Shu Camp

[Norion]

Zhao Yun, for some reason, seemed to space out during the conflict ((sorry about my absence... fucking weddings.) However, now that Ma Chao was captured, Zhao Yun hurried over to Liu Bei's side. He had something in mind, something to prove to Zen that although Liu Bei was known for his peaceful nature... he meant business,.

"Lord Liu Bei," Zhao Yun said quietly so only he could hear, "I must ask a request of you. Your men, and the other kingdoms, know only of your benevolence for your people. The reason Zen has attempted this attack is because they doubted your military prowess. I request that you do not take any chances, and allow me to dispatch Ma Chao at once. An example must be made of him, and Zen must reap the failed fruits of their disaster. He must not live to see another 5 minutes pass."

[Zhang Fei]

The raid was quickly quelled. The outcome was even quicker than Zhang Fei had expected, his brother had certainly improved as a commander over time and it was beginning to show. It was assumed by many people that Liu Bei was unfit compared to the others who held power in the land, probably the reason why the Zen kingdom made such a pitiful attempt to harm the stability of Shu. Needless to say, it failed.

Fei made his way forward, using his position of authority to swiftly barge past allied soldiers, making his way into the ring of men that Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhao Yun already stood in, with the helpless Ma Chao already tied up… with such a strong sense of resistance in his expression. Ironic that somebody in such a predicament could still hold such a look.

Zhang Fei caught the scene as Guan Yu refused to kick the Zen warrior, this lack of action did not catch Fei off-guard, in fact, he wouldn’t be surprised if Liu Bei purposely asked Guan Yu to do it just to test his honour. Yide did not share the same code of beliefs as his older brother and immediately stepped forward, quickly forcing his fist into the face of Ma Chao, afterwards walking towards Zhao Yun, hearing of his plea.

”Brother Bei, Lord Zilong is right. Such a deceitful act must be avenged… This is the way it needs to be.”

Zhang Fei kept his sight on Xuande, he had doubts as to whether he would give the order. It was simply a matter of his common sense overcoming that of the ‘virtue’ that he holds so dear.

[Jiang Wei]

The small skirmish, at least in terms of Zen’s forces, was soon over, it was after all inevitable and neither man, Jiang Wei or Ma Chao expected any different, the difference was, Ma Chao was the catalyst and Jiang Wei merely attempted to retrieve Zen’s most prized warrior before any long term damage could be made with future Zen-Shu relations... but that was now in the fire, burning ablaze, it seemed diplomacy would be long gone with the chaos Ma Chao had caused, but maybe with Jiang Wei there stood some hope...

"THIS DOES NOT CONCERN YOU!"

That made his mind up for him. ”Put down you arms men... we are surrounded...” Wei conceded defeat as his troops were encircled and cut off from any reasonable escape.

Slowly but surely the horsemen halted their advances as captains alerted men of the news. Some failed to accept defeat and either tried to flee or were killed by the defences of Shu. Dismounting his own horse, he started off yet another chain reaction, as the men took to the ground, and dropped their weapons, a sign of surrender, and hopefully a stop to bloodshed for the moment.

He moved to the front of the troops, offering himself over to the Shu forces before he was punched, forced to the ground and bound. He winced in pain, but took it like a man; he would not begrudge Shu the pleasure of making him hurt, not after what Ma Chao had done.

”I am Jiang Wei of Zen, I wish to speak to Lord Liu Bei if at all possible, before my fate is sealed.” He was greeted with another punch to his chest making him gasp for air before he was dragged off. The troops he had were subject to Shu’s own desires, be it prisoners, letting the poor peasant militia free, or killing them.

[Norion]

Zhao Yun, who was waiting for a reply from Liu Bei, was interrupted by Jiang Wei, who was bound and brought to him. Zhao Yun turned his body, holding his spear in his left hand behind him. He looked Jiang Wei in the eyes, and as Zhao Yun's icy orbs surveyed Jiang Wei, he spoke.

"Shu did nothing to provoke this... this lack-lustre attempt at an attack. So... before I allow you to speak to my Lord Liu Bei, I would like an explination. And if I don't like the explination..." he said, as he brought his spear towards Jiang Wei, who was brought to his knees by the guards.

