Tianchao Wangguo Chapter 1: Calm before the storm

[Seeten]

Lanyu enters the room, her catlike motions, and grace apparent. She surveys the patrons, with a discerning eye, not predatory, but interested, sizing up the surroundings. She slips into an unoccupied booth, and orders a bowl of hot soup.

"Hot soup, please", She asks in a quiet voice, before sliding into the back of the booth, back to the wall, to survey the bar.

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Supoja Guchiko, river spiritfolk wu-jen

As the new arrival orders, he nods at her table. "Also, if you would kindly tell the young woman who just arrived that I would be honored to share her company at my table, I would appreciate it greatly."

*Guchiko blushes at the invitation, but nevertheless has the servant help her bring her things over to the stranger's table.*

"You are kind to a stranger," she says softly, keeping her eyes down as she sits. "May I have the pleasure of my host's name? I am Supoja Guchiko."

 

[Rhialto]

Magistrate Pan Chou

Chou smiles and bows slightly. "I am Pan Chou, a magistrate of the Empire. And indeed, I should thank you, as it is always a pleasure to spend time in the company of a beautiful woman." He leans forward slightly. "Also, I may require your help," he notes in a quiet whisper. "I am looking for some dangerous individuals and such individuals tend to dislike magistrates looking for them. They dislike it so much that magistrates are occasionally found dead from their displeasure. Thus I must be wary, but one generally has a problem being wary alone. Two on the other hand..." He glances over at the mahjong game. "And--perhaps I am being foolish," he mutters, "but I am getting an impression this place may not be as friendly as it seems."

He smiles brightly. "But please--enough about me! What interests bring you to this out-of-the-way village?"

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Supoja Guchiko, female river spiritfolk wu-jen

*Guchiko looks startled when he mentions that he might be in danger, but tries to hide any obvious signs of fear.*

"I hope your enemeis don't think to attack around so many villagers, Magistrate Pan," she says, then quickly changes the subject. "I am hear to find the temple of the river good that I know is nearby. Within may be some notes, directions, that could lead me to a place where magical secrets could be discovered." Her enthusiasm is obvious, and she weaves her hands in animated gestures as she talks.

 

[Rhialto]

Magistrate Pan Chou

"I think I may have heard of that place," notes Chou. "Legends and rumors and twice-told tales, mind you, nothing concrete. One hears of the strangest rumors in one's travels." He shrugs weakly. "I'm afraid such stories hold little personal appeal to me, so I can tell you little more. I revere the spirits, but I also keep them distant."

Glancing at the other arrivals, he glances at her. "My goodness, this place is seeing some odd customers, isn't it?"

 

[sword-dancer]

Arishan Tüen Li

*Arishan rides carefully to the three blossoms and secures his horse before he enters, slightly bowing to the innkeeper and bowing much deeper to the Persons of education, dignity and rank in this room *

"I greet you all with respect, I´m Arishan a younger son of the family of Tüen Li and a pupil of the Lüe Yan Temple, if i may be of service to one or all of you ?
Would you please let somebody care for my horse, and if you would please so friendly to serve me one of your good Teas and rice or noodles to eat"

 

[Ariakor]

The innkeeper and his daughters hurry to meet the requirements for their new guests. He adds a few extra logs to the fire in the fireplace to heat up the room a bit, as the closing storms winds are now howling around the edges of the building, making it rather chilly in the common room in some places.

The innkeeper then disappears for a few minutes into the rain outside to see that the horses of his new guests are tended to by the stableboy, while his daughters serve drink and steaming hot food (and the raw meat for the cat, which the innkeepers daughter eyes warily when approaching the table) to the newcomers. They are bowing and smiling while serving the food, but seem a littel anxious until their father returns from the outside again.

The locals at their tables stare openly at each of the new arrivals, as if they hadn't seen any persons from outside their little village here in years. Most don't spare more than a quick glance, though the black shape of the panther now resting near the table at the fireplace draws more than one anxious look from time to time.


[Magistrate Pan Chou: Sense Motive Check result 23: you have the impression that these villagers just seem to be alittle more mistrusting towards outsiders, probably because they fear something or someone rather than meaning you ill. One young man in particular seems to be pretty nervous and is glacing towards your table fmore often from time to time, as if he's trying to work up the courage to come over and talk to you perhaps. But so far he hasn't.]

 

[Nephtys]

"I greet you all with respect, I´m Arishan a younger son of the family of Tüen Li and a pupil of the Lüe Yan Temple, if i may be of service to one or all of you ?

"You may, perhaps, be of service to us all," Jian Guo answers the man with a small sitting bow of her own. "I am Jian Guo, student and servant of nature. Please join me at my table."

If/when he joins her:

She speaks quietly, "I am sencing a disturbance in the spirits surrounding this place, an unusual level of tension with no discernable source. I have been told that the asolytes of your temple have keen skills of observation and detection of unnatural influences. Perhaps we could work together to locate the source of this disturbance before it can become a threat to the locals."

 

[Gez]

Lin Xu leads her horse, Jonggu, to the stable, and removes the saddlebags, and assists the stableboy in grooming the horse. While her steadfast mount is enduring, a wet rest can still cause a fatal cold to an equine.

A bit later, the patrons of the Three Blossoms can witness the arrival of yet another strange character. A grim traveler, wearing armor and burdened by saddlebags in which the careful eyes can notice the handle of two swords, moves swiftly within the inn.

« I'd like a room for the night, » she tells the innkeeper, « and a warm meal. »

 

[Ariakor]

"Sure, sure," the innkeeper says, bowing to the new arrival. "Please take a seat while i bring you food and tea." A few minutes later he returns with two steaming bowles, one filled with rice, the other with vegetables and stripes of meat, while one of his daughters brings a cup and another pot of tea. "Do you need anything else?" he asks, bowing again.