tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40753923018710509582024-02-28T13:13:32.747-08:00Playing D&D with Stuffed AnimalsBrian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.comBlogger352125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-1653301842604973752024-02-28T13:13:00.000-08:002024-02-28T13:13:00.175-08:00Tetsukichi and Salt follow Bo-Jing Part 2 - the Grand Reunion<p> Tetsukichi and Salt, disguised as Guardians, joined a group of the Master's soldiers who were pursuing the mysterious foreigners that Tetsukichi and Salt hoped in fact were their friends.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The soldiers were happy and honored to be joined by such
learned companions and the group set off. Conversation was awkward as most of
the party, despite their disguises could not speak Hun-Yi. However, the
white-robed soldiers did not question the apparent reticence of their
superiors; they set themselves to their mission and with their locals’
knowledge of the countryside, the group traveled quickly, reaching the banks of
a river by the end of the day. Here, the soldiers, explained, they should camp
for the night and the make a plan to ford the river the next day. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The travelers, still disguised as Guardians, agreed to the
plan and made their own camp some distance from the soldiers. According to
Mustapha, the effects of his magic would wane as the sun set. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The soldiers, accepting another rebuff with little protest,
made their own camp next to the river, and prepared a fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few hours after sunset, the party noticed
another group approaching from the other side of the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A woman from the other group called out a
greeting, and then asked if any of the soldiers spoke Zhou.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By luck, two of them did and they exchanged
banter with the woman and her friends across the river.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In time, the party recognized the voices of
Salt and Bo-Jing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They called out to them
from the upper camp, and using a few words in Tuigen, confirmed that they were
all friends. The soldiers, confused at first, gratefully accepted the words of
their “superiors” that these charming foreigners were spreading Ignorance. The
soldiers were especially grateful to recognize the foreigners as “allies” when
a they suddenly appeared on the other side of the river (thanks to clever use
of Salt’s portable apartment and Bo-Jing, night-colored flying horse.)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The still-disguised “Guardians” explained to the soldiers that
they had fulfilled their mission. They should sleep until morning and then
return to Gilgat alone.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The night passed and in the morning, the soldiers followed
the instructions they’d received the night before, breaking camp and departing
with an awkward salute to the sleeping tents of the Guardians on the hill. When
the soldiers had gone, the assembled company greeted each other and planned
their next move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salt the sorceress,
finding the presence of Narnutang the woman warrior even more objectionable
than her reputation, retreated into her magical apartment.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The others began their journey home, sharing stories about their respective journeys across Hunza and pondering the strange words of the giant bird. Bo-Jing made frequent scouting sorties and assisted his companions to avoid any more encounters with the remnants of the Master's armies and other followers.</p>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-4535992165166998872024-02-18T13:05:00.000-08:002024-02-18T13:05:00.317-08:00Bo-Jing Follows HIs Wife Part 2Based on Batar’s directions, Bo-Jing flew west, following the course of a rod. When the road forked North and South, he didn’t follow either fork but continued westward, toward the darkest spot in the mountain range before him. Towards sunset, Bo-Jing saw an enormous bird rising into the sky, carrying a limp body in its talons. He urged Tse-Hemi to gradually descend as he continued his approach toward a group of people and horses on the ground. Some men were struggling to manage panicked horses while others cowered behind rocks or under trees. Among the horses and shouting men was Narantsetseg. She had seen Bo-Jing and was walking toward him, even as he glided toward the ground.<br /><br />Bo-Jing slid off his horse and walked slowly toward her. Her eyes fixed on his face and she smiled and ran to him and kissed his haggard cheeks. <br /><br />“Let others have the morning sun. Too long I have waited for the cool evening rain.” <br /><br />Bo-Jing received a full recounting of his wife’s quest to find him. He thanked Narnutang and Dolkar for protecting her and mourned the loss of Altani, who had been killed a band of savage and cunning bears, seemingly of the same ilk that had harassed Bo-Jing on the red dragon’s bluff. Finally, he dismissed the bandits who had trailed her from Banua. <br /><br />And so it was time to return home. After giving the bandits an opportunity to ride out of sight, Bo-Jing asked his wife to join him on Tse-Hemi’s back and started the return journey. After an hour’s travel in darkness, they made camp, with Narnutang and Dolkar agreeing to share responsibilities for keeping watch. The next morning, they were met once more by the giant bird, who spoke to them in Zhou: “Your friend was a holy and righteous man, a most noble soul. His beautiful and generous heart has nourished my children.” <br /><br />The bird continued, “So, you human children must nourish yourselves for a time is coming when you will be tested like never before. Hosadas was a wicked man, corrupted by power, but centuries ago he defeated a greater evil. When Hosadas gone, the Zaharans are preparing their return.” <br /><br />The Zaharans, according to the bird were an people besotted with death and cruelty. The remnants of their capital lay beyond the Dark Wall. “Whoever told you to seek passage to the place of Hosadas was not your friend.” <br /><br />The Roc explained that at the time Hosadas first came to the land of Hunza, he had a rival, a man remembered only as the “Broken Saint” who preached that the Zaharans could not be defeated by any human army, but only by the power of love and righteousness. When the Broken Saint was killed, his followers buried him in secret, and their descendants might still be found in the most remote corners of Hunza. But that was a quest for another day.Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-7677996752747469862024-02-13T13:01:00.000-08:002024-02-13T13:01:00.239-08:00The Lingering Disquiet of the Khatun Part 2Narantsetseg left a letter with Batu explaining that she feared for her husband’s life and would find him though it cost her her own.<br /><br />As companions, she chose Altani, the long trusted shaman, and Narnutang, the woman warrior would had established her reputation for prowess and loyalty fighting at Bo-Jing’s side during some of his most desperate battles, and Dolkar, a baghatur of high birth, so far unproven. Tetsukichi, visiting hero of the Sansar clan, had identified Dolkar as a youth of great promise, despite his penchant for gambling and other reckless behavior. <br /><br />The people of Banua would speculate why the Khatun selected this small retinue to escort her on her journey. Less conscientious chronicles might join in these speculations, this one only reports knowable facts. <br /><br />Narantsetseg and her retinue made their way first to the monastery on the ridge. The monks there did their best to persuade the Khatun that she should trust her husband to return and failing that, she should trust her people to protect her and, remembering her young child, return to the safety and comfort of Banua. But she would not be persuaded and, after threatening to venture into the wilds with nothing to guide her but her love stricken heart, the monks took pity and gave her their best counsel. <br /><br />The monastery had a well-stocked library including several maps. The monks that they should travel due north for a day, changing their course to the west as the sun set. For another week they should travel westward, through the open country that separated the Empire from Hunza. The Master’s realm was surrounded by steep mountains. As they reached the mountains, they should find a stream and follow the reverse of its course. Finally, they copied from a map, the sketch of the safest pass between the mountain peaks. <br /><br />Even with the monks directions, the journey was a difficult one. It was cold and the stream bed was dry. Narantsetseg responded to the hardship of the journey by insisting on her status of the Khatun. The three members of her retinue, being little acquainted with each other, did not dare to discuss their misgivings about the journey, their questions about what they would find in the land where a larger, more powerful group of adventurers with no queen to escort had disappeared. <br /><br />By the time they reached Hunza, Altani, Nanutange, and Dolkar had gone two days with nothing to eat or drink but gravelly snow scooped from a crevasse I the pass. So when they saw a farmstead, they approached boldly. The farm was deserted, and the scavenging travelers made a meal of half-spoiled grain. The water in the well was clean. <br /><br />The next day, they reached working farmland. The farmers did not speak to them, but happily received the Khatun’s gold in exchange for good food and decent beds. <br /><br />After several days, they reached Magden, a large market town on the river. The Khatun found a good inn and the others split up to try to learn more. The Most people were unfriendly, or didn’t speak Zhou-Yi, or both. No one wanted to the discuss the Knowledge of the Master, but the Guardians of the Knowledge were even stricter in enforcement, closing the town gates at dusk and shuttering townspeople in their houses after dark. <br /><br />Nevertheless, the Khatuna and her retinue did confirm that yes, almost a year ago, Magden had been visited by a company of foreigners, led by the “One with a the Face Like the Morning Sun.” The people of Magden didn’t know why he had come or where he had gone, and before they could find anyone to answer such questions, Narnutang did something that forced them to leave the town quickly. <br /><br />With no other plan, they followed the road westward, passing through more farmland, and then into forests and wilderness. One night, when camping in a clearing under tall trees, they heard deep moaning from deep in the forest. As the sound drew closer, it was answered by another moan of the same timbre. Narnutang recognized the sounds as belonging to bears, but heard something alien in their vocalizing. Altani, long accustomed to leaving among the beasts, called out to them, imitating their ursine moan. The voices answered viciously, even seeming to pronounce insults and invoking the name “Zahra.” And then the bears rushed into the clearing. <br /><br />Dolkar stood by the Khatun and readied his bow. Narnutang and Altani stood on opposite sides of the clearing, with weapons ready. The bears charged in, each taking an arrow from Dolkar without recoiling. Altani raised his staff in front of him and continued to murmur soothing words. The bear attacking Narnutang was met with similar slashes from her sword. Neither charm nor force deterred the bears attack. They swatted with their enormous paws and lunged with open jaws. Narnutang was knocked to the ground, but when the bear stooped to finish her, Narnutang braced her sword against the ground and drove its point into the bear’s throat; Narnutang rolled away, extracting her blade as the beast feel with a heavy thud. <br /><br />Altani, meanwhile had been severely beaten, slashed and, and bitten. Narnutang rushed in, and while the bear was doing its best to bite through Altani’s staff, thrust her blade into its side, finding its heart. <br /><br />Altani tended to the Khatun, and then to Narnutang, and then to himself. Guessing that it was close to dawn, the party elected to press on in the darkness, and put the danger of the forest behind them. <br /><br />Over the next few days, they timed their travel carefully, and paid liberally to sleep in huts and barns along the road to a town named Gilgat. <br /><br />As the sun was setting, the lights of Gilgat came into view. Remembering the curfew in Magden, the travelers elected to camp in the hills. But as they were starting a fire, they heard the moans of bears; as in the party’s previous encounter, the ursine voices seemed to call to each other across a distance, and seemed to be drawing closer on all sides. Leaving their fire still burning, the party mounted their horses and made haste toward the lights of the town. Narnutang led the way and when, she encountered a bear, closed with it to fight, urging the others to press on. The bear was eager for the fight, and called for its fellows. Narnutang slashed at the bears head, severely wounding it, and then followed her companions. <br /><br />Gilgat provided a most uncivil welcome, demanding that the travelers prostrate themselves and declare their allegiance to the Master. When Narantsetseg refused, she was thrown to the ground and beaten until she wouldn’t get up again. <br /><br />The Guardians summoned their superior, Batar, one of the Experts of the Knowledge, who ordered that they brought to his own house for questioning. At Batar’s house, Altani was permitted to tend to Narantsetseg’s wounds, and they were provided a place to sleep. <br /><br />Batar woke them at dawn and fed them. As they ate, he asked why they had come and seemed very pleased with their answer. Yes, he had heard about the One With a Face Like the Morning Sun. He and and his companions had visited Gilgat close to a year ago and left in secret after offending the Guardians. <br /><br />Batar had given it little thought at the time, accepting his subordinates assessment that this was just a foreigner troublemaker. But there were rumors now that he was The One. The Master’s successor. For since that time, there had been no new Knowledge from the palace over the mountains. Instead of Knowledge, there were rumors that the war had been lost, the Master’s armies broken and scattered, his bright-eyed soldiers returning in confusion. <br /><br />Batar pressed the travelers on the identity of the man they were seeking. Why had he come? Was he the One? Was he the new Master? They didn’t know. <br /><br />Batar had never been to the palace over the mountains. The only way he knew to get to the palace of the Master was over the Dark Wall, the citadel of the Zaharans before the coming of Hosadas. The Master, of course, had another way, but Batar didn’t know it. Again, he had never been invited. The Dark Wall was a dangerous place and becoming more so. The beasts who lived there were turning wicked and migrating from the wilderness to the fields and villages. There were rumors—not Knowledge—about flying lizards gathering in the sky above the old Zaharan citadel. <br /><br />“If your friend is the Master’s Successor, then he will protect you from these forces of ignorance and help you cross the Dark Wall. Whoever he is, if you live long enough to find him, tell him that Batar showed you kindness.” <br /><br />Batar allowed Narantsetseg and her retinue to leave Gilgat by a rear gate, directing them to the Dark Wall. <br /><br />The next day, the retinue were met by bandits. Not Guardians or soldiers, but bandits. Zhounese thugs who had followed them all the way from Zhou-Deng. “We were supposed to escort the Khatun, but you left before we had the chance.” They were eight in number, but carried poor weapons, and did not sit strong in the saddle. Dolkar’s hand drifted to his sword and the Khatun looked to the open road. But Narnutang spoke up. “We are glad you have found us. The Khatun will gladly pay you handsomely for your escort. And give you an additional reward when we return to Banua.” <br /><br />The bandits smiled and their leader gratefully accepted a heavy bag of coins. <br /><br />The bandits were poor escorts. They rode badly, had difficulty crossing the river, drank at night, and didn’t wake in the morning. But when the group reached the Dark Wall and the bears attacked, they were the easiest prey. While the cruel beasts tore apart two of the cowardly bandits, the Khatun’s true protectors secured the high ground and prepared their bows. As a half-dozen bears gathered around them, Dolkar and Narnutang assailed them with arrows. Some fears fled and others chased another of the fleeing bandits into a canyon. One bear, however, did scale the archers’ post and fell on Altani, seizing him with both arms and crushing his body. Narnutang drew her sword and killed the beast, but the loyal Altani was dead. <br /><br />In the distance, the sound of screaming bandits were silenced and the few remaining bears retreated with their feast, but the party knew they would return. <br /><br />Naransteseg collapsed in hysterical sobs. “What have I done?” <br /><br />A shadow fell over them and Dolkar looked up to see an enormous bird descending.Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-32425422930470576982024-02-11T12:57:00.000-08:002024-02-11T12:57:55.789-08:00Tetsukichi and Salt follow Bo-JingTetsukichi and Salt, together with their followers traveled overland, toward the monastery on the northern ridge that marked the frontier of the Naran horde. The monks confirmed that Bo-Jing had visited there and that they had helped him plan his route to Hunza in hopes of finding Narantsetseg. The party rested, studied the same maps that had been presented to Bo-Jing, and then continued their journey.