camping shenanigans mingle log; open

[equivocations]

WHO: the Lan-Wuxian-Jiang-Meng family + you!

WHAT: camping shenanigans mingle log! Join the family camp for food, conversation, etc

WHEN: spanning throughout the event in the forest

WHERE: the family camp + surrounding area

NOTES: none right now, will update as needed

Night hunts are practically routine where Lan Xichen's from, at least for cultivators, and exploring an unfamiliar forest with relatively unknown dangers doesn't seem any different just because it's in another world. There certainly seems to be something of a sense of ease as they travel, and then as they set up camp.

During the day, there's a flurry of activity as the camp's occupants drift in and out, setting up or taking down tents, making weapons or food, going off to collect firewood or go hunting or fishing, patrol the area or anything else that needs doing.

In the evening there's a roaring fire to ward off the chill, the scent of cooking food and the sound of conversation.

Someone - quite likely Lan Xichen himself - will invite anyone who happens nearby to come sit down, warm themselves by the fire and have something to eat.

At night, there's likely always someone up on watch who might need company, or who might come to investigate someone nearby.

Comments

[billowing]

[ Lan Wangji looks back as well, if only to also illustrate that, this is going to be a little unavoidable. ]

...We'll figure something out.

[ First, hunting in the woods. He thinks a deer or something should do it. ]

[scaredofdogs]

[He's trying to not laugh about his little army behind them as they start chatting it up. It's going to be really hard to hunt with such an energetic bunch with them. They are the most upbeat band of people he has ever met. His wings tremble a little as he tries to hide his amusement. He should probably get rid of those too if he wants to limit attention.]

[billowing]

Wei Ying, why don't you sit down and talk to them?

[ He can feel that Wei Ying wants to chat with them. He's not mad about it. He can hunt and report back. ]

[scaredofdogs]

You mean distract them? Shouldn't I just get them to go away?

[He stops and looks back at them. He could always get them to come back if they need them. But they just seem like they want to keep following like..he doesn't really enjoy using this analogy even in his head...but like puppies.]

[billowing]

And how do we do that?

We ask the spirits what they want.

[scaredofdogs]

[He turns to the soldiers and asks if they wish to move on, but the question gets them all worked up and talking all at once again.]

Okay okay! one at a time! How did you guys ever function as a unit...

We wish to protect you during your quest. Your respect towards our King was greatly appreciated by us all.

Ahh..well..this isn't really much of a quest. More like a camping trip. But if you guys really want to come along then perhaps you will be willing to share some of your war stories with us.

[Some cheers and obvious agreement to that is the response. Wei Wuxian holds up his hand to quiet them back down.]

Okay but you guys have to be quiet while we are hunting. Maybe...stay a good distance away until we head back to camp.

[More signs of agreement. He sighs and looks back to Lan Wangji with a smile.]

Hopefully they will behave.

[billowing]

They seem to trust you.

[ Which doesn't surprise Lan Wangji. Wei Wuxian is a natural-born leader, charismatic, and he knows when to behave. Sometimes he just chooses to ignore it.

Which means that these soldiers, clearly starved for any company, flock to him, and take to him.

He knows that Wei Wuxian is far past those days he is affected by an adoring crowd, but he hopes it does help his ego, a little bit. ]

We will make this quick, or we won't be back before sundown.

[scaredofdogs]

Clearly they've been bored for awhile.

[He mostly thinks they follow him because of the spirit attraction that still lingers on his chest but it is nice to have a little troop of men willing to protect him. Not that he necessarily thinks he needs protection especially considering there are a few other people at camp that aren't likely going to let anything hurt him. But..it amuses him. Perhaps they just think he is some..forest spirit or god or something because of the wings. Whatever their reason for sticking around, he isn't complaining. They are fun.]

Let's see what we can find!

[billowing]

[ If Wei Ying is a forest spirit, Lan Wangji wonders what they consider him as. His most devout follower? A priest? His loyal disciple? ]

Mm.

[ As soon as the men are out of earshot, it's easier to hear creatures bustling about the forest. He keeps his ears open and then - he hears it. A deer.

He raises a knife, that he'd taken from their camping materials, balancing the blade in his hand, feeling its weight, waiting for the deer to come by... ]

[scaredofdogs]

[He'll have to ask the soldiers later and see what their answer to that might be. He stays as quiet as possible to let Lan Wangji do his thing. Which is not easy for him but he's doing his best. He is just praying that the soldiers behave themselves and stay behind.]

[billowing]

[ He takes a deep breath, and sends the knife flying, catching the deer in the neck.

The only problem is, that deers are resilient creatures, and so with a knife stuck in its neck, it's running, and it runs fast.

Lan Wangji gives it chase, not as quick as he ought to be, nor as stealthy, but he has a lot more stamina than the deer, and eventually is able to climb aboard its back and rip the knife out.

