The Romance of the River Kingdoms

[The Rolling Man]

Jar'Thol, Salsham'ai shaman

Once they are safely across, Jar'Thol offers no resistance in surrendering his weapons, which also are a stick and a sling. With this done, Jar'Thol approaches the captain. "Thank you for letting us come join you. You could also help us by having an answer to my question. Do you know anything, or anyone, on the island that is named 'River* is the key' or maybe just 'River'*."

*River is said in High Imperial here.

OOC : Rereading some older stuff, I noticed that there was also a short piece of music on the statue's scroll. Can anyone in the party read that (and play it or sing/hum it) ?

 

[Shayuri]

The soldier searching Annika finds out two things in rapid succession. She's not armed, and she's not wearing a whole lot under that poncho. Fortunately the clothes she purchased with the proceeds from the first assignment protect her modesty better than her previous garb (or lack of) did, but the halter and short wraparound skirt that are small and loose enough to give her freedom to get out of them as an eagle don't leave a lot to the imagination otherwise. Annika's cheeks burn at the inspection, but she gives the guard an angry, haughty glare and remains silent. When it's clear that not only is she not hiding weapons, but in fact probably COULD not, she yanks the poncho back and puts it back on, smoothing into place and even clutching it like a child's favorite blanket.

 

[Dr Simon]

OOC : Rereading some older stuff, I noticed that there was also a short piece of music on the statue's scroll. Can anyone in the party read that (and play it or sing/hum it) ?

[SBLOCK=OOC]
I figure that anyone who knows High Imperial (Jar'Thol and Three Flowers) has received what amounts to a "classical" education, and would at least have some rudimentary knowledge of musical notation. I see Three Flowers has Perform (poetry) as a skill which may also include some musical knowledge (in that Imperial poetry probably includes some sort of music and words form like a Greek Chorus).

The notation is a simple 5 note piece (I like to imagine it as the phrase from Close Encounters ) which anyone could probably manage.

I also had to resist the urge to have the Captain reply to Growling Ape with "A staff in the hands of a wizard may be more than a prop for age". Oh, now I've said it.
[/SBLOCK]

The two gunners, having finally primed their weapons, take up a stance watching the near shore in case anyone else is with you. One stands guards over Wen's boat. Wen keeps close to Xielt.

The tlaxu woman stands aloof, near the soldier's camp. She watches the group carefully, particularly Xielt. One hand fingers the edge of a silk shawl around her shoulders, the other she holds before her, extending and retracting her claws.

The Captain shakes his head in response to Jar'Thol's question.

"There's only one thing on this island, friend," he says. "And that's this old shrine." He leads you (with the two spearmen following behind) over to the small shrine building. It is little bigger than a sentry box, a single door with peeling red paint, overgrown. The door has no obvious handle or hinges, the only thing it bears (partly covered with ivy) is a white square, framed with ornate decoration, in the middle.

"There doesn't seem to be a way to open it, but frankly we haven't tried too hard," says the Captain. "Looks like spirit business to me, and I'm not going to mess with that."

 

[Dr Simon]

*cough*

Either this got overlooked, or you're stumped! This might help:

[SBLOCK=Jar'Thol]
Knowledge (spirit world) roll 9+7=16.

Jar'Thol recognises the door of this shrine - it is a Shinpu Door, requiring the correct symbol to be drawn on its surface in order to open it.
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Walking Dad]

AC 15 (T15, FF13), HP 25/25, F +4,R+2,W+5 (Spells: 0:5/5, 1:4/4)

"Any idea little one? My way is more with nature and less with the spirits. Even as they are close to another." Ape asks Jar'Thol.

 

[The Rolling Man]

Jar'Thol, Salsham'ai shaman

Jar'Thol looks at the door, pensive for a moment. "I think this is Shinpu Door. It will open if we trace the right symbol on the door. I think the late Vashi gave us the key to open it." The small shaman moves forward and traces the "river" high imperial symbol on the door.

OOC: I was mostly waiting to see if anyone else wanted to react to the fact of surrendering their weapons, but the game got to keep moving.

 

[Dr Simon]

OOC: I was mostly waiting to see if anyone else wanted to react to the fact of surrendering their weapons, but the game got to keep moving.

OOC: Well, there's only Three Flowers to go, although he's probably the most attached to his weapon (it's the only one on the party with a name). That said, the Lion Guard are only expecting you to leave weapons in the boat (which one of them is guarding), not surrender them completely. Xielt leaves his clawsticks but makes a point of extending his claws, just to show that he isn't completely helpless. The guards seem unimpressed.

 

[Shayuri]

Annika edges closer, curiosity winning out over prudence. Even her little serpent friend twines out around her wrist to flick its tongue towards the spirit door as both mage and familiar wait to see if Jar'Thol's insight is correct.

 

[Dr Simon]

The "River" symbol glows blue and fades away. There is a click, and the door to the small building swings open. It only manages a few inches before it is jammed by the overgrowing vegetation.

The soldiers move to get a better look, still staying behind your group. The captain and the tlaxu female exchange a glance.

[SBLOCK=Growling Ape]
The captain's look seems a bit reproachful, as if he is wondering why the tlaxu didn't think of this.
[/SBLOCK]

[SBLOCK=Jar'Thol]
The captain's look seems a bit reproachful, as if he is wondering why the tlaxu didn't think of this. However, you notice an underlying humour between them, more like old friends than a CO reprimanding an inferior.
[/SBLOCK]

Inside, the building seems empty, just a small single room with plain stone walls and some dried leaves on the floor. A small bell hangs from the ceiling, a faded red rope dangling beneath it.

 

[Walking Dad]

AC 15 (T15, FF13), HP 25/25, F +4,R+2,W+5 (Spells: 0:5/5, 1:4/4)

"I'm no expert, but when you want to speak to someone, you should perhaps ring the bell." Ape says to Jar'Thol.