Zhao Yun took the tip of his spear, and brought it to Jiang Wei's right ear. As the guards held Jiang Wei, Zhao Yun drew a line from his ear to the corned of his mouth. Then, as the mildly deep wound on his face began to bleed, he brought the spear's tip to the other side of Jiang Wei's face, and did the same. Then, he took his time inscribing the chinese symbol for homosexual on Jiang Wei's forhead. All three of these wounds were bound to scar Jiang Wei's face for life.

"If I don't like the explination... I'll just keep going until I cut your tongue out."

[Jiang Wei]

Lowered onto his knees the man peered into the eyes of another renowned man, the great Zhao Zilong, a man known as a prolific warrior and bodyguard to Liu Bei. He could rightly so find many comparisons with himself, he too was prolific in warfare, and being a bodyguard he appreciated what he had to do to protect his lord and his beliefs, even if it meant taking his life for the cause, he would gladly do so, and it seemed he would do just that in the name of Zen and his master Jiang Wei.

Oh course Jiang Wei was known only by pictures and stories, he looked the part, wore the colours of rank and kingdom, spoke in his noble voice and spoke well enough and whilst he looked into the icy eyes of Zhao Yun, as he marked nothing but a bodyguard’s forehead and face with his spear, he realised just what he was up to, this was no rescue attempt, it was Jiang Wei’s way of causing his own warning towards Shu, that he would not so easily be caught as Ma Chao was, and would remain the elusive thorn in the side of any enemy of his lord Ba Zeng.

Until Zilong, Liu Bei or anyone else realised, the look-a-like bodyguard would remain unknown, and as far as they would know, he was indeed the famous Jiang Wei of Tian Shui.

”My Lord Ba Zeng had no intentions of this battle, indeed I was sent to intercept Ma Chao, and prevent him from falling into Wei’s trap.” He gave his honest answer of all that he knew so far. ”Cao Pi is as devious as any man in this world, he wants us to fight, to kill each other off. Ma Chao fell for the mistake of believing Shu were the enemy, that you would eventually betray us, cross our borders and kill our own kind. I cannot take back the actions of our man, but I do pray that you consider my words, even though rightly so our lives are in your hands.”

Again he spoke well, wincing in pain as the blade cut, but other than that, clear and diplomatic.

”Together is the only way Xu Chang will fall, like it or not, you will eventually need our assistance.” Perhaps his final words, but he made sure to keep a stern look into the eyes of Zhao Yun, he was not to give away his identity to them, he would remain known only as Jiang Wei.

[Norion]

Zhao Yun peered into the man's eyes. After Zhao Yun had finished maiming Jiang Wei's forhead, he proceeded to make punctured and knicks in the man's cheeks, forhead, and neck. He listened intently, taking in every single word the man said. Although he had never met Jiang Wei, he had heard stories. Stories of prolific military achievements. However, this story... Zhao Yun didn't like it. Zhao Yun took his spear, and stuck the tip into Jiang Wei's forhead. He brought the timp down through his forhead, and down his nose, across his lips, and down his chin, leaving a bloody line in the blades wake.

"I don't believe you. Guards, we have before us Jiang Wei, a master of strategy in his own right. But... let's see how well he can conduct battle without his hands, feet, eyes, and tongue."

With that, the guards moved to remove Jiang Wei's hands, feet, eyes, and tongue. Unless Liu Bei decided to step in, Jiang Wei was as good as dead.

[Xiang Yao]

Xiang Yao and his men pressed foreward, the both he and his amry entered the camp, trampelling over the dead bodies of the archers. His losses were small, not enough to even be put in numbers (Since you didnt even acknowledge my attack). He entered the madness, and realized the battle had been one, the sounds of war were gone, and in the mass of slaughtered bodies, he saw many Shu warriors gathered around a central point. He silently moved to that area.

[Guan Yu]

Yunchang looked on as not only Zilong asked, but Yide as well. for Mengqi's blood to spilled. He shook his head.

"If the prized son of Xiliang is worth anything to Zen, we can use him as a bargaining chip. Ba Zeng is not a stupid man, at least, he hasn't proved otherwise. While some of his generals," he paused to motion to both Ma Chao and Jiang Wei, "may be, he is still a man of some intelligence. I propose we take Mengqi to be ransomed, and see what the snake of Tian Shui has to offer for his head."

