The Romance of the River Kingdoms

Jar'Thol, Salsham'ai shaman

Jar'Thol is overjoyed to have been able to convinced at least some people of Cormondal to avoid the temple and try to live peacefully with the wolves. "I am happy that you have come to see things my way. In time, I hope, your mutual fear of the other will lessen and a more durable peace can be achieved."

Later on, the young Vashi and the temple group are discussing the possibility of following the Vasu's directions and thus explore Ropoko island. "I figure you are right, traveling by boat would probably be the quickest way to get there. I've been on my share of boats during my travels but I never properly learned to handle them. I'm not sure if any of us are actually good at handling a boat. If only my cousin Mathoos was here ... He left Llaza at a young age to be a deckhand. I heard he now climbs the masts of rocking ships like others would climb a tree swept by the wind. Anyway, I disgress. Young Vashi, do you know of any local fisherman or someone of the sort that could take us there ? In exchange of some monetary compensation, of course."

OOC : Jar'Thol will try to get some provisions for the road, a vial of antitoxin and a tanglefoot bag with his share of money they got.

The shy Annika asks Ape to buy some proper clothes for her, since it seems she will be mingling among humankind more often than usual now. The simple halter and wraparound skirt should still come free easily enough if she has to shift form, and she keeps her old poncho for when she changes back. Even this gesture towards civilization seems to bring Annika out of her shell quite a bit, prompting her to be more outspoken.

A case in point is when the conversation turns to boats.

Her face goes a little grey, and she says, rather firmly, "I'll fly."

OOC: Rolling Man and Shayuri - nor problem with procuring those supplies.

At Jar'Thol's mention of hiring a boatman, the Vashti gives a grin.

"I think I know just the person," she says.

Later...

"Honoured Grandfather," says the Vashti to the stereotypically wizened Nekuuese man before you. "These people need to travel to Ropoko Island, they are following a riddle left by the Old Vashti."

The old man chuckles.

"That crazy old bird! You'll end up like her too, grand-daughter, if you aren't careful!"

"Will you take them? They have no boating skills."

"I'm getting too old, it's a long journey."

"No one else knows the river as well as you."

"I've taught you everything I know, you could take them."

"I have to stay here and look after the temple."

"I've got important business to attend to, too."

"Yes, playing Dragon Scales with your friends. We have money."

"When do we start?"

OOC:
Tanglefoot bag, 500 yen.
Antitoxon 500 yen.
Provisions, 10 yen per day. (80 yen for the round trip).
Annika's clothing 10 yen.
Passage with Grandfather Wen, 50 yen per day (split between the group)
Inability to think up a Mastercard "priceless" joke, free.

AC 15 (T15, FF13), HP 25/25, F +4,R+2,W+5

"Sure, Annika, we will find some approtiate clothes. To live with wolves, you have to wear their fur. What do you want to buy."
Ape obviously enjoys to help Annika. First time his knowledge of humankind is needed.

ooc: Ape also wants to buy 4 talismans of cure light wounds and 1 of Produce Flame.
---------------

"And so, new tests and hardships, but also new chances for wonder begin." Ape says as he steps on the boat.
ooc: Spells are regained?

OOC:
Cure light wounds and produce flame talismans all cost 500 yen each for a one-use item. Unless you can cast the spell, in which case you can get a cheaper version for 250 yen each. (i.e scroll instead of potion).

Produce Flame talisman is a small wooden disk (red cedarwood) carved with a design of the Ruby Horse on one side. Cure Light Wounds would probably come as a traditional potion or unguent.

Yes, all spells regained and, I think, all hit points returned. Grace points will have come back and if anyone was lacking Health then the Vashti is able to use curative magic.

Three Flowers is happy that peace with wolves and men could be agreed upon. It would serve to keep the land gracefull, instead of destroying the natural beauty. He would have to compose a song about it someday.

When they finally get to agreement with the boater and get to journey he stands at the railing, leaning to it and letting the wind blow his hair back. It is mystical how he seems to manage to look like a magnificant painting whenever he so decides (which he does all the time). Annika's hesitation wakes some interest in the young noble.

"Though birds belong to the sky,
and fish under the water,
men travel between.

Do not worry my beautiful friend, you can't fly all the way, and if something were to happen you could just take off from the deck. Come now."

Annika whirls to face Three-Flowers, and there is an angry flash in her eyes...though it fades to something more like sullenness before his handsomeness. She just can't stay -mad- at him and it bothers her a little.

"I don't like boats," she complains halfheartedly. "And I am as much bird as I am a man." Annika scowls and corrects herself, "Woman."

She looks away from Three Flowers, over to the old man's house.

"Maybe more."

AC 15 (T15, FF13), HP 25/25, F +4,R+2,W+5

"I understand you. Even as the baboon seems to be much closer to humans than a bird, living on the ground, having hands, I feel urges no human can understand, too. But we are all living beings, united by a common quest."

OOC: If you need any more shopping, let me know, otherwise:


You load up Grandfather Wen's little boat under his watchful eye. No matter where anyone places their belongings in the boat, even if directed by the old man himself, Wen never seems satisfied. He shakes his head, clucks his tongue and moves the offending item elsewhere, even if only a few inches. Despite this, we wears a friendly toothless grin at all times.

Finally the boat is readied to Wen's satisfaction. The Vashti is there to see you off when a young clerk comes running down the ghat steps, robes hitched up with one hand, the other clutching a scroll.

"I was...". He doubles over, gasping for breath, holds up one finger as a sign to give him a moment. Recovered, he continues. "I was asked to find you. I hear you're heading upstream? The League would like somebody to deliver a message to our mines in Tigerskin Gorge. We'll pay 500 yen for the delivery. I'm instructed to offer you another 500 yen to bring the return message."

Wen snatches the scroll from the young man's hand a nods. 500 yen isn't much in adventurer terms (5gp), but not bad for a fisherman.

*****

You travel upstream for a couple of days, Grandfather Wen instructs you all how to handle the boat, mainly so that he can "fish" (i.e. sleep) at the front, it would seem. Xielt and, surprisingly, Annika, seem to be the most capable and quickly master the basics of poling the narrow vessel. The Leng River runs the gamut of river scenery, from broad meads to overhanging forest. You see no sign of the wolves as you pass by the old temple, and the only other signs of life you see are some cormorant fisherman just upriver of Cormondal.

By the morning of the third day you reach Tigerskin Gorge, and the reason for its name becomes obvious once you can see the orange and black layers of rock strata. A narrow stream flows from the gorge into the Leng, and within the broad bite-like crescent of the gorge from surrounding cliffs you can see the huts and spoil piles of mining, but no people.

OOC:
Working out the money here I realised that I miscounted the gp-yen translation rate. YOu should have been paid 200gp equivalent each (i.e. 20,000 yen). I think the prices that I quoted need to be bumped up a factor of 10 each too.

Xielt and Annika now have 0 ranks in Profession (boatmen). This means that you can treat the skill as trained (skill = to Wis modifier) even though you technically have no ranks in it. Dr. Simon's rule of learning moderately unimportant background skills!)

Brief reminder too to Blackrat and Shayuri to update your characters to Level 2....