<br /><br />They crossed the borderlands without incident, and after several days of hard riding, crossed the mountain pass into Hunza. Traveling in Hunza was less arduous as water was plentiful and there was good grass for their horses, plus opportunities to hunt and forage and thus supplement their meals of dried beef and hard bread. Forest gave way to open land and they found shelter for the night in a deserted farmstead. The next day they came to a road and, traveling along it, encountered a group of soldiers traveling in the same direction, most of them on foot. The party greeted the soldiers peaceably, with Tetsukichi and Salt’s native-born Hunzan henchmen speaking for the party. The soldiers were returning from the front, exhausted and famished; they gratefully accepted the offers of food and the use of the party’s spare horses. Thanks to the party’s generosity, the two groups soon agreed that they would travel together to Magden, the closest town. The soldiers explained the Master’s attempts to disseminate the Knowledge to the wider world had proved fruitless; the Ignorant were too many. The war was over and they had lost. And yet here they were, alive, and home again. And despite the Master’s warnings, their homes were not being overrun by the ignorant. In the initial retreat, the casualties had been severe, but they had survived, and the ignorant ones had not pursued them. <br /><br />The group arrived in Magden with great commotion. The party separated from the main body of soldiers, and found a room at an inn, also paying for a couple destitute soldiers. The following days, the party began seeking information about Narantsetseg or Bo-Jing. Tetsukichi met a very friendly merchant who had traveled throughout the Northern and Southern empires and who spoke very good Zhou-Yi. Tetsukichi was uneasy accepting the merchant’s hospitality but was glad to hear the news of recent visits by foreigners. According to the merchant, the visitors were headed for the “Dark Wall” a dangerous place in the west of the country. While talking to the merchant, Tetsukichi witnessed a fierce debate between three different groups of robed men and women. The merchant, with some embarrassment explained that there had been some “controversy about The Master.” There had been a visitor several months ago, one who had “a face like the morning sun” and there were rumors that he had been chosen to be the Master’s successor. And yet, the question was still unclear and “people are getting confused and there are those who say that the Guardians of Knowledge have not maintained order properly and you know, that can be bad for business and there is also the question about what is going on with this on-going event that we sometimes call the war against the ignorant.” <br /><br />Salt, meanwhile, noticed that the returning soldiers were being accused of spreading propaganda and disinformation from the enemies of Knowledge. A group of red-robed Guardians came to the inn and arrested the soldiers staying there. <br /><br />Salt and Tetsukichi decided not to spend the night. The party left Magden, in twos and threes, first heading in different directions before regrouping on the west road to Gilgat. <br /><br />The party continued their journey, passing through farmland, and sometimes sighting residents, but they did not have any more interactions until they reached Gilgat. They entered the town quietly in the early morning hours; Mustapha used his magic to disguise them all as natives of Hunza, a group of red-robed Guardians. While getting oriented in the town, they met a squad of white-robed soldiers who requested their attention. “Oh reasoned ones, will you give us some words of encouragement?” <br /><br />The soldiers, it seemed had been charged with tracking down and arresting a group of ignorant foreigners who had visited the town a few days before and were believed to be spreading ignorance as they traveled toward the Great Wall. The foreigners were described as including a finely-dressed woman, whom the party concluded must be Narantsetseg. Based on this information, the party, still enjoying the benefit of their magical disguises, volunteered to accompany the soldiers and assist them in their mission.Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-32717360790139707932023-10-15T03:48:00.003-07:002023-10-15T03:48:42.286-07:00Bo-Jing Follows His WifeSatisfied that he had established himself as the new protector of the Master’s Palace, mourning his lost beauty, and missing his wife, Bo-Jing concluded that it was time to return home, using the wondrous teleportation room in the Master’s sanctum. In addition to his trusted henchmen, he invited two natives of Hunza to join his retinue, a crafty carpenter named Nagar Ahmar and a farmer who took a new name, Lin Zhou. Lin Zhou’s parents had emigrated from Zhou-Deng to Hunza when he was infant, attracted by tale’s of the Master’s wisdom and entrusting their son into his care. Having known noting but toil, Lin Zhou was strong and brave, and eager to see the world beyond the Master’s wheat fields. Bo-Jing promised that Lin Zhou would meet his consort, the Khatun, and then they would travel together to the “island of angels” where Bo-Jing hoped he would regain the youthful appearance he had lost in an instant in his encounter with the true spirit of Hosadas. Salt also invited two of the Master’s former followers to join her—Zhak-Shi a former red-robed enforcer skilled in both swords and sorcery and Wu-Jin-Fen, a young man from Zhou-Deng who had traveled to Hunza and joined the Master’s ranks as a scribe. Wu-Jin-Fen had learned much about Hunza and was eager to learn magic from Salt. Finally, Hu-Fei, the longtime resister to the Master’s tyranny who had assisted the party in evading the enforcers was happy to accept Tetsukichi’s invitation to accompany him to the “land of horses.” Hyamsam and Bangqiu, meanwhile, elected to remain in the Master’s palace, experimenting with the various strange objects which Hosadas had accumulated over the centuries.<br /><br />It was a strange homecoming for Bo-Jing. He read in the faces of his people their discomfort with his changed appearance. Or so he believed. Soon, his protege Batu revealed the truth. The Khatun, despairing of the long and unexplained absence of her her unnaturally handsome husband, had gone to look for him. For almost a year she had waited for news of her husband’s success or failure in his fight against the Master. For almost a year, she had waited for her husband to return and give a name to the son whom she had borne him. And then, five weeks ago, she had entrusted the boy to a nurse and selecting as her companions only Altani the holy man and Narnuteng the woman warrior, Narantsetseg the unhappy Khatun had set off for the Land of Hunza, determined to learn the fate of her husband. <br /><br />And so Bo-Jing wasted no time going after his wife. He called for Tses-Hami, his flying horse and within an hour was flying toward the mountains and the monastery that would have been Narantsetseg’s most reasonable intermediate destination on the way to Hunza. <br /><br />Bo-Jing, on Tse-Hami’s back, flew through stinging rain, reaching the lights of the Monastery as night was falling. The monks confirmed that they had sheltered the Khatun, they had encouraged her to wait with them where it was safe, but that she had been determined to find him. The monks that, after a good night’s sleep, they would show Bo-Jing the maps of Hunza by which Narantsetseg had planned her route. <br /><br />The next morning, with the monks’ help, Bo-Jing made his plan to find Narantsetseg. The next stage of the journey would be much easier for him than it was for her. A hundred leagues of undeveloped wilderness lay between the monastery and the steep ridge that marked the edge of Hunza. No towns, no inns, no roads—nothing but thick pine forests and deep meadows in this unclaimed territory. The monks had directed Naransetseg to simply rid west, keeping the pinnacle of Mt. Baltistan in the middle of her horizon until she reached the snowpack, then cutting southwest into Hunza by way of the Green Pass. Bo-Jing would do the same, but traveling by air, would bypass the many obstacles that his wife likely encountered and also without the risk of losing sight of his landmark. The sky was clear and the moon would be full; Bo-Jing decided to fly at night, expecting to be nearly invisible on his jet black steed. <br /><br />And so Bo-Jing set out. What an exhilarating night. The snow-capped Mt. Baltistan shone like a beacon in the moonlight and the small lakes below shimmered like dropped coins. Bo-Jing wrapped himself in furs against the cold and urged Tse-Hami onwards. As dawn broke and the peaks of Mt. Baltistan turned pink, Bo-Jing and Tse-Hami glided downwards, seeking the break in the ridge that would be the Green Pass. They found their way, passing over the ridge and into the warmer air of the Hunza Valley. With additional plans buts to seek out a large settlement, Bo-Jing decided that he and his steed should first rest and eat. Rather than land on the flatlands, Bo-Jing identified a pile of boulders atop a steep-sided bluff as a place where he could sleep soundly with little fear of being discovered. <br /><br />As Tse-Hami circled the identified refuge, seeaking the past landing site, Bo-Jing spotted an enormous, bright red reptilian monster—a dragon! At the same moment, the dragon noticed the uninvited guests and blasted them with a storm of fire. Before Bo-Jing could react, Tse-Hami took evasive action, diving steeply. The flames licked Tse-Hami’s flanks but thanks to the barding gifted him by the King of the East, Tse-Hami suffered no harm. The khimori raised his head and flapped his wings hard, but Bo-Jing urged him into a diving, counter-attack. Bo-Jing leapt off of Tse-Hami and onto the back of the dragon, drawing his sword and driving it into the tender flesh under the dragon’s wing. The dragon rolled slashing out with its claws, striking Tse-Hami as the Khimori climbed back into the sky. Bo-Jing landed heavily on the rocks. Bo-Jing leapt to his feet parrying a series of lashed from the dragon’s tail. Once again, Bo-Jing climbed onto the dragon’s back, running up its spine, and jumping from one side of its back to the other as the dragon rolled one way and the other. He stabbed the dragon between the shoulders and then slid off as the dragon twisted its neck to come at him with jaws wide enough to fully engulf him. Bo-Jing dropped to his knees, then sprang up with his sword above him; the dragon lifted its chin and Bo-Jing’s blade sank through its scales and into its throat; Bo-Jing made a single clean slash and opened an enormous wound, releasing a torrent of blood. The dragon fell to the earth and was still. <br /><br />Tse-Hami landed and, after confirming that his rider was alive, turned his attention to the long, thick grass. Bo-Jing unsaddled his mount and then rifled through his saddlebags, making a quick uncouth meal of dried yak meat and mare’s milk. He then set upon butchering the dragon. <br /><br />Its anatomy was different from that of a mammal or bird, but Bo-Jing, relying on half-remembered lore, took the tongue, the heart, and what he thought were the lungs. And then he noticed the sounds of wild animals below him. He saddled Tse-Hami and they flew down to investigate. There were four bears. And they were not friendly. Their growls sounded like speech and when Bo-Jing attempted to command them using one of his magic rings, the bears’ speech took on an obscene and insulting tone. Bo-Jing returned to the top of the bluff. He cut off one of the dragon’s legs and threw it down. The bears descended and began to tear off and devour its flesh. <br /><br />Bo-Jing spent the next several hours deskinning the dragon, while listening to the sounds of bellowing bear. He listened to them fight over the dragon’s leg and when the bone had been cleaned, the bears began to climb the steep bluff again. The bears were nimble and determined, but it was an arduous climb. Bo-Jing finished his work of flaying and packing the scaly hide, and then took to the sky. He was exhausted and Tse-Hami also need to rest. <br /><br />Spotting a lone farmhouse, he landed about a mile away, then repacked his burden to obscure Tse-Hami’s wings and the dragon hide under a tarp. They hobbled toward the farmhouse and were met with blank stares. The residents, young but haggard farmers said nothing. Bo-Jing muttered a few words in Hun-Yi and offered them a handful of silver coins. They nodded and showed him to their woodshed. They brought him water for washing and he fell asleep. <br /><br />He was awakened by the sound of laughing children. “Bird Horse! Bird Horse!” <br /><br />Tse-Hami, unburdened and uncovered, was lying on the ground, allowing three small children to climb on him, taking turns running their fingers through his mane his tail and his feathering wings. When Bo-Jing emerged from the shed, the children’s mother made of show of horrified anger, shouting and slapping. Father gave Bo-Jing a dark stare. Bo-Jing smiled and produced a gold coin, while saying some friendly words to the children. Bo-Jing’s hosts took the coin, killed a chicken ,and began preparing a delicious meal. <br /><br />Bo Jing napped, eat heartily, and then slipped all the next day, leaving as the sun set, after a hasty good-bye. He flew westward, looking for the lights of isolated farmsteads to roughly follow the course of a road. When he saw the lights of a larger settlement. He landed, , repacked his burden to conceal Tse-Hemi’s wings and once again wrapped a tarp over the dragon parts, and approached the town on foot. <br /><br />He received an uneasy welcome. It was the town of Magden, which he had visited with his friends nearly a year ago on their mission to track down and defeat the Master. He remembered the town and the guards at the gate remembered him. <br /><br />They looked excited at first, and then surprised, even embarrassed as he drew closer. One of them spoke Zhou and asked what Bo-Jing was carrying. He refused to answer them and asked for information about his wife. Some red-robed Guardians of Knowledge were summoned. They demanded to know why Bo-Jing had come and brushed off his questions about his wife. “No, what is the real reason.” In the ensuing bitter exchange of words, the Guardians revealed that they had seen some foreigners a few weeks ago, but “They did not comport themselves in a civilized manner” and had not stayed long. Reading the Guardian’s body language, Bo-Jing surmised that his wife and her companions had taken the south road out of Magden. Preparing to leave, Bo-Jing glared at his interlocutors and informed them that he was telling the truth. “Last year, I came to kill your Master, but I have done that, so I don’t need to do it again.” <br /><br />He leapt onto Tse-Hemi’s back and galloped away. Without making any friends, he managed to gather enough scraps of information about his wife to know she had, followed his trail from the year before and traveled from Magden to Gilgat. He was met there with open hostility, but just before any weapons came out, a Guardian appeared. His name was Batar and he had encountered Khatun the week before. Seeing her dedication to her husband and based on the rumors about the “”one with a face like the morning sun,” he had offered her his assistance, even though he considered her mission a risky one. <br /><br />“She said that you had gone to seek the Master’s Palace. And someone had told her that, without the Master’s invitation, there was no way to reach his palace except by way of the Dark Wall. So I told her how to get to the Dark Wall.” <br /><br />Bo-Jing demanded to know the rumors. “What are people saying?” <br /><br />“That it was time for the Master to choose a successor. And that you were the one he had chosen.” <br /><br />“No. I killed the Master.” <br /><br />Batar collapsed in grief, and the guards once again reached for their swords. But Batar ordered them back. <br /><br />“So, you are not the Chosen One. The clouds are gathering, and the seal will break. But still there is a woman who loves you and I have likely sent her to her death as she is going to the Dark Wall and among the ones who will meet her, there will not be one whose face is like the morning sun. <br /><br />“Before you release your wrath on me, allow me to give you the same advice I gave her, I can tell you the way to the Dark Wall. Perhaps you will reach her before she reaches the Wall.” <br /><br />Bo-Jing relented and heard Batar’s directions: “Go now, if you hope to reach her in time. No reason to wait as you are not welcome in Gilgat. If you survive long enough to remember your time, remember me as the one who helped you when no one else would.”Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-79612948847239171792023-09-02T12:32:00.005-07:002023-09-02T12:32:37.256-07:00Against the Bear People<p> Having defeated the Master, and also destroyed the older
force that created him, the conquering heroes, spent several weeks relaxing in
Hosadas’s palace. His panicked minions, craven confederates, and disabused
disciples had fled with as much treasure had fled with as much treasure as they
could carry. But this left behind much in the way of rich food and drink and a
comfortable setting in which to enjoy them.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They washed their travel-soiled clothing or, even better,
exchanged it for new garments, and slept in warm beds. They also debated what
relationship they would have with the domain that seemed to be theirs by right
of conquest. Indeed, a few of the Master’s former followers had remained, and
begging pardon, promised to honor Bangqiu or Bo Jing or even Tetsukichi as
their new Master. Salt, despite expressing no desire to rule the lands of
Khorosan, was likewise attended by retainers equal to prove their loyalty.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most of these former attendants to the Master had little
explanation for their changed loyalties, except for the evidence that the
powers that had once favored the Master clearly favored his conquerors more.
Among the toadies and sycophants, the party identified three honest
liars—Sahir, a wizard who confessed he’d paid lip service to the Master’s
teachings only to gain access to magical knowledge. Nagar Ahmar, a skilled
carpenter, had been pressed into service, and by pretending to be a fool, had
gain access to storerooms throughout the palace. Finally, Zhak Shi had entered
the lands of Khorosan on a private mission of vengeance, having lost his family
to the Master’s depredations. All three, for their own reasons, were thankful
for the regime change, and eager to help the newcomers reinforce their claim.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">So, with the help of these trusted advisers, Bo Jing,
Bangqiu, and Salt listened to accounts from the remnants of the Master’s
followers who had stayed on at the palace.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was the soon determined that the farmers—simple folk who had been
promised enlightenment through nearly uninterrupted field labor—had the most
reliable information to offer. As they had pushed northwards, clearing forest
for new rice paddies, they had come into contact with a group of cave-dwellers,
primitive people who seemed mainly by hunting for game and forest fruits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They kept few animals and planted nothing.
