The Celestial Empire (Romance of the Three Kingdoms-ish, Updated 12/09/05)

[ThoughtfulOwl]

It happens to me too from time to time, on random threads; I've got the impression that it happens only during peak hours, when the server is very busy. Usually I get it back right by refreshing the page after a minute or so.

And remember the slew of updates. You promised, mmh?

 

[Emperor Valerian]

A new update!

A Village in Need

“Where do you travelers hail from?” the father of the deceased young man asked quietly, as the party drew near the welcoming lights and sounds of a small village preparing for the night.

“We are from the north,” Nayu replied, somewhat guardedly. No reason to tell him my ancestry, or what we carry... As the small group passed beside the first of the village huts, Nayu looked around at the loose grouping of no more than ten or fifteen houses. Such a small place... “We have survived many dangers on our route south.”

“Dangers such as?” the young girl asked, looking directly at Nayu. Grief had, at least momentarily, been replaced by curiosity in her eyes.

“Burning skeletons, a hellish lion, violent hill people, and an undead beast,” Felonca said matter of factly, before looking up in thought and tapping her chin. “There was some other stuff in there too... oh yes! A giant centipede as well!”

Nayu immediately shot his companion a death stare. Why did you just blurt that out to them? Why!? The sorcerer half expected the girl, along with her parents, to laugh at what Felonca said, taking it as a jest. Instead, all three stopped, staring wide eyed at the party. A moment later, she suddenly darted from the group, directly towards a hut slightly larger than the others near what could be described as the village center.

“You... you fought these things and were victorious?” the older man asked quietly, his mouth partly agape.

“We stand before you, do we not?” Meiji rejoined, before adding, “Well, I didn’t fight the centipede, the skeletons, or the lion. I only jumped in against the violent hill people, as well as that high ranking – ” An elbow from Felonca silenced him before he could blurt out the fact the party had killed the son of the Prince of Shu.

“Indeed, good sir. We were fortunate, and heaven smiled upon us in each of those endeavors,” Nayu said quickly. Dammit, Meiji! Damn panthers all thinking alike, towards braggery! “My companions make the combats seem more than they actually were...”

Several worried calls interrupted Nayu’s explanation, as the young girl came out of the large hut, towing a man that was slightly better dressed than the villagers they had seen so far. His loud protests at having his meditations and readings interrupted drew other eyes from the surrounding huts, and soon heads peered out, as others slipped closer to the small gaggle of people, their ears straining.

“They fought many beasts, Master Prefect!” the girl announced, towing the confused young man to a spot just in front of Nayu and Felonca. “Go ahead! Ask them with your truthful knowledge!”

“This girl says you have slain many powerful beasts,” the young Prefect growled in semi-annoyance. “Does she speak the truth? Be aware, I am adept at telling truth from a lie, or even a stretching of the facts,” he added with a glower.

“Ah...um...” Nayu started, before Felonca cut him off.

“Yes sir, it’s all true.”

As she spoke, the Prefect extended his hand towards her, closing his eyes. Nayu couldn’t see anything, but he could feel the small puff of magic coming from the Prefect’s hand and washing over his compatriot. A second later, the young man’s eyes flashed open wide. Very wide.

“Heaven must have sent you!” he sputtered breathlessly, utterly in shock. “That... that is the only explanation! Our ancestors have sent you to save us!”

“They have answered our prayers! Finally, we have warriors who can stand the Wang Liang!” a man shouted, emerging from just inside his nearby hut. “Warriors that can stop the rapine and destruction of these giants!”

“I can fight!” a voice called, and to the party’s astonishment, the old father held up a stick almost menacingly in the air. What shakiness and weakness his body showed was balanced by the fire and anger reflected in his eyes. “I can fight alongside you!”

“As can I!”

More voices chimed in from the village men, some running back to their huts only to emerge with ancient bows only good for hunting rabbits, others finding walking sticks and ploughs. Only two people emerged with what could be considered proper weapons; two longbows, and two woodcutter’s axes.

What have we gotten ourselves into? Nayu thought, as the motley group assembled around them, ready as any army to take orders from their nominated commanders. These villagers are no army! There are only 20 here with any kind of implement... if the village of giants has sixty or seventy...

“For many years,” the Prefect rushed close to Nayu and Felonca, grabbing their hands, “I have petitioned the Governor of Dai to send soldiers to drive these giants away, but he will not listen! We do not have the strength to fight them off alone!” His grip on their hands tightened, his eyes desperate. “For years we have prayed dutifully to the ancestors, to Heaven and the Four Winds, that our plight would end, that our children would no longer be carried off, that our grain would no longer be stolen!”

As the Prefect continued his tale of the village’s struggle with the nearby giants, of how children would be taken from the woods and corrupted by vile magic, of how their grain every fall was taken from them, leaving them with barely enough to survive the winter, of the continual indifference of Xianfung and the Governor, Nayu found his blood beginning to boil.

These people are forgotten! They are misruled! Their leaders care not for them! How can they live when they are in constant fear, under constant harassment, under constant threat! He found himself bristling as the Prefect described the sacrifice to the Wang Liang god of light which had consumed so many of the village young over the past twenty years, of how their bodies were left twisted, corrupted skeletons of ice, sucking heat from everything around.

The faces of the gathering villagers were replaced by the dead faces of Red Lotus. The old man standing beside Nayu, shaking his stick angrily took on the look of Jiang the Butcher. His wife, Madame Cixi. And anger coursed through Nayu’s veins.

Anger at the Governor of Dai. Anger at the Empress Dowager. Anger at the Imperial Councillor that had murdered his father. Anger at the Military Governor that had burned his home. Anger, blazing, thundering, rising to precipitous heights, as his hands unconsciously began to clench and unclench fists..

Enough is enough! his mind snapped. No more!

“Prefect!” he said, pulling his hand from the young man’s grip before clasping his hand together, and bowing. “We would consider it our honor, and our duty, to assist your village!” If your own leaders will not help you, perhaps we can! As cheers arose from the gathered peasants, Nayu then turned to Felonca. “I only ask that one, you do not risk yourselves in accompanying us, and that two, I be allowed this night to prepare! Please, listen to my friend Felonca here, and her cousin the bard tell you of our previous adventures, to give you heart!” He gave a huge, confident smile, even as he saw Felonca’s face look puzzled.

“Nayu... what is going on?” she whispered as the villagers cheered again.

For a second, the sorcerer thought about explaining his full plan to her. Patience is the key, young Nayu... he heard Liu’s voice echo quietly in his mind. No, telling Felonca could wait, at least a time when there’d be more time to explain.

“I ask that you trust me in this.” He looked about at the villagers, whom Meiji had already begun to gather near the prefect’s home, starting the tale of how the party had survived the gnome ambush, and sighed. “Master Liu told me once that patience was a virtue, and that is the virtue I’m going to exercise. I’m going to give the Wang Liang one last chance to leave in peace.”

