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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Brown Jenkin" data-source="post: 421556" data-attributes="member: 2572">Notes from MirSince the narrator is moving so fast with this story, I guess it is my job as the Bard to flesh out some the areas and times that were glossed over above.-----------------------------------------------------------------Perhaps Verick could get his Sensei to teach all of us about tactics. Either that or his Sensei doesn’t know us to well. Of all my travels, I have never before been associated with such a chaotic group of lawful people. The incident at the Inn was no different than almost all other encounters. It seems our current tactics seems to consist of little to no advanced planning, which doesn’t much matter as one or more of the samurai rush strait into to enemy. Mindra and I then spend our time running around healing them after they are surrounded by overwhelming numbers. Fortunately we have Volar on our side as well, because I am loosing count of the number of times his magic has bailed us out. If I were not so sure that the Oak Father was looking out for me, I would be much more worried about my survival. Hopefully Verick will bring some of his Sensei’s wisdom with him so such disasters do not happen again.-----------------------------------------------------------------------That was pretty much my encounter with Iuchi Yoenki, although I am not so sure about her threatening my friends. I didn’t hear that parting remark or it never happened, I guess I cannot be sure, but if I had heard it it certainly would change my image of her. So far Yoenki has been nothing but kind and friendly to me. Yes she is quite secretive and evasive, but I am taking that as part of her nature. The question I have had, and still have where that nature is coming from. I am not sure whether she is a Witchhunter who is trying to provide covert help and learn from me, or a Bloodspeaker trying to remain hidden from the authorities. Either way I am not worried about it yet. If she is a Witchhunter then there is no problem with our association and she could prove a valuable ally in the future. If she is Bloodspeaker, then I have a contact on the inside for possible use in the future. Either way I am learning more about what is going on, and as my mother taught me it is always good to keep your options open as everything is not black and white, and that sometimes subtly can be the more effective tool. Now I just need to keep up the questioning until I figure out where her loyalties lie. So far I am more than happy to keep our association secret as she wishes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------Toshiro has always treated me with respect, so I was glad to help when he came to me asking for advice on how to woo his riding instructor. I have given him help in what women like, and have even helped him by providing him some poetry to give her. Fortunately my experience with Rokugani poetry is still quite limited, so Toshiro should have no problem passing off what I gave him as his own if he wishes. I was quite pleased when he came back one day saying he was to go on a long patrol with O-Hisa and that if all went well that they would have a chance to get to know each other much better during all those cold nights they would spend together.------------------------------------------------------------------------Having always traveled with Toshiro as my primary protector and leader, it came as something of a surprise when Kaz came one day to Volar and myself saying that if we wished we could travel with him on a mission he was setting out on. He was going looking for some Witchhunter who he was apparently doing some buisness with (as it turned out it was the same one we had walked into the ambush at the Inn trying to meet). Since Volar and Myself had proved worthy traveling companions he would be glad to have us accompany him. Apparently he had already managed to get Verick away from his Sensei, and Mindra  and Yukio would be along as well since they are not allowed out on patrol with Toshiro. So out into the winter snow we left heading north, into to cold wind itself. Everyone but me was unhappy about traveling in such weather, bundled up tightly against the cold. I on the other hand find such weather to be invigorating, my ancestor’s blood protecting me from the cold. I find this time of year to be quite relaxing, with the snow dampening the sound and most people staying indoors, I get the chance to commune with the Oak Father with far fewer distractions. Eventually we made it to a small village, which was in desperate need of help. Many of the townsfolk were suffering from disease and the local shugenja healer was nowhere to be found. Mindra and I tended to the villagers as best we could, even healing a couple with our magic. This seamed to confirm we were on the right track since this seamed to have the ring of bloodspeakers to it. The following day we set off to where many of the villages had been out collecting wood before they fell ill. We eventually noticed some trees that appeared to be suffering from some form of disease as well. Once more our lack of planning got us in trouble again. As several of us were up close looking at the trees, Verick stated, “If this is taint my Katana should tell us”. Just then he touched his sword to one of the diseased spots on a tree. Immediately the trees awoke and started attacking us. Unfortunately for me I was the closest to center and was immediately and completely entangled by them. The others were able to get away with little or no help. Unable to get near me the others began firing arrows at the trees. This only seamed to anger them as they started to squeeze me tighter. If only I had been one of those that were free this would have been much easier, as