t h є . f α c є l є s s . s t α t u є(Open)

[CrimsonMoon]

Once upon a time, Crimmen was reading a book about phsychology and suddenly had a brilliant idea.. It was called visual and auditory hallucinations x3 JK. Check it:)

In this particular region, in this particular season. Storms ran rampant across this particular mountain range seperating two kingdoms. Many travelers died from the dangers that awaited them. From avalanches to ghosts to drowning or just altitude sickness.

One ghost story rises above all the others... For it has truth in it:

Once these mountains had been mild, pleasant forests filled with life of all kinds.. A man and a woman lived alon the only road through the mountains. They helped tired travelers, giving them warm beds to sleep on and delicious food. Nearby their humble home was a pagan statue of a traveling god.

One night, when the young couple had settles four men down into their home, one of the men grabbed the young man and in an instant... Split open his throat. The wife was to have screamed and tried to run but was caught as she stumbled near the Traveling God. The men ddi horrible things to her, and with her dying breath, se reached toward the statue and begged for it to avenge its caretakes... With that, the men cut her down. One man laughs as he smashed the statue's face to peices, leaving its once cheerful visage as cracks and shattered stonez

This is where the story splits into a few verions:
-The first is that the men escaped but were forever tormented by the spirits of the couple
-The second is that the statue came to life and avenged its caretakers, even today not hesitating to maim and dismember bandits traveling that road
-the third(and most horrific) is that the statue ripped apart the men but stole the young man's face, replacing its ruined face with his. Once this was done, he awoke the women's spirit... And they tend to travelers to this day for a price... Each traveler must give their face to the statue as payment for hospitality...

Now, beleive what you want but... You are going yo travel through those very mountains... That very road... Hmph. Good luck, Traveler:
--
The blizzard ripped across the rocky path, te road just barely visable in the stinging wind. In the distance, the soft yellow orange glow of a candle in a window hails travelers like a lighthouse in a white hurricane..

[Light]

With jade eyes and dark black hair, and easterner, new to these parts had decided to brave the mountains. He was determined to cross them, as the large wagon of jade behind him was to be sold on the other side.

[CrimsonMoon]

The wind screams at him, cutting him like cold knives. The rode was icey and filled with sharp oebbles that poked through the snow like tiny islands. In the distance, the small glow peirces the whiteness, beckoning him to safety.. To warmth..

[Light]

Breathin out in relief, the weary foreigner hurries towards the light. "Thank Buddha,"

[CrimsonMoon]

As he draws closer, a small shrine appears nex to him, The deity had the face of a handsome young man and held up a walking stick in one hand and rosary in the other. The beads clinking in the wind like windchimes. The small house seems to rise from the snow, a traditional nagaya, a candle illuminating a window

[Light]

The man looks at the statue reluctantly. He didn't beleive in the western deities, but there could be a god around here. He pulls out a small used candle stick and adjust it in the snow. He uses his body to block the wind, and lights it with a small match.

[CrimsonMoon]

The statue seems new, no erosion spots clawed its greenish grey body... The bead snapping suddenly in the wind as a gentle voice asks," E-excuse me sir?"

[Light]

He straightens his back, teeth chattering. "Ahhh... Hell-o," he says, sounding out the word. The little stick smokes out when he moves, and he purses his lips.

[CrimsonMoon]

" Ah... *you're cold, arent you?*," the woman says in his tongue," *You're welcome tos tay here.. For our god is a traveler's..*,"

[Light]

He bends at the waist and bows to her, his wagon behind him, "*I am endebted to you, thank you*," he sighs under a small sneeze, relieved that he didnt have to speak English.

[CrimsonMoon]

" *Nonsense*," she laughs lghtly," *Just come inside before you freeze to death, or i'll be havig to pay a febt to you in the after life*,"

[Light]

"*thank you, you are too kind.*" he grabs his cart and starts pulling it towards the house.

[CrimsonMoon]

The woman just smiles in reply and comes up behind the cart and pushes it

[Light]

He rests the front down when they reach the house. He looks back through the snow, "*that statue...?*"

[CrimsonMoon]

" *Ryokogami? He's the god of these mountains... My husband and I take care of his shrine*," she muses softly, sliding the door open and beckonig him in

[Light]

He bows his head to her and quickly walks in, "*Ah, I have not heard of him before coming here. Have you and your husband been here a long time?*"

[CrimsonMoon]

" *Yes, my husband... He inherited this place but... Because we didn't have any children.. I inherited after he..*" she trails off and bows her head, sliding the door shut behind him and walking into the next room where a small fire eas blazing in the center of the room

[Light]

" *Ah,* " his eyes widen in realization, " *Im very sorry.* "

[CrimsonMoon]

She shrugs," *the past is the past, it's alright... Would you like some tea or something warm to eat?*?"

[Light]

"*both would be nice,*" he agrees walking into the warmer room after her. Ahhh... He could feel the ice that had stilled his clothes into popsicles melting.