The best I could hope is not to make a fool of myself in front of him with the wrong words, wrong actions. To wear well the masks of society to save the image of our family and our Kingdom." Sounds a bit familiar to where he stands and Feng Huang does now.

"But I do not hate my father," Haru continues on, "I did not hate him when I willingly entered into espionage in proprietary technology for his attention. Small fighting dolls," he flicks a small illusion of one before him, an Angel, before it fades away. "Entertainment that I ripped apart on stage. That he didn't show up, even when I proved to be quite good at. Reknowned."

He looks at Feng Huang and goes on to less egotistical topics, "But in the end, the story of my father and me is always the same one. Being left in a store because he forgot I was there. Costing him in ransom fees and cover ups. A spare heir to a family with a debt to society they won't see in their lifetime." Haru shakes his head once, "A man once said that I do not wish to be in debt. My father put a debt on my blood as deep as a Spriggan. One my sister has dared share with me. One I was content to pay back in full to those my father has wronged. No matter how long it takes. No matter how humbling or futile the road may be." He clenches a fist. "Including this story, because I can't speak more about a man I know so little about. He never gave me the chance to know him. Only what he did to me, my brother, and my mother in a life he didn't chose for himself, either. So I don't hate him." The fist releases, "But it is our burden to take responsibility for the actions of our family. His legacy is that debt. That is my father. Who he is to me. A man, a family, I hope to redeem, even if he can never see that I was the one that did it."

The bird's command for Haru to tell a story about his father prompts Yeowang to think of her own father. But hers wasn't a bad childhood, in her own estimation, and she certainly never wanted for anything. Some might find it confusing that she was raised as a boy, heir pesumptive to her father's company, until her little brother was born when she was nine. Her hair was cut short and she used male pronouns, and then she didn't after her little brother was born, and she was allowed to grow her hair out and she had to learn to be a girl without a great deal of help. Attending an all-girls high school helped with re-centering herself, though the high school she went to was unusual in other regards.

But this line of conversation brings her around to Jae Gu Song, the boy she met when her high school went co-ed in her sophomore year. The boy she fell in love with, who had promised, two years ago, to meet her in this game. Is he somewhere in the Palace Lands? He was still in Korea when she had moved to Japan to attend college, but if he didn't face some delay in getting onto the game, he should be here somewhere. She's lost track of Haru's story in her own memories bubbling to the surface, but when he falls silent, she looks up again, once again paying attention.

Gwen listens and she hears what comes out of Haru's mouth. Himekawa as in those Himekawa's that own one of the biggest electronic companies. Her jaw hangs open, she had some idea Haru might be well off. Yet his family is like stupid rich this.

She listens more she'd not expected something like this. While Haru's actions in ETO and his words here to not live up to the stero type of that level of socity. The stuff about his dad sure does and she listns as the tale goes on.

It also makes her realise how low on the totem pole her family was on earth. She thinks for a moment about growing up partially off grid, and it hits her. She was lucky to be where she was and born to who she was born to. Her mom's anitcs not withstandin.

She look to Haru for a moment yet there's no hate there as something hits her. Getting stuck in this world is likely the first time, Haru has been free.

Terms are spoken of that hold no meaning to Curtana, but at the very least he understands that the Crowns are interfering with yet another method of magic. Just how complex were the Crowns had to be to not only completely control a person's mind but to block a Bond? That only makes how the efforts to free the Crowned actually bearing fruit all that more impressive.

As Haru tells his story, Curtana had to pull back some knowledge he hasn't used in some time to translate Haru's tale. Knowledge that drops his mouth open slightly in shock and surprise upon hearing Himekawa. Then again, the way that he has seen Haru act at times gave hints to some sort of a higher privlaged life. This was just confirmation to that theory. It also makes sense considering Haru's earlier comment about being a caged bird. After all, those who are in the center of the public eye have to be sure to act a certain way more than someone who's just a foreigner in a foreign land.

The great bird knows much about igniting flame. Such is the path of Feng Huang. Its eyes remain closed as Haru begins to speak, settling its wings and then lifting one claw to scratch along the back of its neck. It then sets that talon back down and waits. Listening to the tale of a man who was complicit in the death and suffering of many.

And his son, seeking acceptance and approval. And his complicated relationship with debt.

When Haru is done with it all, before others can speak, Huang raises a wing. "I do not know much of your world. But I understand what you explain. And I know that you speak of the Sins of the Father and its weight upon you. Such a princeling is what I can work with." The bird remarks. "Very well then." Before it ducks its head beneath its large wings once more, and begins to clean itself for a moment... until it finally pulls out a feather, and offers it to Haru.

"There is no debt here." It speaks as it keeps that feather in its beak and holds, waiting for Haru to take it from it.

"But know this. You cannot redeem someone who does not wish to be redeemed. Redemption cannot come from the outside."

Haru is still young in the grand scheme of things. Full of pride. The notion his actions alone can save others. It has been a learning experience when he couldn't save Shirin from himself. That he /knows/ but at the core he has more of his mother with him than his father. Sensitive. A dreamer. He reaches out for the feather, taking it into his hand. "No debt between us," he agrees. It was not paid for with a song, but with soul. The story was clearly something precious to him.

"In my mind I know this well," Haru says as he looks at the feather, "with no delusion that such growth can come from outside." He wraps his fingers around the plume, closing his blue eye finally, "But I will not stop providing the tools for them to do it with. Be it my father, the Crowned, or any other that feel that redemption is beyond them." He opens the eye and says, "Hope." The thing that remains when all else is lost to the endless night. Where there is no action left to take because the action is out of your hands.

A respectful bow is given to Feng Huang as Haru returns to his friends. Facing them after revealing such a damning detail about himself is every bit as difficult as getting to the Divine Beast. Yet he faces it with the same pride and composure as the previous.

Gwen says "Can't save someone whose drowning who doesn't want to be saved." She looks over to Haru for a moment.

"Well I wasn't expecting that and I guess you I owe you a few things in turn. Jenifer O'Neill." She grins. "I think I owe you a story in turn for the one you told no?"

"Wise words from a wise bird. Thank you for your time, great phoenix." Bowing at his waist, he smiles towards Haru as he turns back around to face them all. No judgement in his eyes, just a friend happy to see someone succeed.

Going by their screennames has been second nature for these years, but Gwen certainly has the right idea. "I'm happy for you, Haru. As for me...William Ellis, at your service. Let's get back on the road, I think we have some stories to pass the time soon."

Yeowang looks around at the others, revealing RL names. She shrugs, gives her own: "In Gui Yoon." Which makes her, in Korea, what Haru is in Japan, for those that know about international corporations. She seems displeased about having given her name, as she certainly has a reputation of her own to live up to. Though it explains why she's so intense about martial arts. Trying to reclaim 12 years of RL training.