the Oak Temple had trained me in not only channeling our God’s power against the undead but also how to use this power as well to control all of the Oak Fathers plants as well, but this was not an option that day. Finally I heard Volar state, “Wait I have an idea” He then started chanting some spell. Nothing seamed to happen though, so I figured it must not have worked. A few seconds later, I noticed his rat sneaking through the roots, too small to be effectively entangled. When the rat got to me he touched me with his nose. All of a sudden I felt the pressure ease. I finally figured out what Volar’s plan was. He had cast a spell I had previously only heard of, and I was now part of the air itself, much like a morning fog. In this new form I was able to quickly get out of the area, as the rat also retreated. From outside of the trees’ range we quickly put an end to their existence with some simple arrow fire. An idea was then put forward by someone that we should destroy the remains so that others would not accidentally come in contact with the taint. We realized this might be a mistake after black clouds of smoke came off the burning trees. Oh well there was nothing we could do at this point but let them burn so we set back for the village. --------------------------------------------------------------------------A minor correction on our trip back. The hawk was first spotted before we ran into the shugenja, but no-one fired at it that time. Yes, after the battle we were exhausted, and weak. Mindra and I had used up all of our spells for the day, barely leaving us enough strength to travel. We were definitely not ready for another attack. When we saw the hawk again there was much nervousness, as we were afraid of another battle. I tried stopping Yukiyo from firing at the hawk but it was too late, this was not good. If it was just a plain innocent hawk then I was upset about needlessly killing it. If it belonged to a friend then we had just burned a bridge before coming to it. Lastly if it belonged to an enemy then he now knew where to find us. Being in no condition to fight when the stranger approached most of us figured hiding might be the best choice. But good fortune was smiling on us today, and I was relieved at what seamed to be a fellow child of the Oak Father approaching. After he identified himself I stepped forward to talk as well since I believed he was no threat. A short conversation later I was convinced. Several others, Volar, Verick and Yukiyo especially were not convinced, and thought I was nuts for trusting him. Eventually they came around after he offered to heal our horses. We apologized in general for the unfortunate incident with his hawk, but unfortunately Yukiyo was unwilling to show both courage and humility by apologizing herself.We convinced him to travel to the village with us, which I was glad of for it had been a long time since I had the chance to speak with someone who had so many shared beliefs. We spoke long into the night about all sorts of matters. I am unsure of what exactly this Mystic Wanderer is that has been spoken of. Brakkus explained that he knew of the way to maintain contact with the gods without having to follow all the rituals exactly. I was also curious about the hawk, since Volar was right, a druid should not have a familiar, and that is what the hawk certainly seamed to be. I finally got him to begin to explain that there were more similarities between Arcane and Divine magic than most people thought. He did eventually agree to teach me more about this and meet me back at my new grove when we were done with our quest. The following day we parted company, Brakkus headed south to Bugiasha, while we continued north in search of the Witchhunter. We wished the village luck and promised them we would inform lord Jyaku of their predicament of being without a local priest anymore. This last part was because we had the unfortunate duty of informing them the night before that their shugenja who had returned after we left the previous day and had then set out looking for us was in fact the same one who had attacked us and had been a bloodspeaker.  Brakkus however informed Kaz that he would not head strait to Bugiasha, instead that he would make a quick detour to where the tainted trees were to make sure that all these abominations had been taken care of, and that our burning of the trees had not caused greater harm. He promised to head strait to the city after that though, and Kaz eventually agreed to this plan.--------------------------------------------------------------------------I having nothing else to add until the very end, as we approached the ash covered hillside. Somewhere along the line we were spotted by Nezu, or Yukiyo had awaked him, but I definitely recall the conversation we had up the hillside. Nezu had demanded to know who we were. When we identified ourselves, he at first demanded to talk to Toshiro who he had previously agreed to help in exchange for his life. When he was informed that Toshiro was not with us he next asked to speak with Sho. Unfortunately we had to inform him that Sho had been lost to a shadowlands creature. It then fell on me to convince him of our good intent, since he did not trust Verick who had threatened to kill him if not for Toshiro’s intervention nor Kaz who he had never met. Of the three barbarians, I was the one he trusted most. Using my natural gifts for diplomacy I eventually talked him into letting us join him peacefully. --I hope I have filled in so blanks and weak spots for everyone. It is now up to our narrator to continue on. Fear not, some more interesting things are still yet to come. We all knew this to be case as something had driven Nezu here, and we were sure that whatever it was would soon be discovered.Mir</blockquote>

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