Tianchao Wangguo Chapter 1: Calm before the storm

[Nephtys]

Hearing Jian Guo speaking of "spiritual wrongness", Lin Xu rises up and moves toward her and Arishan Tüen Li's table.

« If you excuse my intrusion, milord and milady, I'd like to partake in your conversation. My master sent me far from my home to enquire about the rumors of Taint in this region. »

"Certainly," Jian gestures to a chair. "So there have been rumours. And the rumours would seem to verify the percieved fact. Then the threat is not new... That is both unsettling and reassuring, but at least it should give us some time."

But i also heard from people from other villages that they haven't only kept to raiding villages. They are said to looting the shrines to the spirits of the land as well."

(If she overhears it: )

"This seems like a good place to start. Spirits enraged by the desecration of their temples could well succumb to the taint. And maybe the reason for the desecrations is an influence of taint in the bandits themselves. Either way they have to be stopped."

 

[Seeten]

Lanyu listens intently to the conversations about bandits, and spiritual taint. ((And takes 10 on her listen check)) For now, she has nothing to add, although she is certainly interested, and appears interested enough. She also continues to eat her soup, and watches the varied patrons, who seem suddenly to all be quite confident and martial in nature. What sort of occurrence has caused this turn of events? She wonders.

 

[Rhialto]

Magistrate Pan Chou

(On the assumption that I overhear Jian's remark if she overhears the innkeeper's comments.)

Pan Chou turns to the druid. "It appears, madam, that we share a common cause. Perhaps we should face it together."

 

[sword-dancer]

Arishan Tüen Li

*He bows respectful to the spirits*

"I thank you all for your help and will do what I can to cleanse this from the land"

*then he goes back, to the table*

"The wings of the butterfly had shattered the Illusion, these bandits could be a part of it, so it could be a beginning."

 

[Nephtys]

(On the assumption that I overhear Jian's remark if she overhears the innkeeper's comments.)

Pan Chou turns to the druid. "It appears, madam, that we share a common cause. Perhaps we should face it together."

She inclines her head respectfully, "Indeed, Magistrate, I believe we should."

"The wings of the butterfly had shattered the Illusion, these bandits could be a part of it, so it could be a beginning."

She laughs quietly, "Hope is ever shattered, and ever springs eternal. Such is the wonderful dementia of humanity."

 

[Gez]

"Certainly," Jian gestures to a chair. "So there have been rumours. And the rumours would seem to verify the percieved fact. Then the threat is not new... That is both unsettling and reassuring, but at least it should give us some time."

« I'm not sure we have so much time. I was sent there to find and thwart Shadowlands incursion. Usually, those happen in the North, from where I'm from. Desecrating holy shrines and temples is typical of these interloping marauders. We have to stop them as soon as possible, or more will come. »

 

[Isida Kep'Tukari]

Supoja Guchiko, female river spiritfolk wu-jen

One of the locals, a man of around fourty years, with baldness already spreading across his head and also clad in the garb of a peasant, now speaks up from the table where the boy had sat. "Aye, i have seem 'em, destroyed a shrine near our village. 'tis not the only shrine they destroyed, i tell you. And ever since the we were having troubles of late. Not so before the bandits came, but now, in the last few weeks. I'm sure it was them."

*Guchiko colors with anger that someone could dare to lay a hand against the shrines of the spirits.*

"I do have a cause with you. Their depredations must be stopped immediately. The gods must have brought us here to stop them," she says passionately, one hand gripping the metal plates at her belt.

 

[Rhialto]

Magistrate Pan Chou

The magistrate nods calmly. "As for me, it matters not whether it is a man of Earth, or Demon of Hell--if you break the land's peace and abuse its people, then I am against you." He glances outside. "Still, I think we should wait for the weather to clear up before heading out. So, my suggestion is that we stay here for the night, then tomorrow morning head for the temple. Perhaps we will find a few bandits there--or at least a few clues as to where they might be based, and what they are planning."

 

[Nephtys]

"I feared I would have to attack the problem myself, I am relieved, and grateful, that I shall not have to." Jian Guo rises and looks at her new companions, "I am ready to retire for the night. Shall we meet again at dawn?"
-
She walks over to the Innkeeper, rents one room for the night and then walks upstairs to meditate. Shadow follows her like its namesake.

 

[Gez]

« Dawn is fine, esteemed colleague. May your dreams bring you the spirits' advices; but if we are to travel together, I humbly hope your feline friend leaves horses in peace. »