Liu felt his vision distort a bit at the utterance of this creature's name, as though he viewed the world through some fluid medium in which the name caused a ripple. He did not mutter it but stood still for a moment to process and looked down at his hand curiously, observing for more, subtle things for interest's sake. A curious happening like this was new to him. He would have to think about it later, however, as this curtain of darkness melted away. Light broke through overhead and then the walls dissipated, curling into the earth like smoke in an unseen wind -- indeed this jungle did much to stifle the mundane kind -- his head snapped up toward the group, and then toward the shack. The mission. 

He peered in behind Esther, leaning in. His form froze in place as he peered from left to right in the room. Magical glowing crystal in the middle of the room? Wouldn't be the first time. Madman's journal detailing the depravity through which this awful outcome was achieved? New, but not terribly out of sorts. Something to be thankful for. Dolls. 

Liu quietly cleared his throat and leaned out of the shack, stepping a couple steps away and placed his hands on his shoulders, mimicking the sounds of deep breathing while peering at the ground and kicking a leaf that was sticking up from the loam. Why did it have to be dolls? He could remember vividly the stories of jiang-shi, possessed puppets, and so on told in the wee hours. He has seen a mushroom the size of a small house get up and speak. He's seen a titan made of ice and magic rear back and do its best to smash him to dust. Liu crouched down and began poking at the dirt, mumbling inaudibly to himself, [i][color=662d91]"dolls... I would rather more beasts... an evil dragon maybe... what did I do to deserve this?"[/color][/i]