He looked over at Jiang Wei closer now, and saw that Zilong had carved a symbol in his flesh. "Homosexual... well, it seems like it would fit," he said, chuckling. How had the famed Jiang Wei let himself be captured here? Either way, this man's life was worth nothing. Kongming was on hiatus, and obviously he had not trained his prized pupil well enough.

"Hold," he said to the guards preparing to mutilate the man, "if I may, brother, I would like to whet my blade's appetite on this one."

He then waited for an answer. If it were to be yes, than the man's head would roll in an instant. If no, then Liu Bei was truly the man he was esteemed to be.

[Norion]

Zhao Yun slapped Jiang Wei with the flat of his blade, pretty much mushroom stamping the side of his face with the blade of his spear. Then, he walked towards Ma Chao with a glimmer of... something... in his eyes.

"Do what you will, brother Guan Yu. I have no more use for him. I have... someone else in mind."

As he neared Ma Chao, he began to lazily spin his spear around his body. The wooden handle spun around his back, and at both of his sides, commanded by Zhao Yun's hands by the most perfect of muscle memory. It was as if he was born with a spear in his hands. He cocked his head to one side, and then the other as he surveyed the captive. So many ideas flashed through Zhao Yun's mind... what not many people knew about Zhao Yun was his knack for inflicting pain. He had an affinity for it.

"Ma Chao, pride of Zen... it seems you've found yourself in a compromising position. your hands a broken, you're tied up... do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Naturally, Ma Chao would be unable to answer with the cloth in his mouth.

"No? Well, if you're not going to talk... you don't really need that tongue of yours, do you?"

Then, Zhao Yun brought his spear down towards Ma Chao's arms, and the blade seemed to swing back and forth like a pendilum between them.

"And these poor arms of yours... the hands they have are useless. Not that they did much to begin with... you don't really need them anymore, do you? And these eyes..." he said, levelling his spear at Ma Chao's face, "all they were ever good for was seeing battle. You never did have a knack for strategy... maybe if you did, you wouldn't be at my mercy right now. And without hands... well, if you won't be seeing battle any time soon, you don't need your eyes..."

Then, he brought the spear down to Ma Chao's feet. "And all you do is ride that ugly horse of yours. So you don't need your feet... in fact, you are actually quite useless, you sack of fodder."

He pointed to Ma Chao's spear, and snapped his fingers; a guard rushed to it, and brought him Ma Chao's weapon.Zhao Yun held it in his right hand, and twirled it and stabbed the air a few times. "It's a nice weapon... too bad you don't know how to use it right. And you won't be needing this anymore... so I believe I'll just take it."

Zhao Yun turned his head to face Liu Bei once more.

"Lord Liu Bei, what will you have me do with this woman?"

*Zhao Yun has filled his second weapon slot with Ma Chao's spear!*

[Yan Xiu]

(This ends now. Honestly guys, let me get things straight. I did this suicide tactic to save the activity of this battle, people were beginning to get bored with the lack of action. I sacrificed myself to save it. Now, I am totally fine with the concequences of the broken hands and the capture, I was down with that. But the difference between you guys and Justin is the fact that Justin posted once and waited for me. Yeah sure, he Godmodded, but it was realistic. Like, I'm not whining and I don't want you guys to think I hate you, I like the drama that is occuring. But seriously, give me a chance to actually reply before you go all psycho and rip all my limbs out.)

Posting Music (Must listen to!)
Shall Never Surrender - Jason 'Shyboy' from Devil May Cry 4

The Authentic, Relentless, Uncompromised Ma Chao Experience

He was trampled, he was shattered and he was broken as he was brought to a pathetic position infront of the most elite warriors of Shu. He could not stand up to thousands of soldiers, it was simply just not possible. The lion will however, unleash a fury that no man can possibly contain. The ties around his limbs were strong, restricting all forms of movement, but dammit, he refused to be muted like a pathetic slave. He spat the cloth out as he was brought before those who are known as the Terror's of Shu.

His hell began as he was kicked onto the ground, he coughed and spat out blood ina gurgle, but he remained silent. His forearms were brought out to a horizontal position, his eyes began to realise what was going to happen next as Liao Hua moved to the captured warrior. His club rose and fell and shattered his wrists. "AAAAAAAAARRRR!!!" He literally screamed in pain as his bones lay broken and shattered, he could no longer feel the living limb that he cherished so greatly. His legacy of being a expert spearman disappeared within a flash as he began to puff with grunting in pain. The pain didn't stop as he stared down onto his broken limbs. He could not believe the men of Shu had no honour, he had thought the mighty Liu Bei to be honourable, instead, he had kept him alive and slaughtered his entire army. He kept Mengqi alive just for the pleasure of torture.

