You look outside and notice a gorgeous full moon. The autumn breeze brushes through the nearby trees, and you pick up the scent of something delicious.
Curiosity brought you to the Mooncake Festival.
This open-air market came from nowhere—it certainly wasn’t here earlier. However, everything was bright, lively, and festive. The smell of delicious desserts were everywhere. Fireworks lit up the night sky. Red lanterns were strung between buildings. Dragon dances could be seen through the streets.
The streets themselves seemed to go on for an eternity, and as you took a closer look, you could see that many of the festival’s attendees wore masks—were they hiding something?
Welcome to the Mooncake Festival!
The Lord of Ghost City has opened the realm of the dead to living visitors! For one night, he has banned darker dealings, and wishes to mimic the merriment of the living by providing sweet treats and wholesome entertainment! Ghosts and monsters are encouraged to wear masks to not scare the living guests, but all are welcome!
He felt he really outdid himself this time. The streets were cleaned up for the first time in an eternity. Though many of the ghosts wondered why they needed to cater to the living, he explained that it was to show Heaven that the Ghost Realm could hold influence of their matters of man, too. Of course, this was a good enough reason for them to cooperate, so they did—gladly.
Still, the truth of the matter was simply that he wanted to show everyone the glory and splendor of his realm. That you don’t need to be in Heaven to experience nice things. And he simply enjoyed the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The tall red-clad man walked through the streets and sampled the various pastries and sweets—and all of them met or exceeded his expectations!
Though his appearance consistently changed, his aura, as it were, remained. It was how the denizens could tell it was him even without recognizing his appearance. Either way, he wasn’t flaunting his status, instead he wanted to make sure everyone was enjoying the festival.
Still, the truth of the matter was simply that he wanted to show everyone the glory and splendor of his realm. That you don’t need to be in Heaven to experience nice things. And he simply enjoyed the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The tall red-clad man walked through the streets and sampled the various pastries and sweets—and all of them met or exceeded his expectations!
Though his appearance consistently changed, his aura, as it were, remained. It was how the denizens could tell it was him even without recognizing his appearance. Either way, he wasn’t flaunting his status, instead he wanted to make sure everyone was enjoying the festival.
Out on a mission to investigate some disappearances Milo had noticed a strange vibration in the air, but had brushed it off as the anomaly that was taking the people causing it. They where very wrong about it as they suddenly shifted into another world. Appearing a few feet above the ground the Rankless didn't care enough to so suddenly adjust his density. Splatting on the ground like ink they spooked a walking corpse that witnessed the whole thing into an alley way. "man- not this again-"
Sitting there as a puddle for a good while they where taking in the energies around them to figure out where they had appeared. Quickly noticing that there was a lot of death energy around and that they had appeared into a city full of what seemed to be OTHER undead creatures. Deciding to investigate, but too lazy to reform they slithered as their dark liquidlike base form through the gaps between the cobblestone. Not being noticed by others because of their lack of any kind of noticeable aura.
Noticing a person that felt like the strongest in this realm walk over them they called out in their usual monotone voice. "hey kid- while i don't mind you walking on top of me- you feel like you're important-"
Sitting there as a puddle for a good while they where taking in the energies around them to figure out where they had appeared. Quickly noticing that there was a lot of death energy around and that they had appeared into a city full of what seemed to be OTHER undead creatures. Deciding to investigate, but too lazy to reform they slithered as their dark liquidlike base form through the gaps between the cobblestone. Not being noticed by others because of their lack of any kind of noticeable aura.
Noticing a person that felt like the strongest in this realm walk over them they called out in their usual monotone voice. "hey kid- while i don't mind you walking on top of me- you feel like you're important-"
“Oh?” he responded reflexively, looking down at the strange puddle before taking a step back. It was, of course, rude to walk on someone.
At the question, he responded, “I am Hua Cheng—the City Lord of Ghost City, so this is my domain. You must be at the Soul Transformation stage, since I can’t detect your presence.”
Finding the man quite intriguing they replied. "ghost city huh- you can call my milo- no idea what a soul transformation stage, is but i can tell you that my people scare the living shit out of even some of the divine when they are not paying attention- it is very funny-"
Milo especially had found amusement at Hua Cheng trying to step off of them, which would have worked if they hadn't covered the entire street wide. The City Lord had at least tried. He still didn't mind.
