Tianchao Wangguo Chapter 1: Calm before the storm

Pan Chou blinks. "All leads? Heaven's grace, I hope not. If that's the case we will be trailing these bandits for eternity..." He glances back at the trail. "Listen--we are here now. The bloodstain is close now. Let's investigate it--now, and then if it proves to be a dead end, we can resume the trailing the horde at our leasure."
 

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« Do not worry, we'll find them before. All I want is an idea of the region in which they've established their base, following both trails for half-a-mile each will be enough for me. »
 

Jian Guo sayg distractedly, "I doubt we could learn anything from the blood with anything less than magical means. There are spells for that, or so I've heard, but they're beyond my ability."
 

Pan Chou rubs his forehead. "Bloodstains often have people who've left them near by. At any rate, it will be a moment of investigation--surely you can spare that for a man who is doubtless having a temporary fit of insanity?"
 

« Ah, if you're insane, then it's another thing. My grandfather used to say it brought good fortune to pay heed to the sudden craves of the looney. Of course, he was himself rather crazy... »

Lin Xu, in a typical northern savage way, doesn't try to suppress her chuckle. :)
 

Jian Guo chuckles, "If there was a body near the stain I'm sure I would have found it, but I suppose there's no harm in making sure."
She backtracks to the stain and makes a more careful search of the surroundings, before continuing down the trail.
 

Guchiko:
Your knowledge of the arcane arts reveals that the little doll found amid the remains of the shrine would have been maid with materials "harvested" from the monk whose blood formed the patterns. A lenghty process, as far at it was detailed in the sketchy accounts of it that you have glimpsed here and there, but guaranteed to bring out the most potent of magics, especialy the one's dealing with the Nether World. The creature thus summoned was definitely bound to its summoner for some time due to the ritual performed, o unlike other summonig spells this one could bind its target for weeks, probably longer. whoever did this has had a lot of insight into the dark arts of the Shadowlands. And as you inspect the shrine a bit further, it seems to have some peculiar similarities to it indicating that it must have been a wu-ren like yourself, not one of the shugenja traditions , that has performed this rite here. SOmeone with a definite leaning towards fire ,magics, or so it seems.

Jian Guo and Pan Chou:
Going back to where the path has forked of, you inspect the bloodstain more closely. Unfortunately, there is no body to be found close by, but what youstill can see even after last night's thunderstorm, is that the bloodstain must have been made by a heavy object, most likely made of metal or stone and roughly shaped like small or medium sized curved blade that someone seemd to have dropped here. There also seems to be a dark smear right in the middle of the bloodstain, as if it had been intermingled wih ashes. Probably somethin leftover frim the rite performed at the temple.
As you follow the trail, it soon leads from the hills into a small grove of oine trees next to some neglected fields. here the tracks of others, humans and animals alike, are more common and intermingle more with the prints you are folowing, but when the finally reach another small stream about half a mile distant from the foot of the hils, you loose them amid the stony banks.

Back at the shrine, it all seems to have grown a little bit more peaceful, thanks to your efforts. The sign should help warn anyone who does not know of the danger and most of the more dire signs of what has happend here you were able to unmake, at least in appearance, if not in effect.
 

"They must have walked on the stream-bed to throw off pursuit. We could go in one direction and then the other, hoping to find their tracks again when they're leaving the water, or return to the stain and follow the lone horseman. The first option could take all day, but the second is less likely to lead us to their lair."
 

"In all honesty, I think we should inspect further shrines and sights of attacks," says Chou calmly. "We seem to have exhausted our angles here." He sighs and shakes his head. "What bothers me is that bloodstain. Why did one bandit break away from his fellows--to drop a sword?"
 

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