Anger. So much anger. They stood by his broken body, laughing. Jiang Wei too suffered humiliation. Ma Chao's broken wrists began to shake, absolute and utter rage taking over. He began to snarl like a beast, his breathing increased. "I'm going to send you all to the depths of hell." He snarled as his breathing increased. His lips began to curl as he took a breath in and suddenly let loose a huge whistle as the soldiers moved to rip Jiang Wei apart. Nothing happened for a moment, but suddenly, form absolutely out of no where, Gale, Mengqi's magnificent steed landed in the dead center of the circle.

The stallion landed on two soldiers, their blades flying, one sliding right next to the body of Ma Chao. The stallion then mule kicked and caught two other soldiers. Both would fly straight into the body of the arrogant Zhao Yun as he moved to take Mengqi's spear. Mengqi had acted too, he had brought his tied ankles to the sword on the ground, cutting loose the rope. He span his legs around, bringing himself to his feet. Cartwheeling, he brought his face to the ground and caught his spear in his mouth. Amazingly, he turned and roared to any who dare try to fight him. Kicking a sword over to Jiang Wei, he hoped the mand would be intelligent enough to cut his own rope. Soldiers rushed forward, but Mengqi was in Raiden from MGS4 mode now. He span around ina quarter cartwheel, axekicking one soldier forcefully backwards into his comrades. Liao Hua was next, he rushed forward with his club, attempting a downwards stroke with the massive weapon. He was sluggish and had no delicacy with his motion. The Pride of Xi Liang sidestepped and pivoted his foot out and caught the left kneecap, snapping it at a awkward angle. The former Yellow Turban warrior fell to the ground in pain, Mengqi was not done however, he wrenched his own headbackwards, tossing the spear into the air, before he sent a sick foot to the back of the skull of the Yellow Turban warrior, crushing it straight into the ground. He caught the spear in his teeth straight afterwasrds and moved for Gale.

Mengqi's tied arms remained lifeless as the stallion quickly bent down, the beast knowing what pain the lion was in. Mengqi jumped atop the magnificent white stallion as it suddenly darted straight for the river. It lept with amazing strength over the horde of men whom tried and abysmally failed to stop his escape. Mengqi was alive, and dammit, he as pissed. The Lion was unleashed, and there was no stopping his fury.

(That was taking the build-up of Godmodding you guys did, making it into a snowball and tossing it straight back at you. I was cool with alittle bit of it, like the breaking of the wrists, but you guys went too far. Mengqi is out of here, Liao Hua is dead.)

[Norion]

As Zhao Yun reached for the spear... what was this? Something loud, something big... oh, no. The giant white stallion had come to Ma Chao's rescue. Zhao Yun had thought of asking to have the beast reigned in, but he decided against it at the last moment. As it crashed into two soldiers, one of them was flung at Zhao Yun. Zhao Yun ursed under his breath; there was no way he'd be able to continue in his motion for the spear, and he had to get out of the way. As he took a wuick, long step back... well, apparently the horse had bodyslammed two bodies.

Zhao Yun crouched down, and right before the body reached him, he slammed the shaft of his own spear into the air, flinging the soldier away. But... now it was too late. Ma Chao was already putting the Jabbawokeez to shame with his moves, and... oh, dear. Right as the sword was kicked to Jiang Wei, he spoke to Guan Yu in a tone just loud enough for him to hear. at Guan Yu.

"Do it, now."

Then, he turned his head... only to see... was that Liao Hua's head crushed beneath Ma Chao's foot?

He didn't have anytime to watch Ma Chao as he left. He was... fixated on the officer who had his hed crushed. Assuming that was, in fact, Liao Hua. He hadn't seen him much, so he may have been mistaken...