It falls in an unceremonious thud to the ground as he dismounts.

It's brutal, and he hates hunting this way. ]

[scaredofdogs]

[Wei Wuxian is just kind of standing there in dumbfounded shock at the scene he just saw play out. When the deer started to run he was about to take off after it when Lan Wangji did as well. And the other man seemed to be focused on what had to be done and Wei Wuxian didn't want to get in the way so he hung back, ready to help if needed.

But now he flies over and lands by the other man, shock etched on his face. Despite the brutal way that just played out he is extremely impressed. Lan Wangji has always been so refined and proper and that was..none of those things.]

......

[Is he speechless? He might be speechless...]

[billowing]

[ Lan Wangji has neither the time nor resources to be refined and proper right now. He only has his bare hands, and the skills he's been taught.

Sorry Wei Ying. Lan Wangji is just a man after all.

And after he pauses, and takes a deep breath, he bleeds the poor creature, so it will be easier to carry back to camp. Unless Wei Ying wants to volunteer.

The soldiers catch up, and they appear to be extremely pleased with this kill. ]

[scaredofdogs]

[He looks back at the soldiers as they cheer Lan Wangji's victory. He can't help but smile at the excitement. Now that he has recovered he looks back over at Lan Wangji and kneels down.]

I think you are their hero now.

[They must be a strange duo to these soldiers.]

[billowing]

It is merely a deer.

[ One that he didn't actually want to kill. So, let's go.

He wraps some grass around its feet, and strings it up onto a long fallen branch, handing one side over to Wei Ying. ]

[scaredofdogs]

[He stands up, taking the side that Lan Wangji hands him. He lets the wings disappear, seeing them more of a hindrance now that they are going to be carrying something.]

Alright, time to take all our new friends to meet the rest of the camp.

[billowing]

Mm.

[ Somehow, he's been careful not to get a single drop of blood on himself. As they walk, he watches out for anything in front of them that might hinder their way, but they make it easily back to camp. ]

[scaredofdogs]

[And into camp walk a man in white and a man covered in blood carrying a deer followed by an army of the dead. So much for not making an entrance. He is really going to have to find a way to get cleaned up after this. At least they have dinner!]

[billowing]

[ Don't worry, Lan Wangji will clean up the carcass and prepare it while Wei Ying cleans his clothes.

Which.

When they get back to camp, he takes out a bar of soap, and hands it to Wei Ying. ]

It's not finished curing, so it's soft. But it should work.

[scaredofdogs]

[He takes the soap and stares at it.]

You made soap too? You're quite the camper, Lan Zhan...

[He's really getting into this whole living in the woods thing. Even he hasn't done much more then explore..almost makes him feel lazy.]

[billowing]

Mm. From the ashes in the fire, and oil.

[ He's not going to tell Wei Ying he pressed his own oil.

Listen, there are a lot of instructional books in the Cloud Recesses library? He'd never gotten to use any of them before, since soap was made by others, but. First time for everything. ]

[scaredofdogs]

[He shakes his head, never going to stop being amazed by him.]

I'm going to go get cleaned up!

[He turns to the soldiers.]

Stay here and don't follow. I don't need you to protect me during this part of the quest

[He doesn't need any spirits peaking on him while he is bathing.]

[billowing]

[ Lan Wangji supposes he'll keep the soldiers company. Or, more likely, they'll keep him company as he goes to skin and butcher the deer. He'll be on the other side of the river, and to keep the blood from getting on his clothes, he also has to... unclothe himself. A little.

But anyway, he'll probably be over here talking to the spirits still.

Well.

Talking is a strong word. He'll be listening to them ramble about their halcyon days. ]

[scaredofdogs]

[He heads into the water to start making himself look less like a mess. Leaving his top layers, that had somehow stayed wrapped around his waist that entire time, on the shore since they are mostly clean. He takes the soap and scrubs off the remains of the spell, getting himself nice and clean and then proceeding to the center of the river so that he can be in deeper water. it's still not terribly deep but enough so that he can dunk under it. He removes his ribbon so that his hair is loose, a rare sight as he dunks under the water to get it all wet.

The water is crisp but refreshing and despite the lack of heated water like in the pool, he prefers this and would rather be in the river then inside any day. Now that he is clean, he wades down stream to see how Lan Wangji's progress is with the deer. He knows exactly where he is since he can hear the soldiers.]

Are they doing a good job of keeping you company, Lan Zhan?

[billowing]

[ Lan Wangji swings his spear, and cuts off pieces of the deer into venison. ]

Mm. They have many stories to tell.

[ Almost none of which are relevant to their situation at hand, but perhaps could inform them of some of the politics and fighting styles that exist in this world.

Anyway, it's better than nothing. ]

Wei Ying, did you leave your clothes upstream?