The rogue crossed her arms. “And if they don’t?”

“Then we’ll have to force them to go,” the sorcerer replied, his voice devoid of any emotion whatsoever. The Will of Fate and Heaven will show itself to you in due time... Liu’s voice whispered quietly, and the sorcerer truly understood as he took in the villagers, cheering his statement or listening raptly as Meiji began to describe the party’s adventures.

The Will of Heaven...

...my fate.

...my destiny.

...my choice.



A few hours later, Nayu had secured from the only tradesman within the village a scroll of parchment, as well as the borrowed from the prefect the village seal. On the parchment was written a simple demand; Leave the village alone, or face the wrath of the sorcerer standing before them. The message was them rolled and sealed, and Nayu tucked the parchment within his robes.

When he returned from his small work, Nayu saw Felonca and Meiji jointly describing to the villagers the chaotic battle with the skeletons in the northern steppe, despite Meiji having never been there. As Meiji took the story over and wove the yarn into another tale beautifully, Felonca quietly slipped over to Nayu.

“Why did you not ask the villagers to come?”

Nayu looked to make sure that the peasants were not close. Now is a good time.

“They would merely get in the way, and possibly get hurt,” the sorcerer said quietly. “I don’t know if the Wang Liang will decide to leave under my threat... I somehow doubt they will. Perhaps it can be the starting point to reducing the number of bodies force will leave behind, though.”

“You’re probably right that the villagers would just get in the way,” Felonca nodded. “Well, if we take out their war leaders, and their warriors, I doubt their women and children would pose problems... We’d just tell them to move on, maybe closer to Xianfung so the Governor will have to handle them.” There was a long pause, before she added, “Right Nayu?”

The sorcerer didn’t reply, instead walking over to a small group of the village children. As Felonca looked on, perplexed to his lack of a reply, his own eyes created a mask of mirth to cover the darker thoughts within his soul as he closed his eyes, and began to entertain them with small magic tricks, eliciting squeals and screams of delight.

The Will of Heaven...

...their fate.

...their destiny.

...their choice.



“Their village is some half day’s ride to the north and east of here,” the Prefect said quietly the next morning. “Their frequent travails close to here have left a path through the forests to its location.” He then leaned close, face betraying warning. “Beware, however. They have cut the trees for a good distance around their homes, to stop ambush. Sneaking inside would be most difficult.”

For a second, there was silence again, before the Prefect looked up towards the mounted Nayu specifically. “Are you sure you do not wish me to come with? I have armor, a sword.”

“No, Master Prefect,” Nayu replied, “you must stay with your village, and give them strength during the hours of unknown and doubt.” The sorcerer then turned his steed around to face towards the north and east. “We’ll return just after dusk.”

The young man nodded, before giving a deep bow towards the party. “The village of Uijima owes you four much. It is my hope that Heaven and the ancestors repay you greatly for your deeds this day!”



Felonca looked over towards Nayu yet again, and even three hours into their ride, she was amazed at the apparent change in her friend. His demeanor had seemed to change, to grow more commanding, more confident, more sharp. He rode with his back straighter, seeming older than his sparse years.

Yet part of her still wondered at his actions the night before. Why did he say nothing when I spoke of the women and children? Perhaps he is secretly afraid that some of them might be accidentally hurt in combat. Her mind tossed the idea around, before settling on it as the likely solution. She never considered any other options...

“So... what is our plan to get into this village again?” Meiji asked from behind her.

“We ride directly into the village, to try to gain their trust,” Felonca replied verbatim what Nayu had described the last time Meiji had asked. “Hopefully, that will start negotiations on a better tack, and perhaps no blood will have to be shed.”

“Ah... I see the bluntness plan is still the only plan on the board,” the bard grumbled. When Nayu and Felonca ignored him, he cantered up beside the two. “I sincerely think a more discreet route would be best, considering our company has been clumsily following us for at least an hour.”

“They’ll hang back,” Felonca replied. There’s only a couple of the villagers, and I sincerely doubt they’ll follow us into the giant camp. They’re probably curious and want to see what is going to happen.

“I want to have to keep from killing,” Nayu added curtly. Felonca could tell by the twist in his face that there was more to the thought than he said, and she thought back to the women and children. He doesn’t want any of them to be accidentally hurt in the crossfire...

As Nayu finished his sentence, Felonca’s sharp ears caught the distant snapping and cracking of something larger than twigs... entire boughs. Both she and Meiji snapped their eyes towards the left, and soon both could make out an immense form crashing through the woods, parallel to the party. Quickly, she pointed the shape out to Nayu, who to her alarm, called out to the creature.

It stopped, and stared. Even from this great distance, Felonca could see the beast was humanoid, but there its comparison to humanity ceased. Its form was close to nine or ten feet tall, squat, wide, and powerful, with an immense head as wide as its shoulders rising from a short, squat neck. Its eyes were enormous, red pupils blazing forth. Within its hands it clutched an immense lantang, the huge blades projecting from each end of the massive staff glinting in the noonday sunlight.

“We mean you no harm!” Nayu added, “We merely wish to speak to your leader! Your shaman!”

“Nayu, what are you doing?” she hissed at him. We are no where near the village! What if that’s a decoy for an ambush? What if?

“Trust me, Felonca,” the sorcerer replied, as the immense giant thundered through the woods towards the party, confusion playing within its huge eyes. Finally, it stopped twenty feet from the party, its lantang half ready, half down.

“Who...you?” its deep, thunderous bass rumbled in confusion, struggling to form words in Common. “Why... speak... shaman?”

“We want to speak to your shaman,” Nayu replied, oozing confidence that Felonca could only envy. Little did she know it took every ounce of his willpower to do so. “We bear a message from the human village nearby.”

“Little...people... message?” the warrior asked uncertainly, to which the party nodded emphatically. This further confused the warrior.

“Here is the message,” Nayu offered the parchment to the warrior as proof. “We must deliver it in person to your shaman. It bears greetings, and an offer from the village of ‘little people’ your shaman would wish to see.”

The warrior took the note, flipped it about for a second in confusion, clearly deciding between attacking the trespassers here and now, or whether the shaman would truly want to see the note. Finally, his eyes lit up, as his dim brain rattled out an idea.

“I... take...you... shaman,” the warrior grunted and rumbled. “He...know. He...like...you... all...good. He...no...like...you...dead...in...sacrifice...Life.”



Peaceably the party followed the warrior as he led them towards the village. Around an hour later the party emerged from the woods into a very large clearing, nearly a quarter mile wide. In its middle sat eleven massive huts, easily twice as tall and wide as the huts of the human village the party had left behind. In the center of the village sat an immense wood and straw structure, thrice as long and twice as tall as the other structures. From a hole in its roof came bluish smoke, and the alien smell of beings in close proximity assaulted their noses.

