Hanshan

Hanshan (寒山, Hanshan) is a ghost, a remnant from an age long gone dwelling in the forest of Shide. Once said to be a member of the, the results of his studies into and what lies beyond reality eventually caused his exile. Hanshan, or what eventually became Hanshan, accepted his banishment with gratitude; his solitude would become the whetstone of his genius.

The line between reality and illusion became more fickle with each year Hanshan dedicated to uncovering the secrets, and even when his physical presence wavered, he did not cease his experiments. Soon time robbed of their light, a handicap that would be the initiation of his exit out of the material world. Soon after, what was not yet Hanshan discarded his physical body entirely, himself becoming no more then the illusions he had dedicated his existence too.

Years flew by, the world around him eroding and arising, but Hanshan no longer was connected to it. Within the forest that sprouted from his very imagination, he now wanders, still seeking to bridge the gap between reality and fake entirely. It is said that entering Shide Forest is the same as entering Hanshan's mind, as the trees do not exist, the cries of the birds are an illusion, and whatever moves in never comes out.