[Guan Yu]

A horse leaped into the center of the ring of soldiers and began causing a ruckus. Those unfortunate enough to be standing next to the enraged beast were slain with forceful impacts of its hooves. Swords too went flying, one landing next to the crippled Ma Chao who managed to miraculously extricate himself from the hog-tie and one landed next to the man alleged to be Jiang Wei. The entire experience was quite surreal, Ma Chao immediately began kicking people, somehow killing them. Yunchang stood there, absolutely dumbfounded at the spectacle unfolding before. No man made a move to kill Ma Chao, it would have been so easy. If Guan Yu were not stupefied by the sheer amount of divine intervention taking place, he himself would have moved forward and run his sword through Ma Chao's heart, ending the raging beast's life right then and there. But as it happened, Ma Chao had made off before anything could really be done, and with Liao Hua's life too.

The man was a friend, but perhaps this was his punishment for forsaking the honorable principles that the heavens seemed to prize above all others.

Zhao Yun looked over at him, and told him to kill the other prisoner before he too could try anything spectacular.

Yunchang brought his blade up and pointed the tip of the blade downwards. It hovered above the man's clavicle like a snake waiting to strike.

"This is what treachery will earn you. And I hope you, messenger boy, keep that message ready for your lord when I send him to hell too!"

He then plunged the sword down at the man, aiming to sever his subclavian artery and puncture his heart. There would be no chance of escaping this blow.

---

(assuming there's no more shit happening in the Shu camp...)

Yunchang gathered his troops up, 200 Dao Bing and moved to the field. He took only his personal guard as he figured the troop assignments for the skirmish here were made out of an emergency. He could not possibly expect them to stick.

"Men, we move out. We'll take position upon the plains that lie before Xu Chang's walls and await the advance of our allies."

And with that, Guan Yu moved from the circle to pick up his Guan Dao and sheath his saber. He and his men then left the camp.

[Liu Bei]

((err, the answer to the godmodding was me responding to yours. You can't keep doing this Ayden; you're going to kill the site with your attempts to help it. Liao Hua is not dead. Being the bigger man in this situation would've been to ignore Zhao Yun.))

The man tried to curb stomp Hua, but Hua was not in the same dire straits that this man was. As his foot came down, somehow throwing his own spear into the air with his mouth, Hua rolled away. He realized he wasn't as fast as the warrior, and no longer attempted to fight against the man.

He grabbed his club, and watched as the horse picked the man up. Chao was trying to help Jiang Wei, who was a good 100 yards away from the entire debacle, throwing a sword that clattered off a shield somewhere distant.

The horse seemed to be made of god, but unfortunately, Ma Chao ran right into the Ji Bing division, 9,000 men strong, sitting directly in the northern gate to the camp. The man was stopped here, for if his horse were to continue its disastrous course, it would run straight into the prickly forest of pole arms.

With Jiang Wei now dead, and Ma Chao captured, once again, Liao Hua moved forwards, surrounded by the swordsmen. Their shields held so as to deflect any attacks Ma Chao could possibly make, it was with little hesitation that Liao Hua drew up the crossbow. He aimed it at the dying man, and pulled the trigger.

There were no words for this treachery that Ma Chao committed. There was no words at all to describe the acts he attempted to pull.

Whether the man died or not from the crossbow bolt, the charging Ji Bing who slaughtered that white Stallion and the Swordsmen who charged forwards intent for the man's blood to avenge their fallen, one thing was certain; Ma Chao would not survive this time.

((No godmodding in this post. I godmodded the one post, the opening, because of your bullshit tactic of saying that Zen and Shu are allied; bullshit, you just took Han Zhong, Bei would not stand down from such an aggressive move. Placing your soldiers in my camp was another bullshit move, so I topped taht off by having all of mine outside the camp, ready to fight the inside.

You're dead, Ayden. Sorry, but its true. I don't care if you're god damned motherfucking Kobe Bryant, you're not going to be able to jump over 18,000 men.))

[Liu Bei]

((Now that that is finished;))

Liu Bei stood within his recently re-established camp. The burnt wood was taken out, dumped outside to be used for someone's home later down the road. for now, the camp stood, gutted, but in good order. Tents were replaced, burnt ones used to patch up the others.

Food was distributed to the men here, men who were hungry for it. water was rationed out, and some of it was refilled from the nearby stream. Bei sat at the front gate, marshalling the large amount of men whom were about to take to the field. On the front of his horse was the helmet of Ma Chao. In his right hand, the man's spear.