They had attacked the farmers with fearless savagery. The Master had rallied an
army to drive the savages back to their caves, but the northern farms had been
deserted. In the ensuing years, an uneasy truce had created a no man’s land
between the farms and the northmen’s hunting lands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The truce was enforced by regular patrols of [Red
Robes]. Zhak Shi had participated in these patrols and had learned to respect
the savages’ uncanny ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’d found
their strange totems in tree hollows and on hanging from branches, he’d seen
one of the Master’s best soldiers felled by an arrow from the shadows, but he’d
never caught more than a glimpse of the strange denizens of the forest.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They’d occasionally raided the farms, and when they did left
no survivors. They did leave tracks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Clear ones, as if taunting the Master to seek revenge. Zhak Shi had
followed the tracks far enough to know they led to the mountains that the
Master had claimed as his northern border.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There was a waterfall and in the darkness, Zhak Shi had seen the glow of
a fire behind it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With the Master’s death, the patrols had ceased and the
raids were reaching further south and east, toward the more populated half of
Khorosan. If the newcomers were serious about protecting its people, maybe it
was time to take the fight to the northmen in their lair.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The adventurers agreed, even managing to summon the
mercurial Hyamsam to join them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And so
the conquerors from Zhou Dang, together with their newest allies set off to
raid the raiders.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Zhak Shi showed them the best way to reach their enemy,
avoiding any potential ambush by ignoring the most obvious tracks and instead
taking a more circuitous route by traveling west before heading north, and then
climbing up into mountains and traveling along a ridge line until they reached
the river that descended as the waterfall that marked the savages’s lair.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Behind the waterfall, the party found a large natural cavern
and, at the back of it, a narrow tunnel leading deeper into the earth. The
tunnel was flanked by crudely-carved stone statues of voluptuous women, both
with gaping wide mouths.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Nekhil led the way past the statues and was struck by a
small bolt of lightning arcing between the two statues. Non-lethal but painful,
the rest of the party stopped in their tracks. The party discovered that
inserting a pole into either of the statue’s mouth resulted in a shortening of
the pole. At length, Bangqiu and Hyamsam transformed themselves into small birds
and tried to fly past the statues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They,
too was struck by lightning, but shook off the pain and flew deeper into the
cave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The passage descended steeply,
soon reaching a low point from which two other passages rose back up, with
flickering torchlight visible at the top of each of the interesting passages.
From one side, the torchlight grew brighter and more steady, and was
accompanied by voices. Six huge men emerged at the top of the slope, their
torches casting bizarre shadows about the cavern. They were dressed in furs
with helmets fashioned from bear skulls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Spotting the little bird that was Bangqiu, one raised his spear. Bangqiu
and Hyamsam dropped to the ground, resuming their human forms and enveloped
their would-be attackers in clouds of scalding steam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The men dropped to the floor, their torches
extinguished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bangiqu and Hyamsam dashed
up the slope and examined their still steaming bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each carried a leather pouch containing a few
polished greenish gray stones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
returned to their friends with the stones and found that dropping a stone in a
statue’s mouth permitted the offeror to pass by without suffering any
punishment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The party explored a labyrinth of tunnels leading up and
down, choosing their way carefully to avoid meeting any large groups. When
forced into combat, the magicians used their most devastating spells before Bo
Jing rushed in to quickly dispatch any survivors. And in this way, they avoided
raising any alarm. They were intrigued to find a stout, well-constructed door
in an otherwise rough natural cavern. They were especially intrigued to note
that it was barred from their side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
when Bo Jig removed the bar and pushed it open, the door squeaked loudly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing they had given up the advantage of
surprise to whatever horrible thing resided within, they moved away quickly,
bypassing a nearby group of women engaged in cooking to follow a narrow
twisting passage deeper into the caverns.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Exploring the home of the “bear people” the party found crude
murals depicting houses on fire and screaming people being pursued and eaten by
snakes, animals, and horned men. Sudden drafts carried pungent, eye-watering
smoke. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A shrill discordant piping, like
that of a bird, could be faintly heard above the sound of the party’s footsteps,
ceasing when everyone stopped to listen. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They wandered into a large cavern, the floor slick with
guano and the foul air almost unbreathable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Choosing another path, they found a short flight of steps carved into
the rock. The steps, thickly covered with filth, led into a small forgotten
shrine for a single dusty idol. Searching the tiny chamber, they heard voices.
A fissure <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>behind the idol provided a
second means of egress. In a room beyond, a group of bear-man warriors sat next
to a smoldering fire, passing around small jars and sniffing the contents. They
sat with heir backs to the fissure and gave half attention to the wide corridor
in front of them. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hyamsam, using his magic to conceal himself from being seen
or heard, climbed through the fissure and into the room.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The party watched the men closely and silently, waiting for
any sign that they had detected Hyamsam. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Salt, for her part, watched the way that they had come, and
heard the sound of soft footsteps approaching. Not wanting to risk being caught
between two groups of enemies, she<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>stepped into the guano room and directed a cloud of boiling steam at the
approaching figure. The figure, a woman screamed and perished. The sound
alerted the bear-men. Bangqiu blasted them with magic missiles and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bo-Jing charged in with his word, followed by
the other warriors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bearmen barely
had time to stand before they all been cut down.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Salt, fearing that she had overreacted, inspected the body
of the woman she had killed and found that she had snaking growing from her head
in place of hair. With a mixture of relief and horror, Salt reported to her
companions that the caverns could be filled with strange creatures, among whom
the bear people were perhaps the least fearsome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hyamsam reported that the large corridor led
back to the entrance.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After a brief conference, the party agreed that they had been
very successful in infiltrating the bearpeople’s lair, having killed several of
the warriors without having raised the alarm or even leaving any living
witnesses. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had suffered no casualties
themselves, but they were hungry and tired and none wanted to risk finding a
place to rest with the caves. Thus, the party heartily agreed that it was time
to leave the caves and return to the Master’s palace, feeling all the more secure
in claiming it as their own.<o:p></o:p></p>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-24506454304684896032023-08-31T17:41:00.009-07:002023-09-02T09:47:09.411-07:00The Lingering Disquiet of the Khatun part 1In Banua, the Khatun slept poorly. She had given birth to a son, but the boy’s father, her husband, the Khan, was gone. <br /><br />Khatun Narantsetseg knew why her husband had gone. The brave, noble, and handsome Bo-Jing had called upon his allies, the most stalwart and wise, to join him in a quest to confront the evil “Master” on his own throne in his own palace in the middle of his own strange domain. <br /><br />What she didn’t know why her husband, brave, noble, and handsome, had not returned. <br /><br />Her servants and advisers did their best to comfort her. “He will prevail. Have courage, have faith. There is none like him. Brave, noble, and handsome, how could he not prevail in achieving whatever objective he pursued?” <br /><br />The Khatun, in her soft bed, in her warm palace, slept poorly. <br /><br />There was a stupa that she had visited with her mother when she was a girl, and used to sleeping soundly on a soft goatskin in a warm yurt. Her mother prayed at the stupa, the elaborate mausoleum of a simple holy man, and the young Narantsetseg had watched all the worry and care lift from her mother’s face. <br /><br />Narantsetseg made inquiries until she could locate a holy man. Altani, a respected hermit sometimes visited Banua, confirmed for her that the stupa she remembered was real and that its soul-healing properties had been famous for centuries. It was easy to find, being on the road to Blue City, less than a day’s ride from Banua! But, there was a problem. Lately, those who had gone to pray there, did not find peace . . . <br /><br />Narantseteg ordered Batu, her husband’s baghatur to go with Altani to find out what had cursed the holy stupa and to assist in driving away any evil spirits found therein. Batu, flattered by the important mission, but also wary of what forces could threaten the power of a centuries-old holy place, not only recruited four palace guards to assist him, but also persuaded Bo Jing’s friend Narnuteng that this quest was an opportunity for her to win honor and the favor of the Khatun. <br /><br />The party set out on a chilly, bright morning and reached the stupa at midday. The warriors approached while Altani lingered near the road. As they got closer Batu and his companions were struck down by one curse or another. One lost his sight, another his hearing, while Batu himself was overwhelmed by visions of flames on the edges of his vision. Altani began chanting and, with help from Narnutang, gathered the men to his side and led them away from the stupa to a safe place in the hills. He prayed over them and led them into sleep. The next morning Altani brought the warriors back to the stupa, chanting and burning incense, promising them that the only way to completely break the curse is to face it with courage. <br /><br />Trusting Altani’s guidance, Batu led his companions toward the circular, columned building capped by a squat dome. Cautious at first, their strides became more purposeful as they drew closer; Altanu and Narnuteng followed close behind them. <br /><br />The party walked around the stupa, and found it virtually identical The platform, about four feet off the ground, could be reached by the steps, crumbling in places, but generally solid, that ran all the way around it. The platform itself was empty of anything but the columns that supported the dome. <br /><br />The party clambered up and walked around the platform. Over the centuries, windblown sand had gathered in seams between the paving stones. Except in one section, roughly 10 foot square, next to one of the columns, which, unlike any of the others, was marked with a triangle. The seam around this section had not filled with sand. One of Batu’s men found he could slide his sword into the crack all the way to the hilt. There was something more to the stupa, something beneath it; Narnuteng and Batu agreed that they must be standing on an entrance of some kind. <br /><br />They spent several hours on the stupa. They felt dizzy, sometimes to the point of nausea. Battu’s men urged each other to “go find some fresh water if you’re feeling so bad” but no one budged. Batu dragged his sword over the stones throwing sparks and cursing. He tried pushing the column marked with the triangle, then pulling it, lifting it up, and pushing it down. He jumped up and down on the platform. <br /><br />Narnuteng had a suggestion. “I wonder if you could turn the entire column.” <br /><br />Batu thought that was a stupid idea and to prove how to stupid it was, he tried it. He planted his feet on either side of the marked column, squatted, wrapped his arms around the column and shifted his weight first to one side in an attempt to make the column turn. And it did. Almost imperceptibly at first, but then with a low rumbling far beneath them, with surprising speed and force, a full 90 degrees. The outlined section of the floor trembled and then began to sink, dropping ten beneath below its former level, revealing a pit whose bottom could not be seen. As the sunlight broke into a darkness undisturbed for centuries, hundreds of spiders scurried into the shadows. <br /><br />The party descended, lowering a rope so that they might Narnuteng might climb into the pit. Even with a brightly burning lantern, the bottom of the pit was shrouded in darkness, deeper than the length of their rope. However several dozen feet down, a tunnel in the side of the pit, seemed to allow access to the stupa’s depths by more gradual descent. One of Batu’s men stayed at the top to secure the rope and guard the entrance. The others climbed down the rope one-by-one to the side tunnel. They lit a second lantern and walked down a narrow tunnel, sending spiders scurrying before them. They reached a domed room that seemed to demand further examination. But even after wiping away centuries of dust, the most notable feature was an uneven brick in the ceiling of the dome, sticking out several inches from its fellows. Climbing on Batu’s shoulders, Narnuteng was able to reach the brick and pull it free—whereupon the ceiling began to collapse. Batu’s men ran for cover, while Batu and Narnuteng instinctively dropped to the floor and ducked their heads, suffering a few stray bricks bouncing g off their armor. Altani, seemingly favored by holy powers, stood unscathed, as the dust, suddenly illuminated by sunlight swirled around them. He chanted a prayer of thanksgiving, rallying the battered warriors and they continued their exploration down a flight of stone stairs. <br /><br />Another domed room. This one impassable due to thick spider webs. Narnuteng doused the webs nearest her with lamp oil and then , using a strand of rope as a wick took fire from her lamp and set it to the webs. Hot flames eagerly devoured the thick, dusty webs , creating thick clouds of dark smoke. The air became unbreathable and the party dashed back up the stairs to the domed room with the new opening to the sky and fresh air. <br /><br />The party collapsed to rest and catch their breath, but as the smoke cleared, they heard the sound of a rapid click-click scuttling and tapping on the stairs. Batu ordered his men to flank the entryway with their spears ready while he and Narnuteng readied their bows. As soon as the dark, hairy form of the first spider appeared at the top of the stairs, Batu and Narnuteng loosed their arrows. One arrow bounced off its thick shell and the other did little to slow its charge. Khuyag, one of Batu’s men gored it with his spear. It shook violently in its death throes, nearly pulling the spear out of its wielders strng grip. More spiders behind the first ran up the walls and across the ceiling. Batu and Narnuteng drew their swords. Batu’s men pointed their spears toward the ceiling, driving the spiders onward until they dropped on Batu and Narnuteng, who trusted their fine armor to protect them from the spiders’ venomous fangs. The spiders’ size and strength, comparable to wolves, was nearly enough to overcome the powerful warriors but the Batu and Narnuteng each lent their strength to other when it was needed most and so kept solid footing and with courage and fine blades were able to defend themselves from the disgusting vermin. Batu’s men took advantage of their long spears and following their brave order’s advice, skewered the spider so that one by one they could be dispatched by a sword. <br /><br />And yet, whether by instinct or chance, the spiders deployed a similar tactic. One more spider, smaller than the others, was the last up the stairs. Khuyag, distracted by the melee and lacking the metal armor that protected his master, was an easy target. He screamed in pain as the spider climbed up his back and sunk its teeth into his shoulder. His comrades came to his aid. One stabbed the spider with a dagger while another took hold of its legs and slammed it against the wall, cracking its shell and sending it running. <br /><br />As the last of the larges spiders lay quivering and dying, Khuyag slumped to the floor. Altai rushed to his aid, applying a poultice and chanting a prayer that divine favor be shown to this brave man. Khuyag slowly stood, smiling weakly. The humble Altai acknowledged he had no right to demand a miracle and none had been granted. If they gave up their mission and brought him back to Banua, they might save his life. <br /><br />If re-telling this story, Khuyag’s favorite moment was this one. “Without wasting a breath, my master gave the order, ‘Now, we go.’” <br /><br />And so, Khuyag’s life was saved, but Narantsetseg’s heart continued to suffer. She summoned Batu to her audience chamber and demanded his thoughts on why master had tarried for so long. When he couldn’t find words to give her peace, she demanded that he resume his quest to make the stupa safe for her to visit. <br /><br />In Banua, they had met a wise woman who had sold them an antidote for Khuyag. After a few days of rest, he was strong and hale. During those days, Batu drew additional gold from his master’s treasury and purchased bows for each of his men. Altani performed the appropriate rituals and they returned to the stupa. <br /><br />Rather than climb on to the stupa platform and descend into the pit, Batu and Narnuteng agreed to enter by way of the collapsed ceiling they had “made” during their last visit. They also decided that having one more warrior with them was more important than leaving a guard. So they tied a rope securely to one of the pillars and each made the relatively easy entrance into the collapsed dome room. They passed through there into the room of burnt webs and, finding no evidence of new arach-tivity, pressed onward and again, downward by way of another pit. <br /><br />This pit was lined with rungs making descent easier. Again, there was a side tunnel, though this one was sealed by a metal door. The door, with subtle manipulation by Narnuteng, was opened; the round tunnel behind it led to another domed room, this one with five statutes, and a single ancient rune on the floor which Altani translated to mean “pray.” Batu stepped onto the rune and pronounced his prayer for the Khatun—and immediately vanished. The others followed suit and immediately joined Batu. . . <br /><br />They found themselves standing at the bottom of another pit—one that opened moments after they had pronounced their prayers. . . the skeleton of the exalted shaman was there—minus the head. The beatific skull was rolling on the floor, among a throng of rat-sized spiders. <br /><br />Altani began to sing in a low sonorous tone and the walls of burial chamber resonated with his chanting. Shaking off the horror of what they were witnessing, Batu and his followers along with Narnutang attacked the spiders, burning them, slicing them, smashing them, driving them back into the cracks in the wall. Not all of the spiders gave up their prize so easily. The largest and most vicious charged at their attackers, climbing up their legs to drop into the top of a man’s boots or finding a open space in his armor to drive venomous fangs through his clothing. Batu’s soldier Gan fought through the pain, using the opportunity of a spider pumping poison into his forearm to seize its head and crush it in his fist. <br /><br />When the spiders had been killed or driven away, Altani replaced the skull to it s proper resting place and chanted a prayer of rest. The walls resonated in a lower, comforting register and all breathed a sigh of deep relief. <br /><br />Altani tended to the wounds of the warriors, applying poultices to the discolored skin. Except Gan. Knowing he was mortally wounded, he refused any treatment and pledged to remain in the tomb, praying that his spirit would stand guard over the holy man for 99 years. <br /><br />Batu mourned the loss of his companion and released him from service. The rest of the party returned to the surface and to Banua. <br /><br />Batu shared the news of his success with Narantsetseg, with Altani affirming that every word was true and recording it exactly as it has been written here. <br /><br />The next day, Naransetseg rose early, and choosing only a small retinue to accompany her, went to visit the stupa. <br /><br />She remained the whole day and her spirits were settled. Those who prayed with her also experienced the deep serenity for which the stupa had long been famous. But as night approached, Narantsetseg announced that she would spend the night there. She commanded Batu and his men to return to Banua, explaining she only wanted the company of one woman and one holy man, that being Narnutang and Altani. Before Batu departed, Narantsetseg handed him a letter, commanding him not to open it until the new moon.Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-91136854816245070922023-08-14T16:42:00.007-07:002023-08-15T06:04:30.737-07:00Recommendations: X4 Master of the Desert Nomads and X5 Temple of DeathThis post is tagged as “Recommendations” because I recommend the two modules named for anyone running an old school D&D game and because I will offer advice on how to use them well.<br /><br />In my conception, the two modules comprise four main parts, none of which neatly fit together. This disjunction might be regarded a deficiency, but also offers more opportunities for customization. The first part concerns an overland journey, and is composed of a number of compelling encounters, roughly stitched together. Yes, these modules are very modular, and the rough stitching makes it easy to move the pieces around.<br /><br />Perhaps my favorite element of the first part is the hook—the party is connected to an army with a mandate to repel mysterious invaders, led by an ominous “Master” before these invaders reach the civilized lands. But it’s not like a modern army with documented protocols, written orders, and a clear chain of command. And so the PCs get left behind. Thus the first part is all about the party trying to catchup with the “main army.”<br /><br />But, when you give this hook some serious thought, there are some problems. A small group of PCs with magical advantages typical of their level should be able to easily catch up with hundreds or thousands of foot soldiers, camp followers, and a baggage train. The module provides a flimsy premise for traveling along a sluggish river, with the plan of meeting the army at a rendezvous point. My players had a large number of characters available so my solution was to split the party, with one group going overland and the other by barge. Each player had one PC with each group. This approach made it feel less railroady and we collaborated on reasons why each route had potential merits and why certain approaches made sense to each group. We settled on the need to deliver a message; splitting the party ensured that at least one group would reach the intended recipient.<br /><br />And again, there were great encounters along the way. The barge made for a great setting with enemies on either side of the river. The overland group did meet with a large contingent of friendly soldiers and together fought an advance party of raiders.<br /><br />One very interesting encounter that deserves additional thought is the “swamp curse.” It’s a very atmospheric trap with no enemy to fight, and only one “book” solution, which is to cast Dispel Magic. One of my frustrations with newer D&D is that it can feel like Magic the Gathering. (“Ok, the DM played X spell which is a fire type, so I need to counter with a water type.”) To my mind, magic should not be the main way to solve problems, but a fall back for when things go wrong. So, having PC survival depend on knowledge of the rulebook and being “right” about how the designer would interpret it (not to mention having a cleric of a high-enough level) is too much. If you don’t think this one out in advance, there will likely be an argument, followed by disgruntled hand-waving. <br /><br />There are some other silly things to mention such as the plot coupon under a hydra. And there are also some more weird cool things like a unique buzzard-headed monster and tombs half-buried in the sand.<br /><br />The final question about this part of X4 is what to do when the party successfully rejoins the army. In my case, the “message” was that the Master’s armies had found another way to attack the civilized lands and so the army should return to defend their homes. The published adventure uses another pretext for sending the party into the lands of the Master alone. As I describe below, I’d recommend delaying this final confrontation and all of X5.<br /><br />The second part of X4 is the “Evil Monastery.” I ran this as a separate adventure, an interlude between invasions, without any direct connection to the X4/X5 campaign plot. Because even though a run-down mountain monastery inhabited by corrupted monks enhances the vibe, I couldn’t make sense of the supposed agreement between an evil genius and the buffoonish cannibals who were supposedly “guarding” the entrance to his domain. (He has an army, with juggernauts.) Among the library of moldering scrolls, I dropped some clues that the Master had been at work over centuries, harassing good people. So the monks were just a casualty of his past depravations. <br /><br />Removing the direct connection provides a great stand-alone adventure. What makes the “Evil Monastery” component so good is the suspense—the gap between when the players have a hunch that something is amiss and the moment when the monks’ true nature is revealed. So plan to stretch out the suspense and then wrap things up quickly once the fighting starts. <br /><br />I used the Evil Monastery together with some <strike>more recen</strike>t “OSR” adventures* to draw out the war between the “Master” and the “Empire” that the PCs were defending. Some of these adventures involved repelling the Master’s lieutenants while others dealt with local troubles within the Empire. But the Master was always in the players’ imaginations, and always suspected (often wrongly) to be the one pulling the strings when things were going wrong, whether the trouble was bandits or a bad harvest. Anyway, when a map turned up that seemed to permit the PCs to confront the Master on his own turf, the PCs were ready.<br /><br />The two parts of X5 do work together. Part one is the land of Thule (which I renamed Hunza) where the Master’s people live rather normal “D&D land” lives. Markets, taverns, minstrels, puppet shows. But in place of the typically bumbling town watch, you have heavy-handed enforcers on the lookout for wrong-thinking. If you have something to say about global pandemics, misinformation, disinformation, or misinformation, here’s your soapbox. Also, learn what the robe colors mean, it will be important later. White robes are for peasant-level initiates. Yellow robes are for middle management. Red robes are for the “muscle” which doesn’t just mean fighters. Many wield magic. Likewise the purple-robed judges count some retired but capable warriors among their numbers. <br /><br />The second half of X5 is the actual Temple of Death, which is the Master’s lair, and feels more like a palace, with a succession of ornate buildings, each having more restricted access. Most all of the occupants are robed humans who come in one of the four colors described above. There are also some monster guardians and other NPC villains. This is a well-organized cult headquarters, so combat should be limited if you value verisimilitude. I’d recommend having a plan for how the complex activates if the PCs become openly violent.<br /><br />There are many ways to avoid open violence. Most will probably involve appropriating sets of robes from the peasants who work the fields around the palace and then trading up to the high-status colors. There are a number of short cuts to victory, which, to my mind, are fair game. Yes, PCs can defeat the Master by destroying his glass coffin, which is in plain sight. Yes, PCs can use the teleportation room to go directly to the Master’s chambers if they saw him in the magic mirror in X4. Yes, PCs can charm a high-ranking enforcer and ask him for an immediate private audience. Yes, PCs can exploit their opponents’ cultish groupthink to avoid combat. But sometimes shortcuts go wrong. Encourage your PCs clever ruses, but be ready for what happens when their plans hit a snag and the cult members realize they’ve been infiltrated.<br /><br />OSR D&D is not like a video game and so the final boss fight might be a little anticlimactic. My party got the jump on the Master and took him down in one round. If he doesn’t get taken down at once, he has a number of escape plans. (Including the ability to return to life in a new body.) The module doesn’t really explain how the cult members will respond if the Master’s current body is destroyed so give that some thought as well.<br /><br />I found this pair of shambolic modules a lot of fun to run, finding in their numerous gaps and a rather abstract villain, plenty of room to add additional material and create a long and multi-threaded story arc. Comments and questions are most encouraged.<br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.295; margin-bottom: 8pt; margin-top: 0pt;">* The OSR adventures that I used were <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/116854/VA1-Valley-of-the-Five-Fires">Valley of the Five Fires</a> and <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/112801/The-Northland-Saga-Part-4-Blood-on-the-Snow-PF">The Northland Saga Part 4 Blood on the Snow</a>. Wow, in finding those links I realize those adventures are over 10 years old. And yes, the first is based on Mongols and the second on Vikings. X4 and X5 are stylized as West meets East. The campaign also works as Far East meets Central East. And Vikings are Mongols with boats and trashy blond hair.</p>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-76719246397881160802023-01-24T08:42:00.002-08:002023-08-11T21:27:10.420-07:00The End of the Master (by Tetsukichi)<span style="font-size: medium;">"In my latest adventure, l joined Bojing’s campaign against the Master. After witnessing the havoc wrought by his armies, our group resolved to tackle the Master in his home country of Hunza. After some disorienting encounters with the brainwashed population, we were taken by surprise by a young thief named HuFei. He had a great deal of inside information about the Cult of Knowledge and the Master and shared our desire to bring an end to both. With his help, we were able to make our way to the Master’s temple without attracting the attention of the watchful Guardians, who according to HuFei, were aware of our mission.<br /><br />"The Temple of Death was under extremely close observation, but our party was able to enter either disguised in Guardian’s robes, invisible, or miniaturised. As we made our way through the Temple, Guardians questioned us suspiciously, asking us to dispose of the agricultural offerings we had brought as cover for our mission. Armed guards threatened us, but we managed to fight them off, with Mustapha’s shadow monsters serving as a distraction. We reached a large room referred to as the Hall of Law, which contained glass coffins of former Masters and their remains. Ryu and Bojing, who had researched the Cult of Knowledge, recognised the name of the current Master, Hosadas, on one of the coffins. This surprising development altered our view of the nature of our enemy. We were attacked again, but Bojing was able to use his special abilities to transport us to the Master’s lair.* Once there, most disconcertingly, we were confronted by a creature resembling a handsome young man. As we attacked him, he started to float away. HuFei grabbed his foot and then we were able to finish him off.<br /><br />"The Master’s lair contained magical items, which we gathered up and shared between us.** Next, we returned to the Hall of Law to destroy the Master’s remains. I wore the Master’s platemail armour, so the Temple acolytes naturally assumed that I was the Master. As we were closing in on the Hall of Law, Bojing started to behave oddly, as if he were someone else entirely, claiming to be the Master! Salt used her magic missile to raze the coffin and instantly Bojing dropped dead! It turned out that the spirit of the Master had co-opted Bojing, asking if he wanted to become the new Master. From the moment he accepted this role, Bojing effectively ceased to exist. Miraculously, Bojing came back to life sometime afterwards and is fortunately himself again, not the Master, although much more subdued in disposition.*** So the Cult is finally destroyed and Hosadas is defeated."</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">* "Tetsukichi is unsure of the exact nature of these powers, but he is grateful for them." (In fact, this was not a matter of any special powers belonging to Bo-Jing. The part found a secret room that facilitated teleportation to any place that was known and named. Bo-Jing remembered seeing the Master through a magic mirror.<span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span><a href="http://dndstuffedanimals.blogspot.com/2019/09/master-of-desert-nomads-part-6.html"><span style="line-height: 107%;">Playing D&D with Stuffed Animals:
Master of the Desert Nomads Part 6: Invitations
(dndstuffedanimals.blogspot.com)</span></a><span style="line-height: 107%;">. Bo-Jing remembered the room in which the Master was
standing, and named this as the place he wanted to go.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;">** Bojing chose the levitation boots, Tetsukichi the platemail armour and magical war hammer, Salt and Nekhil got an intriguing ‘room of requirement.’</span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><div><span style="font-size: medium;">*** Bo-Jing had previously done a great service for the "King of the East"-- rescuing the demi-god's daughter and also returning to him the magical coin that bore his visage. </span><a href="http://dndstuffedanimals.blogspot.com/2022/09/the-most-fortunate-khatun.html">Playing D&D with Stuffed Animals: The Most Fortunate Khatun (dndstuffedanimals.blogspot.com)</a> <span style="font-size: large;">As Bo-Jing accepted the offer from Hosadas, the King of the East intervened, warning him that there are no short cuts to righteousness. Bo-Jing's life was restored, but his horror at his mistake left a mark. Gone was the easy confidence that he had known since birth and that had been only been enhanced by his many successes. He came to know that he was fully mortal and vulnerable to the same temptations as anyone else. While he lost the aura of invincibility, there were a few who appreciated his new depth and sense of humility. </span></div>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-65303171172100477242023-01-21T17:38:00.002-08:002023-02-28T17:33:51.833-08:00On the Western Front (Part 8 - The End)<span style="font-size: medium;">Ginjo, Bayan, and Bing Chi Ling made their way back to their inn. Being unarmed, they stayed on the busiest streets through the caravanserai and felt they had no reason to fear or avoid the Pasha’s guards. But owing to Hiram’s high station, they decided not to ask for assistance, either. They reached the inn safely and retired to their rooms to sleep.<br /><br />Ginjo and Bing Chi Ling, along with Ryu, slept in Mauza’s room. Their sleep was uneasy and Ginjo’s dog whined throughout the night. Nevertheless, Mauza did not complain, but slept soundly, enough that the sound of his snores soon overpowered those of the dog’s whining.<br /><br />And then the door was burst open and a man with a sword burst into the room, several others pushing in behind him. Ginjo grabbed his own sword and blocked the door, while Bing Chi Ling cut down the attacker who had made it into the room.<br /><br />Drunk and reckless, the attacking thugs soon fell to Ginjo’s blade, and were routed. Bayan, alerted by the noise blocked their escape, and soon all were laying on the floor, groaning in pain or dead.<br /><br />The innkeeper rushed upstairs, protesting his innocence and begging forgiveness for not preventing the intrusion. Servants ran into the street, calling for the watch.<br /><br />And so, Ginjo, Bayan, and Bing Chi Ling were escorted to the Pasha’s palace in the middle of the night. When asked to surrender their belongings and be locked in a holding cell, they refused, knowing that it might be the last they saw of the sales records they’d retrieved from the gnolls. They explained to the guards that they should see the Pasha immediately. Through their investigations of the bandit attacks in the Painted Canyon, they had learned that a band of man-eating gnolls were the source of the attacks. One of the guards was friends with one of the prisoners who had been rescued. “If you are who you say you are, I know the Pasha would like to meet you. “ Between Bayan’s money and Bing Chi Ling’s winning personality, the guards were convinced.<br /><br />The Pasha met the party in a small audience chamber. Groggy and cranky, he stared at them with baleful eyes, demanding an explanation.<br /><br />Bing Chi Ling complimented the Pasha’s pajamas, and with his fine manners, the Pasha’s mood softened. Having heard Ginjo and Bayan’s tales at the inn, he recounted them for the Pasha, sprinkling in more compliments whenever possible.<br /><br />The Pasha’s moved changed to one of horror, when he learned that Ginjo and Bayan had found evidence that the gnolls were re-selling their stolen goods to respectable merchants. “Have you any proof of this?”<br /><br />Ginjo produced the records. “We got the message from Hiram that you had heard about these records and wanted to see them. I am grateful to finally have the chance.”<br /><br />“Hiram said—?”<br /><br />The Pasha ordered for Hiram to be brought to the palace. <br /><br />Hiram, not understanding why he had been summoned, began to apologize that “Your Wisdom may have his slumber interrupted on account of these ruffians who tried to rob my house tonight. I assure you they were handily repelled by my men.”<br /><br />Ginjo produced the invitation with Hiram’s seal.