As they rode into the midst of the village, all manners of Wang Liang, males, females, and children as tall as Nayu, all curiously gathered at this group of humans and hengeyokai that freely, almost confidently, entered their village. Just from the looks given by the village warriors, Felonca could tell that if they had their way, some twelve lantangs would have already skewered her.

After the party dismounted, the Wang Liang goaded them forward into the large, central building. After a few moments of adjusting to its darkness, the party was able to make out four warriors, armed like their escort, arrayed along the walls. On the opposite side from the party sat three huge Wang Liang males.

The figures on each side had braids in their long manes of hair, rough and crude tattoos covering their bodies. The central figure had a similarly braided mane, save his greyish hair held numerous ringlets of silver, and from his belt hung many disturbingly human sized skulls. To the rear of them rose a white statute of a female of the species, her arms crossed... a statue the party surmised to be the “Goddess of Life.”

The party’s escort walked forward, and in a series of gutteral, growling noises, motioned between the party and the central figure, before producing the comparatively tiny note. The shaman gave a growl, and the warrior gingerly, if clumsily, opened the note and set it within the shaman’s grasp.

“Nayu...” Felonca whispered, trying her best to not quake at being surrounded by so many beings that were almost double her height and likely four times her weight, “...so... if he reads the note, and doesn’t like it, we fight out of this how?”

The sorcerer turned to her, and for the first time, she read his eyes. They were empty, devoid of fear, of hate, of any emotion whatsoever. A blank slate, a depth of nothingness that she found almost frightening.

“BUWAHAHAHAHAHA!” the shaman’s roar of laughter interrupted her questions, as Nayu’s fearful gave turned back towards the towering three beings to the party’s front.

“Little people give me threat! HA!” the shaman tossed the note rudely towards Nayu, then motioned towards his belt of human skulls. “I no scared little people! We no scared little people! Foolish! Now, I send foolish little people to doom!”

To Felonca’s utter surprise, Nayu calmly stepped forward, clearing his throat as if some ruffian peasant had just made a rude remark, not that the leader of a clan of giants had just decreed the party was to be sacrificed to their ‘Goddess of Life.’

“Perhaps... you misunderstood the request?” Nayu asked, his voice revealing no hint of mockery, pleading, or any emotion. The shaman’s laughter stopped, and Felonca saw the confusion in the leader’s eyes... confusion that a human, after being condemned, walked forward so calmly, so coolly, as if the threat was a mere fly to be brushed away.

“What you say?” the shaman snapped, understanding the calm in the sorcerer’s voice as a direct challenge.

Nayu gave a small, fierce smile at the shaman’s statement, and stepped further forward. The other shamans, and even the warriors present, all leaned forward, as if getting closer to the small, obstinate being might help them understand why he was challenging their leader, their shaman.

What is he DOING? Felonca panicked, as she, along with the rest of the party, craned forward as well.

“I said perhaps you misunderstood the request from the human village,” Nayu replied, his voice still calm and collected.

“I see empty threat. What you say message?” the shaman crossed his immense arms, as Felonca realized the battle Nayu was already waging... a battle on the shaman’s credibility.

“I do not understand why one as yourself cannot understand my simple message,” Nayu replied, his voice suddenly turning acidic delivering the barb. “Why cannot the leader of a tribe, obviously the most intelligent member of the tribe, understand a simple message? Or is someone else the true leader here?” Nayu said questioningly. The tactic worked, as the shaman rose out of his sitting position, fury in his eyes.

“I TRUE LEADER!” the shaman roared.

“Then you must understand my message,” Nayu replied. To Felonca, his voice once again had assumed that unnatural, unnerving calm. “It is rather simple,” he continued, “either you leave the human village alone now and forever, or you will face the consequences.”

“What threat can small people make!” the shaman’s fury found itself channeled into false laughter, even as the eyes of the other warriors bored into their leader. The Wang Liang’s eyes still burned with hate towards the upstart human. “They make no threat that hurt us!”

“If you do not leave the human village alone,” Nayu replied, in the same damningly calm tone, “I will be forced to destroy this entire village. Everyone... man... woman... and child.” Even as Felonca looked at Nayu in amazement at his statement, she saw the same blankness, the same depth of emptiness in his eyes that she noticed earlier. And she shuddered...

...there was no doubt that he meant every word he uttered in that frighteningly calm, deadly voice.

 

[Emperor Valerian]

The End of the Wang Liang

For a split second, there was shocked silence within the hut, the warriors looking skeptically at Nayu, even as the shaman stuttered in disbelief at the bold words of the young “little person.”

“You do not understand still, I see,” Nayu said calmly. Patience... let ice run through your veins. That will move them just as much as your words. The time for mere words has past... It will be their choice. They can choose peace... or force...

“There are forty thousand armed ‘little people,’” Nayu raised his arms and quoted the last two words, “on their way here, and they’ll have no qualms about destroying all of you.” He then gave an icy smile, “Or, as I should say, those of you left alive after I am done.”

“Ha!” the shaman forced a laugh, and pointed at Nayu. “You annoy me! You little bug! You words no scare us!”

“Why do you kill the villagers?” Nayu heard Felonca ask hurriedly. Her eyes flashed between him and the shaman, and he could read a mix of confusion, even fear in their depths. Gently, he touched her shoulder. Trust me, Felonca... they’ll cave if we talk mean. And if they don’t cave... well...

...I don’t make idle threats.

“Little woman has questions! Me like, like more than angry little man,” the shaman laughed. “As you no live long, I speak. Little people,” the shaman began, his voice growing more and more in grandeur and expression, “before my grandfather’s grandfather’s time, drove us from mountain home. We run,” he stood, theatrical fire in his eyes, his passion now spreading to the surrounding warriors, “We hide! We flee little people! No more! This our home! We get vengeance!”

Ah... he feels he needs to restore his position, Nayu thought coldly, reading through the thunderous shouts that ended the shaman’s cry. He feels threatened already...

...good. He leans towards force... perhaps it can be changed to force only against him...

“If you agree to leave the little people alone, we can make sure you get to go back to your ancestral homes,” Nayu spoke. It can be arranged, after Quan-Shi deposes the governor of Dai... “You have a simple choice, shaman. Your people can leave the village of humans alone, and have a chance to return to your ancestral homes, or death.” Keep strong...

“I ask again, why we listen you?” the shaman snapped, growing plainly annoyed. “Life Goddess hungry. You sacrifices, even if you weaklings!”

“If little people are such weaklings, how did they drive such ‘mighty’ creatures from their homes, great shaman?” Nayu snorted, crossing his arms. Come on...