Bei patted Di Lu, or Hex Mark, the supposedly cursed horse. Its hair was grey-ish, the saddle tinged with green, giving way to the colors and emblem of Shu at the bottom. He smiled at the horse, knowing fully well that it was responsible for much of his success; a cursed horse that was cursed for his enemies.

To his right sat Liao Hua. His left arm was in a sling, the silent reminder of the earlier fight against Ma Chao. Bei spat at the thought of the once honorable man resorting to dirty tricks to try and test Liu Bei. He would've happily fought him on the field of battle, but causing defections amongst the most famous and love man in China? Despicable.

Bei handed the list of army deployments to the aides-de-camps next to him. They both immediately set off down the line, handing the troop breakdowns to each warrior present. They took into account casualties of the battle, reinforcements having arrived soon from Shu to compensate Bei's own force.

The Grand Subjugating Army of Shu, Northern Division
Generals and Rank:

• Guan Yu - Commander of the Vanguar
  
• Zhao Yun - Commander of the Right Flank
  
• Zhang Fei - Commander of the Left Flank
  
• Xiang Yao - Commander of the Rearguard
  
• Liu Bei - Grand Commander

Troop Deployment

• Guan Yu
  • 3,000 Gong Jian Bing (Archers)
    
  • 3,000 Ji Bing (Halberdiers)
    
  • 3,000 Chang Jian Bing (Veteran Swordsmen)
    
  • 1,000 Jian Qi Bing (Mounted Swordsmen)
    
  • 1 Battering Ram
  
  
• Zhao Yun
  • 2,000 Gong Jian Bing (Archers)
    
  • 2,000 Ji Bing (Halberdiers)
    
  • 2,000 Chang Jian Bing (Veteran Swordsmen)
    
  • 2,000 Jian Qi Bing (Mounted Swordsmen)
    
  • 1 Siege Tower
    
  • 10 Ladders
  
  
• Zhang Fei
  • 2,000 Gong Jian Bing (Archers)
    
  • 2,000 Ji Bing (Halberdiers)
    
  • 2,000 Chang Jian Bing (Veteran Swordsmen)
    
  • 2,000 Jian Qi Bing (Mounted Swordsmen)
    
  • 1 Siege Tower
    
  • 10 Ladders
  
  
• Xiang Yao
  • 2,000 Gong Jian Bing (Archers)
    
  • 2,000 Ji Bing (Halberdiers)
    
  • 2,000 Chang Jian Bing (Veteran Swordsmen)
    
  • 2,000 Jian Qi Bing (Mounted Swordsmen)
  
  
• Liu Bei
  • 1,000 Chang Jian Bing

Bei had formulated the numbers to give them a strong core with good flanking ability, hoping that Guan Yu's marshal superiority would shine in this battle. All men were ordered to move out, and keep formation.

[Yan Xiu]

I'm going to be mature, accept the facts Justin presented and stand down. There really is no realistic way for me to get out. Plus, now that I think about it, I was being a whiny dickhead. I apologise for pissing anyone off.

Live Alone, Die Alone[/u]

Mengi could not physically believe he had gotten this far to yet have his path cut off. Gale had saved his life, but now, she too would meet her end at the hands of the Shu Empire. The Stallion saw the incoming troops as she landed, only a few more li to go before the river. They piled up in front of her; but she would not lose hope. Mengqi smiled, wishing he could commend her with a pat, but his hands were broken and tied. Tossing the spear out of his mouth to the side, the blade dug into the ground, standing at a diagonal angle. "Easy. We can still-..." The body of Mengqi slumped forward as the sick sound of a bolt piercing the back of his skull echoed over the flames of the warground. Blood began to dribble down as the man's entire body was now slumped forward, leaning against the mane of the stallion.

The Stallion could feel the heartbeat of the lion stop, she lowered her own body to the ground, before gently shaking the now dead body of Ma Chao off her back. He rolled to the ground, eyes closed as he landed next to his spear. The stallion leant it's nose down and began to gently rub against the corpse, trying to find some lifeforce, anything. It could find nothing, and with a sorrowful ccry the stallion neighed into the sky, having it's only companion dead at its feet. The beast was then ran through shortly after by the spear of a elite soldier. It too, dropped and became a lifeless corpse.

Two beings, drawn together by their loneliness, now rested somewhere else. Far from the pain of the living world.