<br /><br />Next, the Pasha asked Hiram about the caravan raids and rumors he’d heard that gnolls were re-selling their stolen goods to other merchants. After asking Hiram to vouch for the honor of several local merchant’s and receiving Hiram’s assurance, “That if any of the men you named were involved in such a scheme, I would know about it.”<br /><br />Ginjo produced the gnolls’ sales record book.<br /><br />After allowing Hiram to tell several more lies, The Pasha ordered that his house should be searched. Neither he, nor the adventurers were permitted to leave the palace.<br /><br />The next day, based on evidence he found at Hiram’s house, the Pasha ordered his immediate execution.</span>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-66193638508416384952023-01-15T17:35:00.004-08:002023-02-28T17:32:51.817-08:00On the Western Front (Part 7 - The Dinner)<span style="font-size: medium;">Mauza found multiple fletchers in Salt Springs whom, together, could satisfy Al-Fitar’s order by the end of the week. He gladly provided Bayan and Ginjo a generous allowance so they could enjoy themselves in the caravansary while he attended to other business. His only stipulation was that they would return to the inn each evening so that he could be assured a safe and restful slumber.<br /><br />Ginjo and Bayan hatched a plan. They wanted an audience with the Satrap so they could tell him about their last meeting with Hiram and about the ambush at the ford. Based on his reaction they would know whether he was a party to Hiram’s treachery. However, they feared meeting the Satrap at a time when Hiram also present, knowing that he would simply contradict them. So, Ginjo sent a message to the Satrap, announcing plans to visit him the next afternoon. And meanwhile, Bayan sent a message to Hiram, inviting him with them at the inn at on the same day, believing this would prevent Hiram from being present when Ginjo visited the Satrap.<br /><br />The day passed slowly as Ginjo and Bayan waited for a response. During this time, they made the acquaintance of Bing Chi Ling. He was like them, a wanderer, a warrior who had pledged a life oath to lend his sword to any righteous cause, without regard for reward or personal glory. He also had a irreverent sense of humor and enjoyed a well-conceived game of chance. So the three adventurers became friends.<br /><br />At the end of the day, Bayan received a return message from Hiram to decline the invitation, but also expressing gratitude for their offer of hospitality following “the unfortunate incident at the ford” and insisting that they must allow him to make it up to them by dining at his house.<br /><br />The satrap did not acknowledge Ginjo’s message.<br /><br />Ginjo and Bayan decided to accept Hiram’s invitation. They asked Minh and the other sohei to secure the inn for the evening. And they invited their new friend Bing Chi Ling to join them and he gratefully accepted.<br /><br />Dinner was an enjoyable affair, and Bing Chi Ling was welcomed along with the others. Hiram apologized again for any “previous misunderstandings” owning that he was “arrogant” to leave the safety and comfort of Salt Springs or even to believe that “such adventures would someone suited to a life of ease.” He patted his ample belly. “Based on the stories I have heard, I fully expected that I was going to end my life being turned over a fire covered in butter! If you think I am a coward, you are right!” <br /><br />In fact, a roasted butter-basting was the delicious fate of both a lamb and a goat that night; Hiram and his guest enjoyed their beautifully roasted meat, together with all the finest accompaniments. Hiram ate and laughed heartily and very much enjoyed the stories of his “new best friend,” Bing Chi Ling.<br /><br />After dinner, Hiram called for music and dancing. The musicians who had sat in the shadows during the meal, lightly tapping on their drums, emerged to beat their instruments with full, unified intensity, summoning three dancers who shimmied with the music in perfect time and, with the bangles ringing around their waists, added another timbre to the music.<br /><br />Always most wary when distracted, Ginjo cocked his ear toward the kitchen, and heard the muffled sounds of heavy boots on the cellar stairs and the jangle of clinking armor. He stood up and flung open the shuttered balcony. Two guard were waiting there, their swords in hand. <br /><br />While their swords were ready, the guards were not prepared for Ginjo’s sudden exit. He pushed past them and leapt off the balcony, raising a call for help. Bayan rose, urging Bing Chi Ling to follow. With people in the street gawking and pointing, Hiram did his best to calm the commotion, pleading for a “chance to talk this out,” and offering them thousands of drachmas. “I know important men in the north who can help you!” The guards sheathed their swords, but Bayan and Bing Chi Ling ignored Hiram’s offers; instead, they calmly tied a rope to balcony and lowered themselves to the street.</span>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-50617579874859807682023-01-10T17:32:00.009-08:002023-02-28T17:34:37.226-08:00On the Western Front (Part 6 - honor, courage, and guile)<span style="font-size: medium;">Al-Fitar asked Bayan and Gin Jo some pointed question about what they thought they knew. It turned out to be very little.<br /><br />Yes, the invitation to Salt Springs looked like nothing more than a set-up for an ambush. It could be that the Satrap of Salt Springs was in league with the Master’s forces. Was there any evidence that the Master or his agents had contacted the Satrap? Was there evidence that the Satrap had ordered Hiram to arrange the ambush? Was there evidence that Hiram had arranged the ambush? Was there evidence that he or any of his bodyguards had known it was coming? Were there not plenty of reasons why the gnolls had a special hatred for Ginjo and Bayan? The gnolls’s list of names was evidence of terrible crimes, but was there anything connecting it to anyone in Salt Springs?<br /><br />What they seem to have proved was merely that the gnolls were a serious threat to almost everyone except Bayan and Ginjo. Al-Fitar did not dare send his soldiers into the Painted Canyon. Although they fought well in large numbers on the plains or when they were the ones doing the ambushing, Al-Fitar knew that even his best officers would not have made it through the Painted Canyon without heavy losses. But Bayan and Ginjo showed an unusual combination of honor, courage, and guile. Rather than try to unravel the conspiracy, Al-Fitar preferred that they should work with what they knew. The gnolls were attacking his merchants with great success. But a savage mob of gnolls were no match for Ginjo, Bayan, and a few disciplined sohei. The Company should escort a merchant to Salt Springs, lay low in the caravansary while the merchant made arrangements to fulfill Al-Fitar’s order, and then escort the merchant back to Al-Fitar’s camp. Either the gnolls would show that they had learned their lesson and the merchant would be allowed to make his way in peace. Or the gnolls would have to learn their lesson again. “Isn’t that right, schoolmasters!”<br /><br />And so Al-Fitar introduced Bayan and Ginjo to Mauza. He had two drovers, who also served as guards. But he was grateful for the additional protection. They would travel disguised as nomads. Al-Fitar needed arrows, thousands of them, but Mauza was on good terms with all the fletchers in Salt Springs.<br /><br />The journey to Salt Springs was tense. They had nothing to steal and all the previous attacks had always targeted caravans traveling from Salt Springs, but Mauza understood that his new bodyguards had a reputation that cut both ways. The gnolls would be crazy to attack them. But according to all the stories about them, the gnolls were crazy.<br /><br />On the way, they had the good fortune to cross paths with some real nomads, some of whom were wearing fancy riding boots! Yes, they had been among the captives that Ginjo and Bayan had rescued. They assisted the travelers in improving their disguises and sold them a few emaciated goats to improve the ruse. They described their favorite places to camp so as to avoid the dangerous ford crossing. Finally, they told them that the howl of jackals at night was a good omen; the jackals were sly hunters who stayed silent when the gnolls and hyenas were on the prowl.<br /><br />That night, and for three following, the travelers slept with the lullaby of howling jackals. On the fourth day, they safely reached Salt Spring. Mauza introduced Bayan, Ginjo,and the others as nomads he had hired as drovers. He led the way through the caravansary to his favorite inn and booked three rooms.</span>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-41221368732817655742022-12-27T17:30:00.002-08:002023-02-28T17:34:53.500-08:00On the Western Front (Part 5 - The Betrayal)<span style="font-size: medium;">Bayan and Ginjo returned to Al-Fitar’s camp carrying (with the help of the rescued prisoners) a substantial bounty of diverted supplies and valuable trade goods. Al-Fitar was grateful also to receive the gnolls’ record book, which would prove useful in settling accounts-- both with those merchants who had been robbed and also those merchants who had purchased stolen goods from the gnolls. And Al-Fitar was especially grateful, after a couple weeks had passed, that the stream of needed supplies once again flowed without impediment from Salt Springs to his camp.<br /><br />And then, about a week after this, Al-Fitar received a surprise visitor—Hiram Parth, the chief advisor to the Satrap of Salt Springs. Hiram had come to confirm the happy rumors that the savage gnolls had been destroyed and to reward the brave heroes for their victory. He congratulated Bayan and Ginjo and invited them to accompany him to Salt Springs. “His Wisdom would be most grateful also to receive any evidence you recovered that would document the full extent of the wicked crimes of these bestial creatures. And, I assure you, his gratitude would be expressed in form of great riches.”<br /><br />Ginjo, always wary, agreed, but instead of sleeping that night, he re-copied the gnolls’ records and left the second copy with Al-Fitar for safekeeping.<br /><br />And indeed, Ginjo’s wariness proved prescient. After several fine days of travel with Hiram and his guards, the travelers were ambushed in the Painted Canyon as they were crossing the ford. Groups of gnolls on either side of the canyon pelted the travelers with arrows and rocks while a group of hyenas blocked the way across the ford. Given that the attack started as soon as Hiram and his men crossed the river and the gnoll missiles only targeted Bayan, Ginjo, and their company, Bayan, fighting through the hyenas, loudly accused Hiram of betrayal.<br /><br />Ginjo, however, ordered a full retreat. Bayan saw the wisdom of his counsel and turned her horse, seeking to defend the retreat of the rest of the party. These efforts were challenged by the appearance of the gnolls’ shaman, who used his witchcraft to transfix Phubi in her saddle, preventing her from calling on the divine powers which had previously served them so well in their battles against the gnolls. Irak and Saw rallied to protect her and Ginjo guided her horse with his away from the ford. Minh and her sohei initiates demonstrated the great strength of their qi, deflecting many of the arrows raining down on them as they followed closely behind. Finally, Bayan, killed the pursuing hyenas and repelled the attack of two gnoll warriors who had found their way to the canyon floor.<br /><br />The party escaped the ambush point and the range of the gnoll archers; their horses easily outstripped the few gnolls warriors who dared pursue them. However, at this point, two of Hiram’s men galloped back across the ford, toward the party. Seeing them ride down and trample a gnoll warrior, they were allowed to reach Ginjo, whereupon they set upon him with their scimitars. Ginjo fought them off and with the help of Saw and Irak, killed the false allies. By this time, Hiram and his remaining guards had vanished, having dashed away in the direction of Salt Springs.<br /><br />The party did not pursue, but continued their flight away from the ambush site and in the direction of Al Fitar’s camp. After a mile of riding, they paused to give Phubi the chance to recover the use of her limbs and the power of speech. The party continued their return ride at a fast trot, stopping to camp only when darkness made it dangerous to ride on the uneven ground.<br /><br />Three days later, they reached Al-Fiter’s camp and shared the disappointing news.</span><br /> Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-61889763480121913592022-12-21T17:04:00.001-08:002023-02-28T17:35:24.044-08:00On the Western Front (Part 4 - The Prisoners)<span style="font-size: medium;">The company found a sheltered, defensible place, near a muddy pool in a gully shaded by trees. Within a few hours, Phubi recovered from the witchdoctor’s hex. Likewise, the sohei had tended to the minor wounds they had received in their skirmishes with the gnolls. Gin Jo and Bayan discussed what they had seen and concluded that the leaders of the gnoll band had been isolated in their towers and that the rest of band was poorly organized; they should mount another raid that afternoon before their enemies had a chance to recover. <br /><br />The company approached the settlement from the south, and once again made their way for the bridges, curious to see what the gnolls were doing to repair the damage. They encountered no resistance until they reached the bridge, whereupon teams of archers emerged from several tents at once. Finding the odds against them Ginjo ordered a retreat along the rim of the canyon, with instructions to regroup on the scrub-covered mountain where they’d been led by the nomads the day before. Bayan meanwhile, lingered to guard the retreat, trusting to her well-made armor to deflect the gnolls’ arrows. <br /><br />While the gnolls, by pure numbers, were successful in driving the company out of their village, they did so at great expense. Those who sought to cut-off the company’s escape were cut down and their fellows put to flight. In the ensuing chaos, a few human captives escaped from one of the huts and joined the company in escaping to the scrub-covered mountain. <br /><br />The company spent the night on mountain, taking turns watching for any attack by the gnolls and also keeping an eye on the rescued prisoners, who seemed to be exactly what they claimed to be. They were three men, dressed in rags, well-built, but poorly-nourished. Their hands and their unshod feet were calloused and bloody. They slept heavy and huddled closely together on the rocky ground. <br /><br />In the morning, the rescued captives shared their story. All three had worked as caravan drovers, captured by the gnolls in the past several weeks. The gnolls had attacked with ferocity and guile, targeting certain camels, and cutting them off from the rest of the caravan. They each believed that their own capture was a result only of having the misfortune of being near to the targeted cargo. But they knew that their fate, if they had not been rescued, would have been grim. None of the other slaves had been there more than a few months; those who weren’t worked death were intentionally sacrificed in the most gruesome ways imaginable. Likely they were planning a major sacrifice now, following the humiliation they had experienced at the hands of Ginjo and Bayan. “They told us that Red Mane was so powerful that even the human chiefs gave him tribute and no one would dare to try to rescue us.” <br /><br />When pressed, the captives said that, yes they had been visited once by a group wealthy humans, a well-armed caravan that came to purchase the goods stolen from others. One of the rescued captives, had been offered, along with two captive women, for the human men to take as slaves. “The merchants laughed, and said no because we were already ruined and would smell like gnoll.” <br /><br />After saying these words, the captive, whose name was Ahmed, settled the question that had been on everyone’s mind. He was afraid, and he longed to be reunited with his family, but he wanted to rescue the other captives or die trying. Impressed by his courage, Ginjo and Bayan agreed to lead a rescue attempt. <br /><br />They asked Ibrahim, the youngest of captives to stay behind on the mountain. If the rescue ended in disaster, there should be someone left who might be able to take the news back to Al-Fitar. <br /><br />With the advice of the captives, the company made a plan to enter the village from the south in late morning, when most of the gnolls were typically sleeping; they would approach with stealth if possible and use the huts as cover against archer fire. Once inside the village, the captives would lead the way to the two huts where the other captives were being held. The freed captives were eager to fight if necessary, and thus were provided with daggers. Ahmed offered that once the other captives were free, he would show the company where the stolen caravan goods were stored. <br /><br />The company entered the village according to plan. Phubi called on divine assistance in overcoming a sentry post on the edge of the village and they made their way into the village. They found the first of the two captive huts, and freed them from their bonds. The second captive hut was guarded by two gnolls. The first was killed, but the other escaped, and began raising the alarm. A fearsome howling arose from the towers. On the eastern tower, several archers emerged on the roof. From the western tower, multiple witchdoctors emerged and began chanting. <br /><br />Ginjo, Irak and Saw, together with the already freed captives, set about freeing the captives of the second hut, while Bayan and Minh led the other sohei in meeting the gnoll defense within the village. They charged a mob of javelin-armed gnolls with their swords drawn. With this charge, the mob of skirmishers were scattered like birds and Ginjo used this opportunity to reach the stoutly-built hut used to store the stolen trade goods. The gnolls on guard outside the storehouse abandoned their post and Saw battered the door open. <br /><br />Bayan and Minh contended with the gnolls’ efforts to re-group in the village, while avoiding any attacks from the towers. Isolated gnoll archers fired wild shots from the darkness of their huts, while several heavily-armored warriors made a steady approach. Minh ordered the sohei to retreat to the storage hut while she and Bayan fought the gnoll warriors. <br /><br />Minh and Bayan allowed the warriors to approach while backing away, picking their path carefully to keep out of sight of the gnolls in the towers. Minh stopped occasionally to shoot at the warriors with her crossbow from behind cover while Bayan, with her sword out, taunted them, daring one of them and then another, to try her. <br /><br />Finally one did. He was hit in the shoulder by a crossbow bolt, but kept charging only to be stabbed through the heart by Bayan’s sword. A second one charged and suffered a similar fate. And then the last three warriors charged at once. Bayan stayed light on her feet, slashing at one warrior and then another, luring a third to showing his back to Minh who shot him in the back. <br /><br />Ginjo called out from the storage hut. With the help of the freed captives, he had recovered a large amount of valuable trade goods, including several pairs of ridiculously elegant riding boots. It was now time to escape. Bayan rained a barrage of blows on the largest of the gnoll warriors attacking her, forcing him to the ground, and then turned and ran to join the rest of the company. Minh fired a last crossbow bolt and ran with her. The gnoll warriors did not pursue except to hurl their spears. One of the spears hit Bayan in the back; she tumbled, but it did not fully pierce her armor. Minh helped her to her feet and they followed Ginjo and leading the charge out of the village. They did not meet any sustained resistance. <br /><br />The company visited the scrubby mountain only long enough to retrieve Ibrahim and then made their way back toward the canyon road. The way was hard, especially for the weak and hungry captives, and they were forced to camp in the wilderness. <br /><br />Ginjo woke early the next morning and, allowing the other captives the benefit of a full night’s rest, examined the goods he’d recovered from the gnolls. There were weapons, medicine, and blocks of salt, as well as fine clothing and other luxuries. He also found a book, written in a mixture of bakemono and Ori, that seemed to record all of the goods that had been stolen and whether they had been claimed by Red Mane or sold to human merchants. For the goods that had been sold, the merchants were named and described. Ginjo studied this information carefully and shared it with Bayan, but none of the names or descriptions were familiar to either one of them. Nevertheless, they agreed that this information would be very valuable to Al-Fitar and that they should most definitely return to his camp rather than Salt Springs.