“WANG LIANG HAVE LEARNED!” the shaman was on his feet again, roaring as his warriors echoed the cry of fury. “WE SHALL CRUSH THE LITTLE PEOPLE!” The shaman’s voice dropped to a furious whisper as he lumbered forward, till his face was inches from Nayu’s. “Long we watch, long we wait, and now we start getting revenge! More little people feed Life Goddess, more power she give!” He stopped, then poked an enormous finger lightly into Nayu’s skull. “You weaklings help us grow strong. We sacrifice you now.” The great giant warriors began to lumber forward, hands outstretched as the shaman confidently turned back towards his dais.

And Nayu smiled. I’ve got you now!

“Wait, great shaman!” he called. “Surely, if we little people are such a miniscule threat, a great Wang Liang like yourself would be willing to fight me, to decide the fate of your village! Or,” the sorcerer added another snort, “are you too chicken, too afraid a little person would beat you?”

The shaman slowly turned back around, his face filled with fury at the little human who would not cease antagonizing him. For several seconds, the shaman sputtered as Nayu smiled.

If he orders me to die, he’ll lose face... he’ll imply that he was afraid of me.

And I can beat him, in a contest of power...

You want to decide this by force, shaman. Then it will be force against you.

“I fight you!” the shaman finally snapped. “But your friends get near Goddesss now! Won’t walk so far after you die!”

“No, no no,” Nayu grinned, waving a finger. “They wait beside your warriors, as we fight one on one, no interference. I win, you and your village will leave the little people alone, until we can arrange for you to return home. You win, my friends die, and you may continue as you wish.”

“What keep me from having warriors dispatch you like dog?” the shaman tried his own poor attempt at goading. Nayu smiled, knowing his verbal superiority.

“Because if you try to backstab me, I will kill this entire village,” the sorcerer replied simply. Even while the shaman laughed at the bravery of the ‘little person,’ Nayu saw a few of the warriors winced at the sorcerer’s deadly monotone.



Nayu must be crazy! Felonca thought to herself as the sorcerer and the shaman silently prepared themselves a few minutes later. She’d said as much to him after he issued his open challenge to the creature easily twice his height and four times his weight. She’d even pointed out that as a shaman, he’d likely be able to use magic almost as well as Nayu. He grinned.

“I know,” he had said, “and I don’t care. I have him. You three,” she remembered him pointing to herself, Meiji and Yari Ai, “watch the other warriors. If they attempt to betray this bit of trust... take them out.”

“I don’t trust them, Nayu,” she remembered herself saying. “I think they might...”

“If they do,” Meiji had said, “then we’ll do as Nayu said, and take out this entire damn village!”

Tough talk, she thought. Scare them into not doing something they probably would want to do if the battle turned bad. Nayu wouldn’t do such a thing...

So now the three stood in a small clump, only a part of the great ring of Wang Liang men, women, and children in the center of their village, surrounding the two combatants, forming a great circle over seventy feet wide. In the middle, some sixty feet apart, stood Nayu and the shaman.

The priest held in his massive grasp a huge lantang, its great blades curved, shining in the sun. Rough hides covered his massive frame, and the silver trinkets and beads in his hair jingled as he shifted, his face twisted in a smile of mockery. Despite his religious duty, the shaman refused to even pray to his Goddess of Life... little people were no such threat to require her intervention.

On the opposite end, the far end from Felonca, Nayu merely stood. The tall sorcerer’s robes flapped lightly in the small breeze, as his morningstar remained strapped to his hip. His face bore no look of mockery... just a simple, unnerving look of calm on his face.

“Look at little person! He so scared, his knees no shake!” the shaman catcalled. At Nayu’s lack of response, the shaman continued, shaking his meaty fist at his smaller opponent. “I no need sweat in this fight! I make him fly with pinkie finger!”

She saw Nayu calmly reached into his pouch in reply, and began checking the two healing potions Felonca had given him. The shaman saw the insult clearly, and with a growl, almost a giggle, the beast surged towards the smaller sorcerer.

For a second Felonca’s heart stopped, as Nayu calmly, almost slowly, placed the last of the potions back into its place on his belt, and raised his hands. From their fingers a crackling bluish-black energy seemed to form, before sweeping forward, enveloping the cleric. The rogue’s mind expected the sharp clap of thunder to follow the bolt, but instead she saw the shaman seem to slump slightly in his walk, his skin slightly more wrinkled, as if energy had been sucked out of him. (Enervation... shaman lost four levels)

The shaman continued to thunder forward, raising his lantang momentarily above his head. Felonca then suddenly felt the ground literally shake as six other Wang Liang... the two lesser shamans and four of the warriors, charge into the ring, directly for Nayu.

“Flaming Ancestral Heads!” Felonca cursed, a snap echoing in her ears as she flicked her warfans open and launched herself towards the nearest of the intervening beasts... one of the warriors, his lantang raised high, his eyes focused on the sorcerer to his front, not the flying blur of black to his rear...

The warfan strike to the spinal cord was one that Felonca had only practiced infrequently at the Academy... rarely was it expected one’s opponent would leave himself so vulnerable. The rogue, however, knew an opportunity when she saw one, and with a sickening mix of cracking bones and slurps of destroyed flesh, the giant Wang Liang tumbled to the ground paralyzed. When she spun her second warfan around, she cleanly ripped apart his throat...

Just in time to hear the massive explosion she’d been expecting, as four miniature columns of fire erupted in the midst of the battlefield. One exploded underneath the charging shaman, two each between a lesser shaman and a warrior, and the third underneath the final warrior.

She spun around, just in time to see the shaman’s thundering charge finally reach the sorcerer. The huge lantang whistled in the air through its arc, catching the sorcerer in the leg and sending him reeling.

NAYU! Without a conscious thought, entirely governed by training, Felonca’s hands found her longbow, and drew the weapon with deadly precision. Her notched arrow was poised for the back of the shaman’s head, when she heard Nayu’s voice yelling.

“Kill the warriors!”

For a second she hesitated, until she saw the stumbling sorcerer regain his footing and dance away from the slower shaman, out of the reach of his massive weapon. Quickly, she spun around, and loosed her shot on another of the charging warriors. The arrow caught him just underneath his jaw, and he too, tumbled to the ground in death.

Another flash of light erupted in the field, bluish white in power and followed by a monstrous thunderclap. When Felonca’s sight recovered, she saw all the warriors and shaman’s were down on the ground. Meiji and Yari Ai, bloody from battle, stood over one each, while all the others not touched by Felonca laid prone, smoke and burns covering their bodies.

Then Felonca noticed one of the warriors was moving... more shuddering. His meaty paws covered his head, as his hides smoldered from the fire and electricity that had coursed through his body.

“No hurt! No hurt!” he whimpered in Common, as the other Wang Liang around began to scream and wail in terror at what they had just witnessed. Their village’s four strongest warriors, as well as all their village shamans, cut down by a single, little man, and his three allies.

