Heavenfall

"Perhaps the spirits could be distracted with a sacrifice?" Haka offers.

Are these wedding ritual elements all needed this early in the empire?

Haka takes another bite of her meat stick. "This one will wait here for some time in the event he returns."

Haka nods. "That will help. It is good that someone is wise enough not to toss their name around with abandon."

Haka's frown only deepened as the Nezumi started talking about name magic. "This one would remind everyone that speaking names in the company of the named will only invite the presence of malignant spirits," she says, her tone somewhat frustrated. "This one also has doubts as to this plan. The falle...

"Perhaps." There's a noncommital shrug. "It shall be seen what happens when the expedition has ended. It is still possible that this will will perish before that becomes an issue, after all."

Haka nods. "This one hopes that he is found soon. He seemed the sort that would not ask for help until it was too late."

"No, just investigating. This one has never been in a jungle before." She turns the rest of her body to face Inga. "What of the questioner? Are they seeking something?"

Haka was among the crowd, waiting patiently for things to begin.

"Perhaps not," she admits, her brow furrowing in concern. "It is something this one has considered. After spending so much time with others, the thought of going back to living in relative solitude for another ten years is not appealing."

"If not, then we get to fight a fallen god! Also exciting."

Haka grins widely.

"Thank you!" Haka grins. "Hopefully it is some ways down the line."

Haka nods. "Yes, as far as this one is aware, all Shoji returned as ghosts. But she has begun to believe that it may be due to the proximity of the portal. This far away from it, who knows what will happen when Haka dies?"

"It is very exciting."

"That would be interesting," she admits. "This one is looking forward to meeting a fallen god. That will be a new experience."

"Yes, some people have said that they do not return as ghosts when they die. Some have spoken of being reborn in new lives, or of their spirit going to another realm when it leaves their bodies." Haka smiles. "These seem better than spending the rest of eternity eating people as a ghost, yes?"

"Oh, no. This one would much prefer to not be a ghost. That is why all these other options are so interesting."

"Oh, yes!" Haka sits up a bit. "This one fully expected to become a ravenous ghost when she died, like most Shoji. That there are other options is very exciting."

"Just do not get caught in a web," Haka teases.

"Oh, absolutely. This one just needs to be near where the spirit was. Or she could ask the Emptiness, but it can be evasive."

"This one has not spent time there, either. Well, not yet, at least." She smiles. "Maybe soon, though!"