</span>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-77925179746441672002022-12-14T17:01:00.001-08:002023-02-28T17:35:39.578-08:00On the Western Front (Part 3 - The Needles)<span style="font-size: medium;">Al-Fitar congratulated Bayan and Ginjo on their success in capturing the gnoll prisoners. The prisoners had little information to share except that their chief was named Red Mane and he had great power and that his revenge would be terrible.<br /><br />Despite this warning, there was no revenge. In the ensuing weeks, merchants arrived every day at Al-Fitar’s camp, bring much needed supplies. Al-Fitar could give his full attention to thwarting the invasion of the Master’s armies. His teams of skirmishers sabotages the Master’s juggernauts, and were always well-supplied with plenty of arrows, strong horses, and heart meals when they returned to camp. <br /><br />This happy situation was not to last. One night, a half-dead man crawled into camp in the middle of the night. He was a drover from a large caravan that had been carrying grain, weapons, and medicine; they had been victims of a gnoll attack less five leagues away. The attackers had killed or captured the rest of the caravan, and tossed him into a deep pit as a “joke.” All of the cargo had been stollen or destroyed. <br /><br />Bayan and Ginjo rallied their friends, and with Al-Fitar’s blessing, set out the next day. The journey was uneasy, but after two days of furtive travel, they encountered a group of nomads, who promised they could safely guide the party to Salt Spring. Their demands were reasonable and an agreement was soon reached. <br /><br />The next day, after learning that the adventurers were keen to end the gnoll menace, the nomads proposed a new destination. For an additional fee, they would show the way to The Needles—the rock formation that served as a fortress for Red Mane, the gnoll chieftain. Again, the fee proposed for this dangerous journey was very reasonable and the party agreed. <br /><br />After another day’s travel they reached the ford and from there the nomads followed the tributary stream into the mountains. They traveled all of that day and part of the next before starting their climb of a gently sloping mountain covered with scrub. Reaching a suitable height on this mountain, the nomads pointed into the distance, indicating a small canyon about a mile away. Two narrow buttes rose from the floor of the canyon, each capped with structures of red sandstone. With the nomads’ assistance, the party could see the rope bridge that connected the two natural towers to each other and the additional bridges that connect each butte to a village of about a dozen huts on the south rim of the canyon. In the village, movement could be detected—figures going between crude huts, some of these hits showing the smoke of cooking fires. <br /><br />Sensing that the party intended to raid the gnoll settlement, the nomads declared their refusal to be associated with such a plan and begged to be allowed enough time to remove themselves to a safe distance. The party agreed that they would not raid the gnolls until morning, giving the nomads several hours of daylight to escape. <br /><br />Ginjo and Bayan used their time to watch the village and settle upon a plan. They decided that their chief objective would be more information, while also disrupting the Red Mane’s authority within the village. With this objective, they would avoid combat if possible, instead seeking to destroy the bridges connecting the village on the rim to the two towers. They noted places where sentries were posted, and decided that rather than fighting or bluffing, they would simply try to avoid them. <br /><br />Early in the morning, the party descended from their lookout point and approached the village from the southwest, choosing a route by which huge boulder obscured them from the view of the inattentive sentries. The village was quiet and the huts were so closely packed together that the party was able to use them as cover as they moved toward the bridge. <br /><br />A very old gnoll warrior, decrepit, but also “decorated” (by gruesome trophies), emerged from his hut and began threatening them. Ginjo, who was fluent in bakemono, understood that the old gnoll was calling them slaves and ordering them back to work. Bayan responded by loading her sling and hurling a stone that hit the gnoll square in the forehead. A crowd of other gnolls warriors emerged from a nearby hut just as the old gnoll toppled to the ground. Cheering and jeering, they dashed to pick up his body and carry him back into their hut, fighting each other to see who could hold his head the highest. <br /><br />Shrugging off this bizarre display, the party continued their way to the first bridge. This one was surrounded by several crudely-carved wooden idols, but was otherwise unguarded. The ropes were severed and the bridge collapsed with large crash as it slammed against the butte on the opposite side and its planks tumbled into the ravine. The party moved along the rim to the next bridge. As they reached it, archers from the roof of the second tower began shooting at them. Irak and Saw returned fire and Phubi called our for divine assistance. Her prayers were answered; the rooftop gnolls were transfixed. However, as Ginjo and Saw completed their vandalism of the second bridge, a circle of gnoll witchdoctors emerged from the first tower. They cast a curse on Phubi; she was struck down, foaming at the mouth and unable to move. Terrified at the thought of harm coming to his niece, Ginjo ordered an immediate retreat. Saw lifted the transfixed Phubi and Ginjo led the charge due south out of the village. At the sentry post, the sentries, released a pair of hyenas to attack the party and fled. Bayan and Ginjo struck down the hyenas and the party completed their escape.</span>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-17809692776957334432022-12-07T16:49:00.001-08:002023-02-11T05:25:13.181-08:00On the Western Front (Part 2)<p> In Salt Spring, Bayan and Ginjo were granted an audience with the local satrap, His Wisdom, Pasha Hari Abubakka. The Pasha maintained Salt Spring as a secure oasis and caravanserai for merchants, and he "refused to tolerate" the disruption of essential trade routes by vicious bandits. He was particularly distressed by the bandits peculiar success in targeting caravans with the most valuable cargo. But he had many other affairs to attnd to . . .</p><p>He offered a reward for useful information and a more substantial reward for the heads of any malefactors. In the meantime, he offered the part a small suite of rooms in his palace and encouraged them to speak to his most trusted advisor and Salt Spring's minister for commerce, the merchant Hiram Parth.</p><p>Hiram Parth invited the party to tea at his house and showed them a hospitable afternoon but had little information to share. The bandits were a band of Gnolls, a type of bakemono or beastmen, that were larger than humans with hyena-like features. The party asked whether they could meet anyone who had survived a gnoll attack. Hiram agreed that was a useful idea and promised to do his best. "But you must remember, caravan workers are not stable, honorable men. They drift from one place to another, chasing money to feed their vices for the day, but with no thought for the future."</p><p>Over the next few days, the party lounged in the taverns of the caravanners quarter, making the acquaintances of guards and drovers. All had heard about the attacks in the Painted Canyon, agreeing that none would work that route unless they were paid premium wages. and that the ford was the most dangerous place on the route. But none offered first-hand information.</p><p>Within a few days, the Pasha, through a minor advisor, expressed his frustration with the party's tarrying in Salt Springs. And they did not have any new information from Hiram. So the party decided to head out and search for their own information in the Canyon.</p><p>Based on information they'd heard in Salt Sping, the party made their way to the ford, and then followed a tributary up into the hills south of the canyon. Along the way, Ginjo was able to find debris indicating that others had traveled before them though there was nothing to indicate whether the tracks and bits of charred wood and broken weapons had been discarded by gnolls or men.</p><p>In time, the party reached a high plateau and a well-traveled track. While making their camp along the track, the party was alerted by the sounds of excited yelling about a hundred yards away. This was a band of gnoll hunters, including several young. Gnoll archers fired a volley of arrows at the party while the most fearsome warriors brandished their long spears and charged, fanning out to cut off any escape.</p><p>But the party was more than prepared for this attack. Phubi invoked divine aid in thwarting the gnoll archers who were struck down to the ground. Bayan and Ginjo, along with the warrior monks met the attacks of the charging warriors and cut them down. The few survivors gathered their young and fled. The party allowed them to escape, but took several captives among the gnolls who had been wounded or struck down by Phubi's god. </p><p>What to do witht he captives? A reward had been promised in Salt Springs. Gin-jo and Bayan acknowledged to each other vague antipathy regarding both the Pasha and Hiram. Given this, and their reluctance to see their pitiful captive executed in exchange for a bounty, the party decided they should instead deliver the captives to Al-Fitar. </p>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-47168911993488144812022-12-03T15:39:00.047-08:002023-04-15T18:11:03.913-07:00On the Western Front (Part 1)<p><span style="font-size: medium;">On the Western Front, Al-Fitar was managing a successful guerrilla campaign to slow the advance of the Master's armies. And needing some help, he called on Bayan, protege of his friend Beatriss and Gin-Jo, a mysterious wanderer who had lived among the beastmen and learned their language and customs</span>. <a href="https://dndstuffedanimals.blogspot.com/2021/01/homecoming-part-9-finale-and-new.html">Playing D&D with Stuffed Animals: Homecoming Part 9 (Finale and a new beginning) (dndstuffedanimals.blogspot.com)</a></p><span style="font-size: medium;">There was a problem with his supply chain. For weeks, the armies of the Master had been slowly advancing toward the realms of Or; and for weeks Al-Fitar’s much smaller, more nimble forces had been harrying this advance, giving the people of Or time to harvest their crops, secure their possessions, and move their families to safety. Al-Fitar’s efforts, in turn, depended, in turn, on a relatively small corps of merchants who, often at risk of their lives, supplied Al-Fitar with provisions, weapons, and medicine. And it was this last category of item that was too often not getting through, too often getting “lost” in the Painted Canyon, a natural labyrinth of red sandstone, by which the merchant caravans made their way to Al-Fitar’s supply depot from Salt Springs, a prosperous oasis under the authority of the neutral Satrapy that had negotiated a private neutrality pact with the Master. Bandits, of course, were the most likely explanation, but it was strange that bandits would be so lucky in attacking the caravans with the most valuable cargo. Even more strange that these bandits wouldn’t seek to maximize their profit by selling their ill-gotten gains to Al-Fitar. (“Though perhaps my reputation for honor dissuades them.”) <br /><br />Al-Fitar would not give the Master an excuse to overrun Salt Springs by sending his soldiers to commandeer the depot or confront the Satrap. But he would encourage a small group of brave "civilians" who were concerned about the free flow of commercial activity to visit Salt Springs and offer to the Satrap whatever help he requested.</span><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Gin-Jo and Sukh had spent two years with the armies of Al-Fitar, ever since <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/4075392301871050958/2063437365995496251">escaping from the valley of the Hatukaan.</a> During that time, Gin-Jo had made the acquaintance of Bayan, being much impressed with her authoritative demeanor and martial skills. Sukh and Bayan, however for whatever reason found many points of disagreement, and developed a mutual dislike that made it difficult for them to be within each other's sight. As a result, Sukh declined the offer to participate in Al-Fitar's mission.</span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;">Gin-Jo, his niece Phubi, and Bayan, together with her friend Minh and a few sohei set out for Salt Springs. Thanks to the help of a group of nomads, they navigated the difficult trip through the Painted Canyon. They followed the course of a narrow river for three days, then camped at a ford where the river was joined by a major tributary. That night, they were awakened by a mysterious howling, which echoed through the canyon, obscuring its source. As soon as dawn broke, the travelers were ready to move on; pressing hard, they reached Salt Springs as the sun was setting.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-81467912850624364432022-12-01T16:09:00.008-08:002023-08-11T21:28:20.841-07:00Taking the Fight Home to the Master<p>After a short season of rest and a long season of starting
to set things in order within Banua and the lands of the Naran horde, Bo Jing
realized that he was approaching an important decision, and invited his closest
friends to join him in consultation regarding what to do about The Master. His invitation was answered by a diverse
number: Salt, Tetsukichi, Bangqiu, Hyamsam, and Nar Nuteng—though the warrior
maiden refused to participate when she learned that the outlandish sorceress (Salt) had also been included.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They all agreed that The Master was unrelenting in his
attacks on the Empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Defeating the
beastmen had not undone the damage they had done to the lands of the Five
Fires. Khazad Kala had been destroyed and the great of lake of Kala polluted with
ash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The lands once belonging to Nergui
horde had been scoured. The clans of the worm and eagle had also suffered
losses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the people of trees, based
on Bo Jing’s expedition had proved to be illusory allies at best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remnants of the beast cult lurked in tombs
and caves, sometimes attacking small clans and stealing lifestock. The proud
warriors of the Naran horde had stood up to the beastmen, but even Banua was in
need of rebuilding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Master’s armies,
based on what they had seen in Paranyama, would sweep through the Lands of the
Five Fires without serious impediment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But, based on Ryu’s research in the Monastery, they could
take the fight to The Master.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had
maps, information about his strange mountain kingdom and the “Temple of Death”
that lay at the heart of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they
could bypass his armies and engage him directly, they would likely
prevail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All chronicles escribed him as
godlike figure within his realm, with a lifetime that had already spanned
centuries, and no plan for succession, no system of government beyond his
personal edicts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bo-Jing asked Batu, a baghatur from the Worm Clan who had
joined his household, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to govern Banua in
his absence, exhorting him to call on the Khatun Narantsetseg for all matters
affecting the Naran horde, referring him to his own kinsmen for issues that would
affect the lands of the five fires, and advising that --if things became so
dire that he believed he should warn the governor of Blue City or the Emperor--
he should also send a messenger to Beatriss in Happy Valley.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Following the maps they’d discovered, the company traveled
north into the mountains that marked both the extent of the lands of the five
fires and the furthest reach of the Empire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was summer, and the mountain meadows provided for an easy journey
with moderate weather, an abundance of wild fruit and small game, and countless
streams of clean water, many brimming with fish. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">After nearly a month of travel, the Company reached Hunza,
the realm of The Master.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryu had warned
them, based on his research, that it would be a strange place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Master’s edicts prescribed modes of dress
and what people were allowed to eat and drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When to wake up and when to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No gods were worshipped as people were instructed to trust the Knowledge
of The Master in all things. The existence of other civilizations outside its
borders were barely acknowledged-- except as sources of dangerous
misinformation that could dissuade the weak-minded from trusting the
Knowledge—and, more practically as the places where the pursuit of Active
Defense Knowledge demanded a steady supply of sending food, ore, able-bodied
young men, and other resources.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">All of these things seemed very much true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, Hunza was not the miserable place
they imagined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people they met
recognized the Company as outsiders and congratulated them on finding their way
to the land of freedom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They shared food
and helpful information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conversations
often turned to informal exams regarding current Knowledge, with the most
Knowledge citizens instructing the half-ignorant who, in turn, instructed the
foreigners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While unusual, these
instructive conversations had a tone of levity about them made the Knowledge
seem more and more palatable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they
were alone, the Company made a point of reminding each other of their own
experiences with The Master and the horrible things that his armies had done.