“We won’t hurt you!” Felonca called to the crowd, desperately trying to calm them. If they panic, they might try to mob us... or run away, only to take vengeance on the human village later! We need to calm them down! Explain to them that we’ll get them to their...

Felonca’s thoughts were interrupted by a horrible, sickening cry close by. She spun around to see Nayu, one hand stretched out towards the Wang Liang already fleeing towards their homes. The other hand clutched his now bloody morningstar, as he loomed over the crushed skull of the whimpering warrior.

“Nayu! What are you-“ she screamed, before a telltale bead of power flashed from his hand, and into the farthest of the huts. An explosion blew three of the small Wang Liang out of the building, their bodies mutilated by the blast. Felonca stared in shock and horror at the burning house, then at Nayu.

He... he...

Another explosion, another hut gone, its occupants crawling on the ground, screaming.

“Nayu! Stop it!” Felonca grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around. “They are innocents! Those are the women and children! They did nothing on the raids! They didn’t hurt anyone! You can’t kill them!”

“So you want those little Wang Liang to grow up, filled with anger, only to come back here and start harassing the human village again! They cannot be trusted, Felonca! They will betray our trust again!” the sorcerer snarled, shaking his shoulder from her grasp. “They will never hurt anyone ever again!”

“But Nayu! Meiji! Meiji, talk some sense into...”

Felonca turned to see her cousin raising his bow upwards, a flaming arrow already notched. As she looked on in horror, he let loose, and the flames left an arc of red before hitting the roof of yet another hut, quickly setting it ablaze as the Wang Liang inside cried out in pain and terror.

Felonca looked on numbly, even as Yari Ai tried desperately to get Nayu and Meiji to stop the destruction. How... why? How could he do this... do something so...dark...so... For a moment, she started over to where Yari Ai and Nayu were yelling at each other, just after the sorcerer had torched the sixth hut.

Then she heard the other noises... more shouts more yells. She turned slowly, and her heart sank as she saw ten of the villagers from the human village running towards the fleeing Wang Liang, vengeance in their eyes, plows in their hands.

Why... the rogue thought numbly, her stomach roiling as the human villagers beat some of the littler Wang Liangs to a pulp as they tried to flee, while others were chased back into the firestorm that was once the giant village. Some of the humans ran up to Nayu, yelling their thanks, before chasing down more Wang Liang. Felonca leaned over, and found herself starting to retch.

Why? Why kill the innocents? A few moments later, the rogue felt a hand touch her shoulder.

“Felonca.”

The rogue turned slowly, and saw Yari Ai’s sad face looking into her eyes. She feels the same, at least. They were innocents. They didn’t have to die!

“Come... even if they...” the young woman started, before stopping, and staring at the flames. Out of fiery explosions, Nayu was now blasting the Wang Liant running around in terror with whitish bolts of magic, Meiji by his side, shooting down whichever ones he could with arrows. More people from the village had arrived, and were now running into the burnt houses, rampaging, running amok.

“We can go cleanse the evil of their sacrificial area,” Yari Ai finally finished the thought. “It... it will get us both away from this, and help clean this place.”

One rather grim hour later, as Yari Ai was finishing the last of her prayers to cover the evil ice that marked where the Wang Liang performed their sacrifices, Felonca heard footsteps behind. Turning slowly, she saw Nayu’s brown eyes looking back at her. Unlike the human villagers, there was no cheer. No joy. Neither was their sadness, nor regret.

“This place is now clean. The villagers won’t have to worry about giants kidnapping their children anymore,” he said quietly. “These beasts will never hurt the villagers again."

At what cost? Felonca wanted to reply, frightened in her heart at what her friends had done that day...

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

Yes... Nayu torched an entire village of giants, after they betrayed him. And yes, his alignment did change after this, from CG to CN with possible evil tendencies... considering that out of a population of maybe 70 folks, only 8 or 9 were the warriors causing the raids and the sacrifices. Though in a way, this works somewhat for the better. CN is closer to how the player wants to play Nayu, and as I told him, “Nayu is your character.” Felonca’s player was less than pleased, however.

The giant shaman was a Wang Liang from the Oriental Adventures book with 5 levels of cleric, mostly concentrated on buffing spells. When Nayu launched enervation, his buffing abilities mostly went kaput, as he found four of his class levels suddenly ripped away. After that, it was a matter of party attacks from the rear, and Nayu spellscupting a few attacks before the six transgressors and their shaman leader were done for.

One thing remains left for the party... to find Master Ling, before reporting back to the army...

 

[Bryon_Soulweaver]

Nice! I'm begining to like Nayu even more!

PS: what level were they after this little incedent?

 

[Emperor Valerian]

After this session, if I remember correctly, they became 10th level.

 

[Emperor Valerian]

Nayu’s Decision... and Master Ling


“That’s a horse!” a small, bright voice shouted gleefully later that night, and Nayu gave a smile.

The village children were clustered around him yet again, just like the previous night, as their elders drank, sang, and toasted Nayu, his friends, and the end of the Wang Liang threat, or gossip about the powers and magical might they had witnessed that day. Many, including the prefect, had pressed Nayu on how he made fire and lightning fly from his hands to drive the giants away... but the sorcerer was disinclined to give them the true answer.

Instead, he was content to keep the youngest, the most vulnerable, happy and content this night. They had not witnessed the destruction of the village, yet they were the ones that would benefit the most. The littlest ones are even safe, Nayu thought to himself. It helped clear his own mind of what happened. While he felt confident his choice, wiping the Wang Liang clean, was the right one, a small part of his mind continued to wonder... to question...

“Yes, it is a horse, Shu Wen,” the sorcerer smiled, as the ghostly image of a rearing white stallion between his hands vanished. “My my, you are a very smart little boy. Perhaps one day you can be a scholar and learn magic too.”

The young child beamed with delight.

Nayu reached over to give the little boy a pat on the head, when he noticed a shape leaning against one of the nearby huts, just far enough in the darkness that normally it wouldn’t have been seen. As he focused on the shape, he caught the form of crossed arms, and a nervously flicking black tail. The sorcerer gave a sigh.

“I’m afraid my tricks will end for tonight, little ones,” Nayu smiled. The faces of the children fell, and a few moans started to rise in the air. Quickly, Nayu gave a grin, and pointed towards a slightly tipsy Meiji, off trying to work some mojo on a few of the young women of the village. “Go talk to my friend Meiji... I’m sure he’ll have plenty of stories to tell.” And no doubt, those women will be thankful that a horde of children arrived to save them from bad come on lines...

As the horde of screaming, squealing children dashed off, Nayu then turned and walked into the corner, and joined Felonca in leaning on a hut.

