Treasures of Ruin Headcanons
It is not uncommon to find stone figures of Ting-Lu marking settlements in northern Paldea. In ancient times, the custom was to put coins in the domed vessel atop its head, typically whenever one arrived or departed the village. The reasoning is not well understood. Some scholars believe they were merely respectful offerings. Others speculate that the coins were intended to weigh Ting-Lu's head down, to prevent it from escaping its shrine and ravaging the earth.
Paldea is home to a proverb, often translated as 'melt the sand and leave nowhere to stand'. It cautions against the ruinous effects of jealousy or envy, and likely traces back to Chi-Yu's origins. Both in Paldea and its surrounding regions, envy is associated with fire and heat.
It is commonly believed that flowers and fruit trees do not grow in the woods surrounding Grasswither Shrine, but this is not true. As any local will tell you, the fruit grows quickly, but rots quicker still. Wild pokémon do not eat it.
Paldean fables warn children against walking alone in heavy snow. If they see a snowman, they must ignore it - especially if it seems to be waving at them. Chien-Pao is the most playful of the Treasures of Ruin; while your eyes fix on the snow figure, you may miss the sheet of ice descending from above.
The exact nature of the Treasures of Ruin is poorly understood in modern Paldea. While their existence is accepted, there is dispute over the extent of their abilities and the level of destruction attributed to them. Some academics argue that they were only symbols of the bloodshed and environmental discord under the ancient monarch's rule, later elevated to legends via oral storytelling. However, more recent research supports the Treasures' historic reputation. A newly-published geological analysis of Grasswither Shrine detected elevated levels of heavy metals in the soil, with no clear source but the shrine itself.
Ornamental metal vessels, often known as 'worry bowls', are found in many houses across Paldea. They are a common gift for children, who are told to write their fears down on scraps of paper and put them in the vessel to be rid of them. Some believe that these bowls are styled after the vessel on Ting-Lu's head. The protective nature of the bowls is at odds with Ting-Lu's generally negative reputation, which may suggest that the Treasures were not always a symbol of evil in Paldean culture.
In old Paldean writings, frostbite is often referred to as 'sword touch' or the 'bite of the cat', thought to be physical evidence of Chien-Pao's ruin on the body. Even in modern Paldea, children are encouraged to wrap up warmly against the cold, lest 'the cat nip their nose'.
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