And also how strange it was to hear people speak of their lost sons without any
bitterness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For as a rule, the pursuit
of Active Defense Knowledge seemed to be a lifeterm commitment.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As the Company moved from the fields and forests of Hunza into its larger settlements, their tour became more complicated. The citizens
were less friendly, and their questions about the Knowledge more like test with
real consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In was in a small,
orderly market town that the company first encountered Guardians of the
Knowledge, a group of men and women wearing layered robes whose questions were
less about The Knowledge and more about the company’s reasons for being
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where they came from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which way did they travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who sent them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bangqiu, relying on his magic ring was able to persuade the Guardians
that they were nothing more than lost travelers. The Guardians, still
skeptical, sent them to a House of Welcome.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After making a show of following the Guardians advice, the Company fled
the town and continued their travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They spent the rest of the day in the forest, and then traveled at
night, with Bangqiu and Hyamsam scouting the way in bird form.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Despite their best efforts, the party was surprised in camp
by a single young man, wearing a tattered and soiled Guardians robe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They know you’re here,” he said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They’ve been following you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you continue the way I think you’re
going, then you’re headed for an ambush.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">A tense conversation followed-- with deep distrust, tempered
by respect—on both sides. And in time, both sides admitted a common
understanding of the truth about the Master and Hunza.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And also a shared understanding of what to do
about it, but with one sticking point. “I want to be there when you kill
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to take me with you.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The young man’s name was Hu-Fei.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was clearly brave, and in a manner
capable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he carried no weapon and
seemed nearly incapable of using one.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Brave, generally capable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A good start. Also stubborn. That won the day. “Your old map won’t show
you the secret route to the Master’s Temple. I will.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Once they had accepted Hu-Fei’s help, the young man was
eager to gain their full acceptance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By
his “connections” in the towns, he was able to find them horses and provisions
that made their travel through Hunza feel like a pleasure jaunt once again. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">They allowed him to show them his secret route, which would
involve passing though a series of underground caverns and mountain
passes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entrance, he warned them,
was guarded by a group of die-hard soldiers, who had the unusual distinction of
being sent to fight in foreign lands and returned alive.<o:p></o:p></p>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-14896490174142906752022-11-27T08:22:00.005-08:002022-12-01T16:10:08.916-08:00The Unforgotten Monks of the Lead Coins (Part 4)<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">The next day, Bangqiu announced his plans to leave. But the
others prevailed, arguing that after another day’s rest, all would be fit to
travel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They stayed in the guest house
the entire day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the monks visited,
they asked about any strange occurrences in the night. Bo-Jing responded with
cold suspicion that soon turned to hostility. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monks confessed that the monastery was
“under a curse” and that the source seemed to be the disused blacksmith’s
shed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bo-Jing shrugged off this
explanation and asked to be left alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bangqiu, in secret, visited the blacksmith’s shed and found it to be
unnaturally cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He shared this
information with the others; all agreed that even with this verification of one
detail in the monks’ story, they were entitled to little trust.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">That night, the company barricaded all entrances to the
guest the house—the front door, the door to the chapel, and the secret passage
from the chapel to the main house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Several hours after dark, there was a loud banging from the front
door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peering from a window, Nekhil
spotted one of the horrible monsters that Bo-Jing had dueled in the chapel the
night before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reasoning that they were
much better prepared and had a clear advantage of numbers, they made a plan to
let the monster in and capture it, or failing that, kill it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bo-Jing stood back some distance from the door
and the other warriors prepared a gauntlet on either side of the entry
corridor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryu, Bangqiu, Salt stayed out
of sight but nearby and ready to help where needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bo-Jing gave the signal and Nekhil opened the
door, stepping out of the way as the monster rushed into the waiting spears and
swords.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was grievously wounded and
Bo-Jing readied to overpower it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But then there was a terrible shriek from another part of
the house, then another and another, and within moments, a small horde of
monsters attacked the company from all angles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bo-Jing left the wounded monster to Nekhil as he turned to face the new
enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their plan ruined, each of the
warriors was forced to fight for his own life, with Bo-Jing taking on two of
the monsters at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salt and Bangqiu
blasted the monsters with magic missiles and then retreated, goading several of
the monsters to pursue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having drawn the
monsters away from their companions, the two wu jen turned and blasted them
with their most potent and explosive magic, destroying them in a burst of fire
and steam.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The monsters’ numbers, cut in half, the warriors regrouped
and improved their tactics, fighting one or two monsters at a time in a narrow
part of the corridor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As one warrior
tired, Ryu pulled him (under protest) to safety as another took his place so
that Bo-Jing always had a companion to protect his weak side and to assist in
flanking the fearsome monsters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
fought with abandon, seemingly eager to kill or be killed with almost equal
measure, shrieking as they trampled over their fallen comrades.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Concluding that they were undead beings, Ryu
through a jar of holy water at them. It smashed on the stones, splashing water
on the monsters; the hems of their robes disintegrated and their flesh steamed
and burned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only then did the monsters
attempt to flee; the warriors pursued and cut them down.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">When the last monster fell, Bo-Jing staggered a few paces away
from the and sank to the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ryu
issued him healing droughts and bandaged his wounds with poultices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All had been slashed or bitten; they washed
themselves thoroughly. Ryu volunteered that he would stand guard the whole
night, and awaken the others at the first sign of any trouble.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The night passed without incident and, in the morning, the
two monks they’d gotten to know knocked at the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We hope no one was disturbed b the curse
last night.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bo Jing demanded that the monks produce some holy water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monks nodded, went away for several
minutes and returned with a brass bowl filled with water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With some amusement, they followed Bo-Jing’s
directions to dip their fingers in the bowl, then to pour someone their robes,
then to pour some on their feet, then to drink it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all of these demonstrations, the water
interacted with the monks in the same way that ordinary water would interact
with an ordinary person.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the water
was exhausted Bo-Jing thanked the monks and Salt explained that they had been
attacked in the night by undead monsters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And asked the monks if they could bring some more holy water to cleanse
the house.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile, upstairs, Ryu was performing a ritual to prepare
his own holy water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And by the time the
monks returned, each carrying a larger brass vessel, Ryu’s holy water was
ready.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He splashed the water on one of
the mons; he was affected the same way as the monsters in the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both monks ran away screaming and both were
killed by Bo-Jing and is warriors.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The company rested and were not disturbed by monks in the
day nor monsters at night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the next
few days, they explored the monastery, discovering that most of it had fallen
into disuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dormitory, the training
rooms, and the meditation room all showed signs of being inhabited by
bloodthirsty monsters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stable was
empty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The company’s poor horses had
been killed and mainly eaten.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There was also a library, seemingly untouched for many
years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Monks had lived there were
centuries and there had been good times and bad times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A time when one of the monks convinced the
others that he had achieved a greater enlightened, forever changing their
previously pure egalitarianism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more
recent chronicles described the debates about creating gold coins in order to
complete a special building project.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Many monks had left, but the abbot had reluctantly sided with the “gold”
faction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The project continued and was
completed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This seemed to be the time
that Gaansukh remembered from when he was a boy.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The need for labor brought in workers from far away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A group of these workers expressed an
interest in joining the order, and this seemed a natural decision to replace those
whom had departed during the debate over worldly riches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These new initiates showed a strange zeal far
outstripped their understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
displayed very unenlightened behavior, one night feasting on the cow that the
monks kept for milk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older monks slowly
departed, often without explanation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before long, the abbot lost control of the monastery, but nevertheless
remained, wanting to believe the new monks could benefit from better
instruction.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Because the chronicles made repeated references to a crypt,
company decided to search the monastery more thoroughly and discover what may
lay beneath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found a trapdoor in
the monks’ house that led to a network of tunnels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found an exit to the outside on the far
side of the ridge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They found a trapdoor
leading into the guesthouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
encountered and fought strange, tentacled vermin.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">And, in a little dungeon cell, they found an old man in
tattered robes, chained to the wall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
responded to the party with wary defiance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Though he answered Bo-Jing’s theological riddles with acuity, he refused
to answer any of their more temporal questions (“Who are you?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What’s down here?”) until he had been freed
and brought outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Relying on wisdom
he had garnered in the library, Bo-Jing agreed.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The old man blinked in late afternoon light and took a long
deep breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After receiving food and
water, he moved some distance away from the company, keeping them in sight
while also demanding that they come no closer.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The sun set, it became dark and cold and the old man broke
down in tears.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He called Bo-Jing and the
others to him, embracing them, ruffling their hair and kissing their
cheeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You are not monsters!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are not monsters!”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The next morning, the man explained that he was Rabban Bar Ṣawma,
the last abbot of the monks of the way of the light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But not the last monk!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There will be others, maybe one of you?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Though none of the company wished to enter the monastic
life, they heartily agreed to give him whatever material assistance he
needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The company stayed several more days, resting, and ensuring
that Rabban Ṣawma was safe. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He responded
well to daylight and fresh air; with every day he appeared a year younger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a couple weeks, they had no misgivings
about leaving him behind when they returned to Banua.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">As the company prepared to take their leave, Rabban Sawma
embraced each of them. In bidding farewell to Bo Jing, he pressed a coin into
his palm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bo Jing knew what it was, and
confirmed his intuition when he reached the bottom of the cliff. The reddish
gold coin of the King of the North.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
last of the four coins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the source
of the monks’ sudden wealth, some twenty years before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For it had the power to turn coins of lead—or
any other base metal into gold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Awed by
this power and with the lesson of the monks’ downfall in his mind, Bo Jing
resolved to conserve its power.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He would
live as he always did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when he
traveled, we would carry only lead coins, turning one or two into
gold as needed.<o:p></o:p></p>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-6584189806746885642022-10-01T13:24:00.002-07:002022-11-27T08:12:14.247-08:00The Unfortten Monks of the Lead Coins (Part 3)Banqiu, Salt, and Bo-Jing concluded unanimously and immediately that because the temple was forbidden to outsiders, they should explore it in secret. And because they all had the means to become invisible through the aid of magic, they decided they would explore it immediately, leaving their associates behind in the guest house. <br /><br />The temple gate was unlocked and unguarded. They passed through an overgrown garden where a monkey was chained to a small tree and into the towering structure of the temple itself. The floors squeaked under their feet, and they made their way hurriedly through the entryway and into the main altar room. <br /><br />Upon doing so, Bo-Jing realized that his friends had fallen under some kind of curse. They yelled out in confusion, and ran hurriedly through the temple room, bumping into pillars. The three monks in the room called out to them, asking them to show themselves. Bo-Jing said nothing, but followed his friends by their footsteps, and whispering their names when he got closer to them. <br /><br />The three invisible explorers, bumbled through the temple and its many side chambers, the monks following close behind. And then Bangqiu stumbled into the private chambers of the abbot, a room bedecked with a great number of wicked-looking idols, many of them stained with blood. Shocked by the horrific sight, he began to regain his senses and called out to Bo-Jing for assistance. Salt, likewise intuited that the monks franticly pursuing her were less trustworthy than the still invisible, but calm-voiced Bo-Jing. He promised that if she would hold onto him, he would lead her to safety. Risking the attention of the monks, he called out to Bangqiu in the strange tongue they had learned in Maztica, and made a plan to flee together. Dodging, the monks and the abbot, the three adventurers retraced their steps and ran out of the temple and back to the guesthouse. <br /><br />Back in the guest house, Bo-Jing removed his invisibility ring, and informed Ryu and the warriors what had happened. Ryu was able to perform an exorcism spell on Bangqiu. Bangqiu recovered his memory but was so exhausted that he retreated to his chambers to sleep. Bo-Jing ordered a guard and instructed Ryu to perform another exorcism. Ryu agreed, but he needed several hours to prepare the necessary incense and purify his own spirit. Salt, still unable to remember her name and history, nor able to stop being invisible, babbled to herself incessantly until Bo-Jing prepared her some rice. She ate greedily and then fell asleep. Nekhil announced that he would guard her while she slept. <br /><br />Not long before sundown, there was a knock at the door. Bo-Jing answered the knock. <br /><br />Two monks, the same pair they had met at the bottom of the stairs were standing there. They wanted to know if their guests were comfortable and if they were hungry. Bo-Jing replied that they were very comfortable and were preparing to retire early after having already eaten their own food. The monks shifted from one foot to the other and then asked if they heard anything strange coming from the temple. <br /><br />“The temple? Aren’t outsiders forbidden from the temple?” <br /><br />“Yes, but . . . there were some uninvited spirits there . . . and we want to make sure . . . maybe the spirits came to the guesthouse and have made your minds tired? Maybe we can help?” <br /><br />Bo-Jing assured the monks that they were only tired from their journey and he looked forward to talking to them in the morning. <br /><br />The monks wished Bo-Jing goodnight and departed. Bo-Jing closed the door, all but a crack. He watched the monks linger outside the door and then enter the guesthouse by another, previously obscured by a tattered banner and overgrown shrubbery. <br /><br />Bo-Jing called for Batzorig to accompany him; together, they into the door where the monks had entered. They found a small chapel, warmly lit with glowing candles and adorned in a manner similar to the guesthouse and the rest of the monastery. There was no sign of the monks. Bo-Jing examined the symbols and paintings in the chapel and was comforted to see that they resembled the iconography of the lead coins rather than the abbot’s private shrine. And although the chapel was under the same roof as the guest guesthouse, there was no apparent between it and the rest of the structure. <br /><br />Bo-Jing returned to his companions and decided to wake up Bangqiu. Still exhausted, the magician nevertheless understood that his special skills were required. Although he would need more rest to grasp his most powerful magic, he was eager to assist Bo-Jing in investigating the newly-discovered chapel. <br /><br />Working together, the companions discovered that in fact one of the paintings had a moveable panel about halfway up the wall. And sure enough, moving the panel did permit access to the guesthouse itself. While debating whether to pass through this secret door or rush back to the main entrance to warn the others, a solitary hooded figure entered the chapel from the exterior door. This proved not to be a monk, but a wild-haired, fanged monster who rushed at them to attack. Bo-Jing, relying on his magic boots, levitated to safety while Bo-Jing engaged the monster. The brave baghatur allowed the monster to back him into a corner; when the monster lunged at him, Bo-Jing, ducked out of the way and then spun on his heels and drew his sword, pointing it at the monster’s throat. The monster hesitated. In the flickering light of the candles, Bo-Jing confirmed that the monster’s robes were of the same style and fabric as the monks. Despite its fangs and bloodshot eyes, something in its expression reminded him of one of the monks he’d encountered in the temple. Bo-Jing repeated one of the mantras he’d learned from Gaansukh. “Where is your heart? Where is your treasure?” <br /><br />The monster snarled and lunged, impaling itself on the sword and slashing at Bo-JIngs face with its claws. Despite the horrific wound, it didn’t die. Licking Bo-Jing’s blood from its claws, it continued to attack with vigor. Bo-Jing stood his ground and cut with strength and precision. When Bo-Jing faltered for a moment, Bangqiu descended swiftly, striking the monster with the stone figurine of a dove. Bo-Jing recovered and, with a swift and mighty cut, severed one of the monster’s legs. It collapsed to the ground, and Bo-Jing next removed its head, finally killing it. Bo-Jing and Bangiu elected to go through the secret door and bar it from the inside. <br /><br />Bangqiu returned to sleep. Ryu meditated next to Salt. Bo-Jing and the warriors separated into two groups, and searched the entire guesthouse, confirming there neither monks nor monsters were hiding in any of the rooms, or in the garden. Only then they rested. Except for Nekhil, who stood guard the whole night.Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-78376670118026624372022-09-17T10:43:00.001-07:002022-09-17T10:43:14.466-07:00The Unforgotten Monks of the Lead Coins (Part 2)<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal">Salt and Bo Jing asked some questions in Banua and found an