"so- ghosts are sentient here and not just a ... echo of their past live?- huh- other sentient undead is quite a change too- in our wold my people are the only ones-" He had started to brabble a bit, more thinking out loud to visualize to the other what they where thinking, gesturing as a puddle wouldn't help much beside looking strange.
Milo especially had found amusement at Hua Cheng trying to step off of them, which would have worked if they hadn't covered the entire street wide. The City Lord had at least tried. He still didn't mind.
"so- ghosts are sentient here and not just a ... echo of their past live?- huh- other sentient undead is quite a change too- in our wold my people are the only ones-" He had started to brabble a bit, more thinking out loud to visualize to the other what they where thinking, gesturing as a puddle wouldn't help much beside looking strange.
Draven walked out onto the street and looked around excitedly. This felt like his kind of place. To be wild and free while stuffing his face with all the sweets he could carry. With a foxlike grin, Draven excitedly started to exploring. He heard talk of wearing masks if not human, so he grabbed himself a fox mask. Fits with his sly personality and how trouble stuck to him like a shadow. He wasn't a true fox, however the nature was there as were the small fangs.
Deep blue eyes gleamed with hunger as he looked all the sweets over, asking for different ones as he walked the everlasting street. He was curious about all the strangers he saw though not as much as the food he was trying hard not to drop as he ate piece after piece. He was sure he'd be sick after eating it all and it would be worth the stomachache. The food was some of the best he'd ever seen or tasted.
Deep blue eyes gleamed with hunger as he looked all the sweets over, asking for different ones as he walked the everlasting street. He was curious about all the strangers he saw though not as much as the food he was trying hard not to drop as he ate piece after piece. He was sure he'd be sick after eating it all and it would be worth the stomachache. The food was some of the best he'd ever seen or tasted.
As Milo explained who he was, what he was, and how he scared the divine, the man could only let out a soft chuckle.
“So it may be more a product of your… kind rather than a specific stage of development. Curious!” he beamed.
He then gestured—as gesturing with a humanoid body was not strange. “Not all ghosts are sentient, though the ones you will see here are. Certain circumstances are generally required for a deceased soul to persist, and most deaths don’t meet those requirements.”
He caught sight of a ravenous young man nearby, and thought to himself that his voracious appetite reminded him of someone.
Grinning, he mostly spoke to himself, though it was loud enough for others to hear him, “Imagine still having an appetite.”
“So it may be more a product of your… kind rather than a specific stage of development. Curious!” he beamed.
He then gestured—as gesturing with a humanoid body was not strange. “Not all ghosts are sentient, though the ones you will see here are. Certain circumstances are generally required for a deceased soul to persist, and most deaths don’t meet those requirements.”
He caught sight of a ravenous young man nearby, and thought to himself that his voracious appetite reminded him of someone.
Grinning, he mostly spoke to himself, though it was loud enough for others to hear him, “Imagine still having an appetite.”
The puddle hummed in understanding at Hua Cheng's explanation. "very interesting indeed- i will have to observe other ghost here later- hopefully they wont pull me out of here too early to conduct investigations-" On how Milo formulated their speech it was clear even with their monotone voice that they where rather intrigued by the whole situation. Some of their black liquid body had also shifted to a more violet tone, creating complex swirling patterns.
Having also noticed the human, some droplets on their body started to rise and separate into the air, floating a few inches above the ground. Slowly moving approximately to their current centre of their body. Beginning to shape everchanging abstract forms.
"mortals have that advantage- taste especially- i can only taste the energy inside foods- that's why dead suns are the best-" His words took on an ominous air, as the droplets changed again to form the exact visual copy of a black hole above them. Energy around the both started to fluctuate slightly drawing closer to the black hole, the true power of the Null suppressed. It remained there for a few moments before it got ripped apart again to from other shapes. A few glowing purple eyes appearing on the rest of the body looking around almost franticly, following streams of energy. Calculating something...
Having also noticed the human, some droplets on their body started to rise and separate into the air, floating a few inches above the ground. Slowly moving approximately to their current centre of their body. Beginning to shape everchanging abstract forms.
"mortals have that advantage- taste especially- i can only taste the energy inside foods- that's why dead suns are the best-" His words took on an ominous air, as the droplets changed again to form the exact visual copy of a black hole above them. Energy around the both started to fluctuate slightly drawing closer to the black hole, the true power of the Null suppressed. It remained there for a few moments before it got ripped apart again to from other shapes. A few glowing purple eyes appearing on the rest of the body looking around almost franticly, following streams of energy. Calculating something...