video | un: yuheng

[rumination]

[ the video begins with a steady, clear shot of a man dressed in flowing white robes, buttoned up to his throat, half his hair done up in a high ponytail secured by a guan. he looks almost severe, and his tone when he starts talking is cool.

On his arm is a silver claw that laces up, and as the video continues, he clenches his fist and wriggles his fingers one by one. ]

This is an experimental piece of armor. It was originally designed to protect common people from demons. [ he glances down at the armor, a complicated look in his eyes for a split second before it disappears behind his usual cool neutrality. ] The demons here have proven deadly, and some people do not have spiritual powers that offer protection, so I have developed this.

[ perhaps one day, he can return to his original, grand idea of creating guardians for people, but it's impossible now, with the way items degrade. that's a future problem.

he finally looks back at the camera, still serious and reserved. ]

I am looking for individuals who are capable of fighting but do not possess spiritual power. It needs testing by someone else, and it is easy to find a demon or some beast in the Hinterlands. I'll be present for any fighting to observe the armor's behavior and provide assistance in any fight, should it be necessary. You will be compensated for your troubles.

[ he nods at the camera in dismissal and looks like he is going to turn it off before he recalls something and looks at the camera once again. ]

The armor is still experimental. While I have blueprints for an entire suit, I do not have the resources to create an entire suit of armor or more than a few of these. [ he holds his hand up, showing off the armor. ] Information would be appreciated on where to find more metal, leather, or scrap materials. And should anyone be interested in the armor after further testing, I will make note of it.

Good day.

[ with that, he turns off the camera, disappearing from view. ]

Comments

audio ↪ un: 012601 🔒

[craters]

Is there a possibility you'll need a healer?

audio 🔒

[rumination]

[ there's a moment of silence before he replies. why would he need a healer? he won't let anything happen to anyone who does test it; he'd sooner die. but if that does happen... then possibly? maybe? ] I expect it would be a waste of time.

🔒

[craters]

Let's say on the off-chance it isn't...

（ intentions are all well and good, but there's no telling how something like this might play out. ）

At the very least, I'd like to send you with a first aid kit.

🔒

[rumination]

[ anywhere else and he'd almost be offended. but the shadowlands are different, and who knows what might happen. ]

A first aid kit is acceptable. Then we will not keep you from your work for such a task.

@vv, audio—

[lapses]

I can only test it out with my right arm. Will that be a problem?

audio—

[rumination]

No. I can create another. Why only your right arm?

[lapses]

It won't fit my left.

[ how to explain something without explain anything. ]

[rumination]

[ it explains plenty: don't talk about it. ]

Very well. I can modify this to fit a right hand— when are you free to test it? How capable a fighter are you?

audio, @dewdrops

[declass]

I would not mind helping out if you still need any volunteers.

audio

[rumination]

I do. Can you fight?

[declass]

I can, yes. I'll be able to defend myself if needed.

audio 🦇 un: puppetmaster

[guitarpicks]

[ a little bit of a shaky breath starts off the audio clip, then another. ] I'm not much of a fighter so whenever that armor is done... let me know. I'll figure out a way to pay whatever you want for it.

audio

[rumination]

[ isn't this the person who talked about high school as a battleground? he must come from a terrible place where they put non-fighters on the battlefield.

now he has to make that armor. ] I will not take money for them, or at least not much. That would defeat the purpose.

[guitarpicks]

You're putting in work to make them. Shouldn't you be compensated somehow?

@kuruko

[telepathy]

what do you mean by spiritual power

[rumination]

I am a cultivator; we use qi for extranormal or extra sensory powers. I have infused the armor with a small amount of spiritual energy, and I need other people for testing.

[telepathy]

like furor
?

@mellifa

[somatosensory]

What exactly qualifies as 'spiritual power'?

[rumination]

I work with qi, so powers that arise from vital energy and cultivated for use by the individual. There seem to be many people here with varying powers, and I am interested in seeing how the armor reacts.

[somatosensory]

So anything innate, in other words.
Or does 'acquired' count?
Just in the interest of clarification.

( because "magic" seems to be a grey area, here, at least as he understands it. )

Accounting for that variety is going to be a challenge.

@wangji

[taciturnly]

⟪ billowing whites. a guan. qi. and wei wuxian’s level of ingenuity… minus the vibrancy. color lan wangji intrigued; he turns his own feed on, at least long enough to offer a bow, gaze sharp. ⟫

Wangji, Gusulan sect. ⟪ greetings and all, well met. it’s implied.

the connection fades, video switched to text. ⟫

Your craft. Where have you learned?

[rumination]

[ that is not a clan he knows, but that doesn't surprise him. he never paid much attention to them, especially the smaller ones. ]

Yuheng Elder, Chu Wanning. Master at Sisheng Peak. I studied at Rufeng sect and Wubei Temple.

[taciturnly]

⟪ smaller ones...!!! ⟫

Both, unheard of.
The mechanism of your device?

[sonofrome]

Depending on who you are looking for.

I am just a simple Centurion with no terms of magic of any sort.

[rumination]

[ well there's a lot to process in that— what he does is not magic— but it's not something he's going to argue that when he has an offer of testing the armor. ]

All that is required is knowing how to fight.