“You look cross,” he started, before giving another sigh. “It’s about this afternoon, isn’t it?” His suspicion was confirmed when he heard his friend give a sharp intake of breath. For a few seconds, he expected her to launch into a rant, berating him for what she took as wholesale slaughter. Instead, he was surprised when he heard nothing.

“I...I did what had to be done,” the sorcerer said slowly. “I...” He stopped when he heard Felonca’s sharp breath again. Once again, silence reigned, and finally he started to grow cross.

“Fine. Be upset. But do you want to hear why I did what I did?” Nayu finally snapped... realizing afterwards it might have been more sharp than he intended. Once again, he heard the sharp intake of breath, and finally, this time, there was a response.

“Yes.” It was very quiet, almost whispered, as if said by someone who was angry, saddened, and very tired.

“Do you remember,” Nayu began at a whisper, glancing around to make sure no one was eves dropping, “when I had to switch places with Prince Hu? And we had to put up with that awful scholar?”

There was silence as a reply, but in the dim light, Nayu saw Felonca nod.

“Well...I remembered something important he said. One of the few important things he said, really,” Nayu’s voice became slightly nervous, hoping the quip might lighten the mood a bit. Felonca didn’t reply, but he could tell by the way her body slumped slightly that she’d relaxed more. “Well... I remember him speaking about a ‘princely demeanor,’ and that a good prince,” Nayu continued, still nervous, “will be slow to judge, but swift and stern with justice.”

“So are you the prince of this village now?” Felonca replied, the statement not carrying the acidic tone Nayu expected.

“I...um... don’t know...” Nayu said. I don’t have a sign yet... but I’m tired to seeing people beaten down! First Red Lotus, then Mafeng, now these villagers! Someone needs to put a stop to it!

And that’s what I did.

“But... these people were left alone!” Nayu explained. “No one stood up for them, the job of a prince! So we stood in for the princes of today, and defended these people! We stood up for them! And we were slow to judge but swift and stern when the ways of the Wang Liang became clear...”

There was a sigh in the dim light next to him, and Felonca looked directly at Nayu. “I see your point, but I still do not think killing women and children was a necessary part of justice. Look,” she raised her hand before Nayu could sputter an angry reply, “I don’t want to argue about it. I understand your point... you did what you thought was necessary. I can only ask that you understand mine... even if you disagree.”

“I do,” Nayu admitted. I only did what I thought was right... what I thought would help defend these people... “I wanted to help these people... and that is the way I saw. By removing the problem permanently.”

“Okay,” Felonca said quietly, putting a hand reassuringly on his shoulder. He could tell that the move reassured her as well. “I...I believe you. Besides, we shouldn’t argue more about this. We should be talking to the prefect, and asking about the Master Ling we have to deliver this letter to.”

“Yeah, I suppose,” Nayu said rather quietly, covering the workings of his mind. I do not trust Prince Hu... and I doubt this Master Ling will just as he looks. We need to find out what man he is...

...he could be useful, should things take a certain course...



“Thank you for seeing us so late this night, Master Prefect,” Nayu bowed politely. In the glowing orange of candlelight, the Prefect responded eagerly, falling into full kow tow to Nayu and Felonca.

“I am most willing to help those who freed our village from the threat of the Wang Liang! We are your most humble servants, Master Wakabayashi and Mistress Wa-Feng!”

“That’s not necessary,” Felonca stretched out and pulled the man up. When his confused face looked at her, she gave a gentle smile. “We aren’t in the process of receiving ceremonies more fit for royalty than two regular people.”

Despite the fact one of us technically is royalty, Nayu inwardly chuckled. He kept the mirth from coming to his face, preserving his impeccable mask of concern. “My friend speaks the truth, Prefect. Please, you may aid us by answering some of our questions about a man that lives near your village.”

“Ah... yes yes! I would be much obliged to help!” the Prefect said eagerly, before rising and hurriedly bowing yet again. “Would you like some spiced wine, or tea?” When Nayu nodded, the Prefect scampered to the back of his house. As he disappeared from the room, Felonca leaned over to Nayu.

“Do you think the Prefect would give us correct information on Master Ling?” she whispered.

“Yes,” Nayu replied. After what happened, these villagers regard us as heroes... many were just like him, and tried to kow tow to us. I saw no deceit in his actions towards us... his enthusiasm is real... “He regards us as defenders of his village, and his offer to help us was genuine.”

Felonca nodded in reply just as the Prefect returned, two cups of tea in hand. After Felonca and Nayu had taken their drinks, the Prefect joined them in sitting, and asked, “How may I be of service?”

“We are seeking a certain man... Master Ling Li. We were told he lives near here... we were originally traveling in this area to meet him,” Felonca began.

“We merely would like to know his background... what he’s like, to make our conversations with him easier and more enlightened,” Nayu lied. No reason to tell the prefect we are carrying a letter from another province for him...

“Ah... Ling Li! Yes!” the Prefect clapped his hands. “A most wise and virtuous man... the wisest man I have ever met! He is so wise that he used to be the advisor to the governor of Dai, back in the days of my father and his father,” the Prefect smiled.

“He... advised the governors?” Nayu asked, somewhat surprised. But Dai Province is badly run, mismanaged! We saw that plainly here over the last few days... the governor cares not for the toils of his people!

“Yes... back in the good days, when the province was peaceful and prosperous. As a matter of fact,” the Prefect’s enthusiasm slowly died, “things starting being bad after the governor dismissed Ling, in favor of the current advisor, Yi. They say that the governor felt Ling ‘nagged’ him too much regarding provincial matters, so he had him removed.”

“What does Ling do now?” Nayu asked. So, he is skilled in running a province. If things collapsed after he was forced into retirement, his need is plain. Now... what kind of man is he? A brilliant psychopath? A quiet dullard? Or is he as the Prefect claims?

“He’s retired to quiet farming. He owns a small farm three days from here, and usually keeps to himself, save occasionally coming to town for seed or equipment.” The Prefect stopped, and looked into the distance with a sigh. “If I could ever learn as many of the teachings of Kongxi and apply them as much as he does... I will be a great man.”



“Well... that is supposedly the house,” Felonca said quietly, getting off of her horse three days later. Despite being in human form, she scratched behind her ear in confusion at the home... well-built, but small, likely no larger than a single room. A well manicured path lead to the front door.

“I just hope he hasn’t wandered off,” Nayu replied as the two walked towards the small home, and knocked on the front door... then knocked again a minute later after there was no reply. Annoyed, they walked around to the back, and found a man hunched over several lotus buds, working the earth as an expert gardener could. A peasant’s wide brimmed hat covered his face from view.

“Master Ling?” Felonca called. That has to be him... there is no way that house could hold more than one person! She felt a slight warmth come over her, but shrugged off the feeling.

“Are you Wa-Feng Felonca?” an old, wizened voice replied.

WHAT?! Felonca stood rooted in place, confusion reigning in her mind. How...why...