old, grizzled man who claimed that indeed, the monks of the lead coins did
still live AND he knew where to find them.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Although they had some questions about their guide’s sanity,
Salt and Bo Jing agreed that they should follow their curiosity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bo-Jing asked Ryu and three of his most
trusted warriors to accompany him. Nekhil volunteered to join the party as Salt’s
bodyguard. Their mysterious friend Bangqiu told them he’d follow them from the
shadows and lend assistance if they got into danger.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The trip to the monastery was arduous, but uneventful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They moved beyond the grasslands where the Naran
horde grazed their animals into the barren lands and then the mountains
beyond.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They caught sight of the monastery
perched high on a cliff above and as they reached the steep cascade of broken
steps leading up to it, a pair of monks appeared to meet them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They gave warm greetings to the guide, who
introduced Salt and Bo-Jing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monks
expressed their gratitude at having visitors to interrupt their solitude. One
of the monks started to lead the party up the steps while the other lingered to
speak to the guide.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">On the way up the steps, Bo-Jing quizzed the monk about his
beliefs and soon became suspicious. Unlike the monks described by Gaansukh, who
pulled profound lessons from prosaic events, this man showed little interest or
ability in discussing the tenets of his faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rather than explain the remarkable carvings in the stone steps, the monk
stated they were “mysteries” whose meaning could only be explained to those who
were “ready.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The party passed through the gates of the monastery. Their
horses were taken to the stables and they were welcomed to the guest
house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though it was late in the day,
their guide would not stay with them, and hadn’t even followed them up the
stairs, but instead already started his return to the settled lands. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The monks told the party to make themselves at
home in the guest house and to feel free to explore the monastery—except for
the temple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was closed to the uninitiated.<o:p></o:p></p>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-37002871270658712912022-09-15T13:51:00.001-07:002022-09-15T13:51:00.154-07:00The Unforgotten Monks of the Lead Coins (Part 1)In the weeks following the expedition to the <strike>barrier peaks</strike> lands of the people of the trees, Bo-Jing’s mind turned to another mystery, that of the four coins, especially, the “fourth coin,” the lead medallion, he had found secreted in a cave, accompanied by a cryptic note: where your treasure is, your heart will be also. <br /><br />He consulted a few shamans, and learned that as recently as 10 years ago, such coins had been relatively commonplace—at least among wealthy merchants—for they were typically made of gold. Another visit to the shrine of Sum Sakhius brought additional guidance. Gaansukh first negotiated a trade—he had in his own possession a gold version of the coin and wanted Bo-Jing’s lead one. And, once the trade was accomplished, he explained why. <br /><br />As a boy, he had known monks from a mysterious brotherhood, who traded in lead coins. They refused to beg and whenever they found themselves with wealth or currency of any kind, they gave it away, saying “This is not of me or for me.” The lead medallions were “gifts” or “mementos” and they gave these away to anyone who gifted them—a warm bed, a sack of grain, a horse, a friendly greeting—any of these might be received as a gift.. “And I have something to share with you,” the monk would reply, producing a lead medallion marked with birds arranged around the four points of a compass. Most likely, no matter how cheap or valuable the thing they received, the monk would give only one of the cheap lead medallions—or “cross coins” as the people called them,. Gansukh himself once owned seven of the cross coins and, following the lessons of one keen-eyed monks could tell them apart based on irregularities in their casting and the way they’d worn over the years. <br /><br />Over time, the novelty wore off and traders demanded “real money” whenever the monks passed through, asking whether anyone had the heart to help them. Eventually, the monks were treated like criminals and strongly discouraged from entering Banua. <br /><br />But then one day, they reappeared, this time bearing cross coins made of gold. Rather than give them away, they used them just like currency, purchasing staple provisions, horses, tools, and building materials. Over times, they hired laborers while also buying more luxurious items and more and more building materials. They also repurchased the lead coins they distributed years before. <br /><br />Despite speculation, Gaansukh never heard a definitive answer on what the monks were working on. <br /><br />There was likewise speculation about what the monks were doing today. Not since the time of Gaansukh’s father had they been seen in Banua or anywhere else off the mountain ridge where their monastery was located. There was a half-crazy man who claimed to know how to find them, and who sometimes offered his services to merchants. But this man was very secretive and most assumed that he knew nothing about the monks, and was instead in league with a bandit of robbers. <br /><br />This mystery was part of why,,Gaansukh confessed, he had once encouraged Bo-Jing to pursue his tax-collection efforts to the mountains monks. “Not to set you before robbers, because I knew the Bolad people were honest, but because I wanted to believe the monks still live.”Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-41147544027637748352022-09-12T15:55:00.001-07:002022-09-12T15:55:00.161-07:00Expedition to the People of the Trees<p> Over the weeks that followed, Bo-Jing and Narantsetseg
received delegations from the Eagle and Worm clans, expressing gratitude,
congratulations, and a wish for on-going peace among their peoples, supported
by respect for the ancient borders.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bo-Jing asked about the People of the Trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The delegations from the Eagle and Worm clans
offered no other explanation except that the People of the Trees rarely
communicated with he other clans. Bo-Jing paid a visit to Gaansukh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gaansukh agreed, but with an important
clarification. Walking with Bo-Jing in a great circle around the walls of Sum Sakhius he shared his own theory. When he searched his own memory, Gaansukh failed to find
an incident when he had encountered a representative from the People of the
Trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t believe his father had
either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nor his grandfather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the stories about “all the clans” the
People of the Trees were never described.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No individuals were ever named.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His
father could describe the flavor of goat he ate in the low dark hall of the
Khan of the worm clan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remembering a
visit to the lands of the Eagle Clan, he and his retinue sometimes sang the welcoming
song of the young women who had rode out to meet them. Gaansukh stopped and
leaned against the stupa. “I cannot believe that anyone has ever entered the
lands of the People of the Trees or met those People, if there are any People
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And yet, even in this holy place,
when I say this, I feel . . . it is time to refresh ourselves with some tea.”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Hearing this strange stories, Bo-Jing resolved to visit the
lands of the People of the Trees and find out for himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted the company of Salt and his best
men, and also his bride. Hoping for a friendly welcome, they selected fine
clothes and gifts for their hosts.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The first part of the journey was agreeable as they passed
through the reunified Naran horde where the people where people were glad to
meet their new Khan and Khatun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
evidence of the beastmen’s depredations remained, these reminders of recent
horrors strengthened their resolve to create a better future and to honor their
lost loved ones with a spirit of cheer and generosity. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">But as the travelers approached the border, they were
overcome by feelings of loneliness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In
the evenings, there were no welcoming fires, and the travelers were forced to
make their own camp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Each morning,
Bo-Jing, even as he set his horse toward the forest on the still-distant
horizon, he looked back wistfully at the sunny grasslands where they would be
gratefully received by his own people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the day when they rode down a slight slope toward the trees, Ryu
asked out loud, “Tell us again, what is our mission here?”<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bo-Jing could not answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The horses slowed to a walk and then stopped to graze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone dismounted to stretch out in the
grass. Except Narantsetseg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
dismounting, she walked toward the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Bo-Jing, Batzorig, and Salt tentatively followed after her; the others
hesitated for a moment, but the hurried after them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They heard the horses starting to trot
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Zhang and Gan-Wei were ordered
back to guard them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest pressed
into the forest, all of them except Narantsetseg nearly overcome by an
unnatural mix of apathy and panic. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In time they came to a clearing and encountered those who
might be the People of the Trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
were more like trees than people— their skin was a range of greenish hues, some
more yellow, some more brown, and the smaller ones being the color of a spring
leaf.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In their vine-like fingers, they
wielded crude spears and axes-- their jagged metal blades fixed with wire. With
these weapons they had brought down a deer and were now butchering it into
quarters.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bo-Jing shouted a friendly greeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dozen or so treepeople turned their faces
toward him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their heads were like
vegetables, with tiny pits for eyes and mouths that were deeper holes
surrounded by root-like tendrils.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
treepeople returned Bo-Jing’s greeting, all speaking at once in voices that
were too far from human speech to be duplicated, much less understand.
Nevertheless, they made it evident that they were happy to see Bo-Jing and his
companions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using the butt ends of their
spears they pointed out a path out of the clearing and urged the humans to
accompany them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The green treepeople led
the way and the others followed behind the party, encouraging them to press on.
The deer carcass was forgotten.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">It was late afternoon when they came to a rocky hillside
where erosion had exposed two doors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
was at ground level, a gate of shiny metal, firmly closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other, about 30 yards up the side of the hill,
was open; a soft light glowed evenly from within.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The party was guided by the treepeople up the
hillside to the open door. The space inside oddly-furnished; all surfaces were
sheathed in gleaming metal and a material like polished ivory or bone. Beyond
the brightly-lit entry way, wide corridors led into darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the smaller treepeople disappeared down
one hallway, the party was urged forwards with some urgency and even
aggression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Bo-Jing, who was
leading the party, hesitated, large treeperson with brownish purple splotches
prodded him forcefully with a spear butt, sending him flying into a pit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The party, perhaps relieved to have their
suspicions confirmed, defended themselves with full force. Salt killed the
treeman closest to her with a barrage of magic missiles, giving her space to
flee from the edge of the pit. Gan Yul and the other warriors drew their swords
and hacked down the stalky flesh of the treepeople, sending them into a full
retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Salt would not allow them to
escape and with a blast of steam reduced them to a green puply mass.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Bo-Jing meanwhile had fallen over fifty feet, and landed in
a bright room filled with hulking animal-like creatures made of metal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though badly injured in his fall, Bo-Jing
raised himself up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Noticing handles on
the side of the pit, he began to climb back up. In the course of his climb, he
was amazed by many strange sights including an extensive garden filled with
plants he had never seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also on the
way back up, he was ambushed by another treeman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The creature’s spear failed to penetrate his
armor and Bo-Jing grabbed hold of the weapon to push the treeman off the ladder
and into the pit. By the time Bo-Jing reached the top of the pit, the rest of
the party had overcome their attackers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ryu and Narantsetseg tended to Bo-Jing’s wounds while Salt and Ryu
surveyed their surroundings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door to
the outside had been closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looking
down the corridor in which the treepeople had fled, they could see light in the
distance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another corridor led into
darkness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The corridors were lined with
closed metal doors.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The party elected to go down the dark corridor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They encountered and fought a smaller group
of treepeople.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of their number
carried three vividly colored cards, made of an odd material, durable like
bone, but more pliable than wood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using
these cards, they were able to open one of the closed doors and then close it
from the inside.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The room was softly-lit and luxurious furnished with metal
tables, brightly-dyed carpets, and leather settees. Exhausted by their
experiences, the party collapsed into sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only Narantsetseg had the prescene of mind to stay awake, asking her
brother to watch with her for anything that might try to open the door or make
use of any unseen entrances.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Several hours passed without any incident, except for the
gradual brightening of the light, which seemed to emanate from the very air.
When everyone had rested, the party decided to further explore the strange
structure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were assaulted by other
strange creatures including black lions with spiky tentacles growing out of
their shoulders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they found the central
lair of the treepeople—a series of small rooms filled with rotting animal
corpses on which very small treepeople were feeding. They fought and won
another large battle with treepeople warriors and hunters and recovered more of
the strange cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, by the chance,
the party returned to the door by which they had first been herded into the
treepeople’s home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was open and,
outside it was daytime. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though
fascinated by the strange place they had discovered, the party realized that
they were likely to discover many more dangerous creatures within and that the
treepeople might number easily number in the hundreds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though they had overcome the previous vague
sense of dread, they understood that unless they took this opportunity to
escape, they would likely be killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Therefore, they left the city of the People of the Trees and passed
through the forests to the comfort of the sunny grasslands of Naran.<o:p></o:p></p>Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-66058668202714268612022-09-10T15:52:00.001-07:002022-09-10T15:52:00.180-07:00The Most Fortunate KhatunBo Jing led a triumphant but weary, slow march back to Banua. Alert as always, but relaxed, he let his horse choose its pace, with the others following. The air was fresh with the hint of coming spring. <br /><br />Towards evening, the party noticed the glow of campfires among a large cluster of yurts. Approaching, they heard singing and laughter and smiled at each other, wondering if the people of the Bolad horde knew what good reason they had to celebrate. Zhang was wary but Batzorig urged his companions onwards. “I know the song they are singing from my earliest days. These are not howling beastmen, but good people, enjoying their birthright. And with our news, we will be most welcome surprise guests!” <br /><br />But it was the guests who were most surprised. The feast was sumptuous, the music unending, the hosts most richly arrayed and the guests fully expected. The high host was a man in bright green clothes. He accompanied the musicians on a fiddle, danced with all the women, and joked with all the men. He was the King of the East. This feast was to celebrate his daughter Narantsetseg and perhaps to honor Bo-Jing as his son-in-law? <br /><br />Bo-Jing married Narantsetseg and the feast continued over several nights and days. Each night, the King of the East asked one of Bo-Jing’s companions to re-tell the story of how they had come to the lands of the Cradle of Humanity (“that is the old name of what you call the Valley of Fires, four, five, six, how many fires?”) and their campaign against the Beastmen and defeat of their evil leader. And one evening, when he was talking to Bo-Jing next to a low fire, he asked, “I think you have something that belongs to me?” <br /><br />And so Bo-Jing gave up another of the four coins, this time to one whose face matched that of the coin and the King responded with deep gratitude. “You have shown me that you are brave, honorable, and generous. All who meet you will see this in your face.” <br /><br />The King restored Narantsetseg’s hearing and gave his blessing to Batzorig, thanking him for his kindness as her elder brother, and forgiving him for any unfortunate incidents along the way. He gave gifts of gold, fine new clothes and a suit of armor for Bo-Jing’s flying steed.<br /><br />And so the heroes returned to Banua, coming from a feast instead of a battle. The attacks on the city had ended, and scouting parties had found no signs of bestmen for several days. And so the people of Banua, accepted Bo-Jing’s good news with satisfaction and also prepared to celebrate. There were several days of joyful gatherings, but the songs were bittersweet for the losses had been great. <br /><br />Gaansukh opened the palace and set Bo-Jing upon his council chair. He was ready to retire. He had done his best to protect his people, but his failures were many and the rain of forgiveness does not fall inside a palace. He would go with a few of his closest advisors to the shrine at Sum Sakhius. <br /><br />The people would select their Khan, but Bo-Jing had loved them as a tax collector, he had re-united the Naran horde, he had defeated their enemy. “Do you know I was once suspicious of you? But you are a man of bravery, honor, and generosity. And now I see it on your very face!” <br /><br />And so the people of Bolad and Nergui, reunited as the Bolad horde, called on Bo-Jing to be their Khan. The Emperor summoned Bo-Jing to Khanbaliq to recognize his khanship. He asked Bo-Jing to pledge his loyalty and named him protector of the Barrier Peaks. As long as Bo-Jing and the Naran would protect the Empire’s border, they would pay no Imperial taxes.Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4075392301871050958.post-88088780474365679522022-09-08T15:45:00.005-07:002022-09-08T15:45:48.067-07:00The Most Unfortunate Khatun: Part 3Bo-Jing was an expert tracker and the beastmen who had captured Narantsetseg made no effort to cover their tracks. For three days, the heroes and their warbands pursued the beastmen, arriving at a dense and swampy thicket at the northern limit of the Naran domain. Leaving the warbands to guard their retreat, the crafty leaders, Tetsukichi and Bo-Jing, together with the powerful sorcerers Bangqiu, Hyamsam, and Salt, and a small number of other trusted companions, made their way into the thicket. This was a fulsome place; the thorny branches of the hedges torn at their arms and ankles, the mud stank of death, and the air rose in a thick, reddish mist.<br /><br />They fought several small groups of beastmen before reaching the center of the thicket, and the site of a horrifying ritual. Surrounded by over a hundred beastmen and other disgusting monsters, there Narantsetseg, chained to a black altar, with a man in black robes looming over her, holding a knife aloft. The sky swirled in a blood-red vortex. The man chanted, together with three witches, and the horde of beastmen echoed their chanting. As they chanted, the horrible blue-black statue of a horned man seemed to glow from within. <br /><br />The heroes stayed a safe distance away and made a plan. The sorcerers made Tetsukichi and Bo-Jing invisible. The Mustapha created the illusion of an attacking force from the other side of the thicket. The beastmen attacked the illusionary invaders, while the black-robed man and witches continued their ritual. Bo-Jing’s henchmen pelted the beastmen with arrows as they closed with the illusionary force. Bo-Jing surprised the man I the black robes, dealing him several grievous blows; Tetsukichi guarded Bo-jing’s flank, holding the three witches at bay. The black-robed man tried to continue the ritual while dodging Bo-Jing’s flashing swords. The witches were of little help as they were being blasted by magic missiles from Salt, Hyamsam and Bangqiu. When two of the witches fell, Tetsukichi turned to assist Bo-Jing in his fight against the black-robed man. The wretched servant of evil fell to a flurry of sword strokes. <br /><br />Within moments a green-golden wind swept over the thicket, dispersing the red clouds and vaporizing the beastmen in a flash of blinding fire. By the time Bo-Jing regained his senses, he found Narantsetseg free of her chains and safe in his arms.Brian (brian_cooper at hotmail d o t com)http://www.blogger.com/profile/02805168206752602148noreply@blogger.com0