The bent form slowly stood, and the man turned around, and lifted his hat, revealing a cragged, even ancient face. The man’s eyes shone kindly with knowledge far beyond even his ancient age, and with a liveliness that one would not expect from someone so old. He gave a smile, revealing straight teeth... another aberration for his age.

“He is a scholar, Felonca... he is probably using simple mind reading magic on you,” Nayu whispered guardedly.

“Wakabayashi Nayu is correct,” the man smiled. “It is a habit I developed when I was advisor to the governor. I apologize for any confusion it may have caused,” the old man bowed slightly, before adding, “The villagers have spoken of what you did a few days ago. You have my gratitude and respect, brave warriors,” Ling gave a bow of respect.

“Master Ling, we bear a letter from Langya,” Felonca said, “It is from Prince Hu Shikai, seeking your counsel.” For some reason, Nayu shot her a dirty look, but Felonca ignored his stare, despite understanding its sentiments. I know you want to ask him some questions, Nayu, but I want to know what this letter is!

“Prince Hu? The new prince? So he seeks my advise?” The old man gave a smile. “Long have I wanted to return to advising a worthy prince... perhaps my wait is over. I shall read it, if you please, and ready a reply shortly. As an old man, I understand how precious time is, and I do not wish to waste any of yours.”

The old man gingerly took the note from Felonca’s hand, opened the seal, and began to read. As his eyes traced the script on the silk, they grew wider and wider, before they began to nervously twitch between the party, and the written words.

Something’s not right. That much was obvious to Felonca from the look in the man’s eyes. Something in reference to the party, by his eyes. Prince Hu said something about us! Something bad!

Nayu finally broke the tense silence. “Master Ling, if the letter refers to us, I wish to see it.” Felonca half expected the old man to refuse; demanding to see a private letter was a rather rude request... even the comparatively uncouth Felonca knew this. To her surprise, however, Ling handed the note to Nayu with a sigh of sadness and regret.

And it was the turn of Nayu’s eyes to widen at the words of Prince Hu Shikai...

Proclamation from His Highness
Prince Hu of Langya

Servant of the Most High,

Our father spoke highly of your wisdom Ling-Li, and a wise and virtuous man is one any lord could use in their service. Recently it has been said that you bemoan your current state, and seek a lord worthy of your counsel. However, in these times of troubles, we cannot know fully if we can take others into our confidence. Thus, as the great Emperor Yu spoke many years ago, “A test is required.”

If you truly mean to follow my banner, I have such a test. Despite the fact they have done nothing to your honor or family, you need to kill the two messengers sent bearing this letter. One of them also could attempt to claim the Jade Throne, and that would only complicate matters further, prolonging Heaven’s misery.

Send their heads back with your reply should you be a loyal man. Else, you shall be hunted down as well.​

“Bastard!” Nayu snapped, throwing the letter to the ground. Him! Him too! He is no better than the others! He is just like the Military Governor! Just like the Prince of Shu and his incestuous sister, the Dowager Empress! Just like the governor here! He cares nothing for anyone save himself! He is a snake! They are all snakes! Snakes in the grass, wanting to eat the people to slake their hunger for power!

When Nayu’s furious eyes turned back to Master Ling, the sorcerer expected the scholar’s hands to be raised, spellcraft on the old man’s lips. Instead, he found the old man’s head lowered, tears of shame running down his cragged cheeks.

“Woe to the people, when their leaders are snakes!” Ling cursed softly. “When the leaders call for the heads of virtuous heroes, then Heaven, and all true men, must cry! Please,” the old man sank to his knees, and bowed again, “forgive me for even a moment thinking Prince Hu could be a worthy master! Such a snake deserves to be beaten, not served! I cannot harm those who helped as many as you!”

As Felonca scrambled to the note and read the damning words herself, Nayu found himself lifting the old man to his feet. “Now now, Ling Li. You are not Prince Hu,” the sorcerer said softly, “you need apologize for nothing.” As the old man looked into his eyes, Nayu’s mind finally reached a realization.

They are all snakes! All of the governors! All of the people claiming to be virtuous enough to rule! The people will be the ones to suffer!

People like the villagers we just saved... like the villagers of Mafeng... like my friends in Red Lotus...

...like my mother and father...

“To accept the apology of an old man, you add to your strengths and virtues!” Ling said quietly, tears of regret still running down his face. “Instead of heroes like you and your friends, we are cursed with snakes!”

But need the people be cursed like this? Nayu’s mind thought. I am no snake! His mind remembered his prayers from the weeks before, calling to his father, to the ancestors, to Heaven itself to send a sign, guidance as to what to do with his ancestry.

This is the sign!

For a few moments as he looked at the old man before him, confusion reigned in Nayu’s the mind. What to do? Where to begin? The chaos seemed so vast, so large, so out of control that it seemed impossible one person could stop it. The words that had spurred him three days before came back into his mind.

A good prince will be slow to judge, but swift and stern with justice...

Swift and stern... where does swift and stern begin? Nayu’s mind worked, then came to a conclusion as Felonca’s curse at finishing the letter rose in the air.

But who can do it? Nayu looked around, at his friends. No... none of them understand how to govern. I do not understand how to govern. Then the young sorcerer’s eyes turned to Master Ling, still standing before him, and Nayu smiled, the last part of a plan complete in his mind.

“Master Ling, the people speak well of you. They all agreed that you are a kind and gifted man, who ruled wisely when you were adviser to the governor. I had doubted some of their claims,” Nayu admitted, “but seeing your honesty, and refusal to harm us, I can see the stories of your virtue are true.”

“What... what do you speak towards, young man?” Ling asked cautiously.

“Master Ling... would you like to be the new governor of Dai?” Nayu smiled, putting an arm around the now very confused old man...

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =

That’s right... Nayu decided he’s going after the throne, and he’s going to replace the governor of the province with a man he met just minutes before. By this point in the session, we were running very short on time, so it played out as the stereotypical “You seem trustworthy!” routine, but I had laid extensive groundwork from other NPCs that Ling could be trusted. By this point, both players were sick and tired of being backstabbed, and finally decided it should be their turn to do some backstabbing.

This also was the end of the seventh session... session eight, where the party attempts a madcap plan at supplanting the governor in his capital, with no army, will be typed up shortly... probably tomorrow.

Oh... and are these enough to qualify as a slew of updates?

 

[ThoughtfulOwl]

Oh... and are these enough to qualify as a slew of updates?

Of course not; slew of updates means how many there are, plus one. Always plus one.

Oh, and madcap plans always succeed: because they are mad and because the bad guys always forget the true power of the protagonist factor.

 

[HalfOrc HalfBiscuit]

I'm all caught up again .

I thoroughly enjoyed the destruction of the Wang Liang village - both Nayu's turn to the Dark Side and Felonca's reaction. It's good to see this sort of thing dealt with properly.

And as for them being betrayed by Prince Hu, well, who'd've thought it .

Slew or not, keep those updates coming ....

 

[Emperor Valerian]

Well, there's going to be a slight pause in the updates. Next updates should be either Thursday night, or Friday.

 

[Emperor Valerian]

Plans

“What... what do you mean?” the very confused Ling asked, mirroring the look on Felonca’s own face.

Why is Nayu asking him to be the governor?! No one can do that unless...

She suddenly realized her friend’s intent, and immediately tried to cover the surprise on her face. Her focus was so strong that at first she didn’t notice the warm feeling across her body, or the gentle presence of another person within her mind, until Ling’s surprised voice echoed within her head.

”My God... you have it!”

“What?!” Felonca visibly recoiled, pulling back and covering her head. First he looks into my mind, then he speaks?!

“You...you have the dagger?” the now frightened old man looked at her wide eyed. “Please... keep...keep it safe! The Dagger of On Wei is not a toy to be trifled with!”

Felonca was still too surprised to speak, so finally it was Nayu who started asking the old man probing questions; what the dagger did, who made it, how it could be unmade. The old man constantly replied that he didn’t know, he wasn’t sure, and that the only thing he saw within her mind was the dagger. At that revelation, Nayu seemed to relax a great deal.

“No more peeking into my mind without my permission!” Felonca warned. Looks like Nayu was worried that Ling had discovered his ancestry... I should keep that information to myself...

“I’m sorry, Madame Wa-Feng!” Ling apologized, bowing profusely. “I... I could feel anxiety coming from you, and I wished to see what it was! With your friend’s odd request, I did not know what was occurring, so I panicked and looked...”

“My request doesn’t have anything to do with her thoughts,” Nayu said, before giving a slight grin. “Now... how would you like to be the new governor of Dai Province? It’s a rather simple question... it needs only a yes or no...”

“Yes or no?” Ling sputtered, looking incredulously at Nayu. “Simple question? No! No no no... it is not a simple question! Governors can only be appointed by the Emperor himself, or the auspices of Heaven’s Will, not just because a young man with albeit extraordinary powers says so!” The old scholar began to wring his hands in fret, and he began to pace back in front of the still smiling sorcerer.

“And who would my superior be? Governors are never superior alone, they always are subservient to the will of either a Prince or the Emperor! It is simply not done that a governor acts alone, without directions from the Jade City!”

“You’ll take your orders from Heaven,” Nayu smirked. “Simple as that.”

“But Kongxi teaches us that the Will of Heaven is manifested through the actions of men, specifically the leading figures within the Bureaucracy and within the Empire! How can I follow the Will of Heaven if I am not following either of the above?” The scholar stopped and plaintively looked towards Nayu. “I must have someone above me! It is the way Kongxi teaches us that bureaucracies are efficient and pleasing to Heaven!”

“Isn’t Heaven’s Will, however, superior to the will of mere men?” Nayu frowned at Ling’s reluctance.

“Of course,” the scholar replied.

“Then, if you rule by Heaven’s Will, you are ruling from an authority greater than that of mere men,” Nayu replied, with the same Aha! look that Felonca had seen before. “There you go, simple as that.”

“Your logic... it...it puzzles me, Master Wakabayashi, but I follow its tenets,” Ling looked down uncertainly. “If it is by Heaven’s Will, I must obey.”



Good, Nayu thought, There’s one long philosophical argument avoided. He then looked over towards Felonca uncertainly, until he saw her eyes. Excellent... she knows, but she kept it hidden from Ling here. Nayu flashed her a wink to ask her to trust him yet again, before moving to the next subject.

“Now... if we have the successor to the current governor picked,” Nayu nodded towards the still nervous Ling, “then we need to create a way to get rid of the current governor. First... Ling, can you tell me and Mistress Wa-Feng the layout of the city of Xianfung?”

Ling went on to describe a metropolis, the third largest city in the whole of the Empire, larger than Mingzhong even. The city was purposefully constructed on the wide farmland of Dai hundreds of years before, in the shape of a perfect square, its streets and walls lining perfectly with the cardinal directions. Within the center of this enormous city was the governor’s palace, itself a miniature of the city at large... and seat of the highly unpopular governor

“Who else distrusts this governor?” Felonca finally asked.

“Well... I am sure that the regular army commanders within the province hate Governor Ho, as his extravagances have cut back their pay, as well as the pay of the soldiers. Neither did the city watch commander... at least, the last time I sneaked into Xianfung that was the state of things,” Ling added.

“Well, that should be easy then,” Felonca laughed. “No army, no city watch... that means no protection!”

“I am afraid it is not as simple as that. When I was fired twenty years ago, Yi advised Governor Ho that the city watch and the army could not be trusted, and they started recruiting a special unit of bodyguards from north of the Desert Wall,” Ling shook his head in dismay. “If that trend has continued, Governor Ho might have thousands of troops from north of the wall loyal to him.”

“Bah...” Nayu groaned. “And I’m assuming this Yi is the infamous adviser we’ve heard about?”

“Yes,” Ling said, bristling slightly at the mention of Yi’s name. The old man then sighed. “Yi was my replacement... he was a young man then, arrogant with youth. He is a foolish man... he dabbles in eating green metal of some kind. Sadly, he hasn’t poisoned himself yet.”

“Um... why would he eat green metal?” Felonca asked. “Wouldn’t that cut his throat?”

Who would eat green metal? Nayu asked himself, thinking back to his father’s stories of traveling far and wide. Finally, he remembered the fragment of an ancient tale.

“There’s supposedly a cult of people to the south that eat green metal,” Nayu said slowly, reaching into the depths of his brain to recover the information. “They think it makes them stronger... in some way,” the sorcerer finally shrugged. “I remember my father spoke of seeing some of them once, but for the life of me, I can’t understand how eating metal would do that.”

For a few moments, an awkward silence filled the air as the three looked amongst each other. Finally, Felonca broke the silence with a question.

“Ling... if you were the governor’s advisor 20 years ago... how old are you, exactly?”

“I am 68, young woman,” Ling replied, an aged smile coming to his lips. “I have seen more winters that your parents likely, young one.”

He’s 68? Nayu frowned. I need him to stay here for a while... if something happens to him...

Does he have any family?

A few more questions, and Ling revealed that while he had no sons, he had three daughters, one of which was married to the captain of the Xianfung city watch... a daughter he hadn’t seen in eight years...

...an inroads into the City Watch... Nayu smiled as Ling talked, and the sorcerer’s mind weaved this knowledge into an ever larger, ever more complex pattern of plots and counterplots...


=================================================

Shorter update today, as I'm going to try to Photoshop some maps that I used during this session. The maps will appear in later, more relevant posts.