The Curse of the Crimson Reprieve: Nyng Again

Salt and Bangqiu—both in hippopotamus form—pulled the boat upriver for several hours. When the spell ended, Salt, drained from the effort, withdrew to her magical pocket apartment to rest.

It was then that Hyamsam made one of his infamous entrances. Like Bangqiu, Hyamsam is a magician who drifts at the party’s periphery—unseen or shapeshifted until the moment feels just right (or wrong). Today, he appeared when they needed him.

The boat reached a structure carved into the river: the Dragon Gate. The party hesitated, debating whether to go around or over, but Hyamsam urged them to simply pass through. They did.

Next, the river brought them to a waterfall, where a large gong rested at the base. While others debated, Hyamsam took initiative again—striking the gong. In response, a squat stone statue descended a flight of crumbling stairs and offered to carry their boats up the falls—for a price.

Bo-Jing haggled, trying to minimize the cost despite his wealth. Bangqiu, more pragmatic, paid most of the toll, not wanting to inspire resentment in one entrusted with such a task. Captain Hu, impressed, quietly promised Bangqiu the Crimson Reprieve—should the curse be lifted.

At the top of the falls, they continued upstream. The river split, winding through brackish and silty islands. There they encountered a strange figure—bandaged, blind, and singing eerily about “The Barrel.” He paddled alone in a small boat and claimed to know Bangqiu and Bo-Jing.

Bangqiu, unsettled, responded with a blast of scalding steam. The figure spilled into the river—only to reappear minutes later as three identical forms, closing in from three sides. The party quickly destroyed the undead attackers.

Then a disembodied voice greeted them. Nyng.

To remind them who he was, Nyng conjured a lavish illusion. The party watched as a younger Bangqiu, seven years earlier, destroyed Nyng aboard a ghost ship. They saw themselves looting the spectral vessel—claiming strange treasures, including a mirror, a set of instruments that could guide a ship to the stars, and a jar of dark sludge. Bo-Jing and Bangqiu reconsidered once more, what they might have had.

Nyng’s voice told them the opportunity wasn’t lost. Not yet. But first, he had to find something. He couldn’t say what it was—not because he didn’t know, but because a geas prevented him.

The party deduced he was referring to his horcrux—the object once inside the jar Shoji had thrown into the sea. Nyng had recovered it once, but lost it again. It now lay somewhere at the river’s bottom.

While Nyng pled his case, Bangqiu turned invisible and took to the air, searching. Hyamsam, despite being able to detect invisibility, turned into a parrot and took flight himself.

Nyng pressed harder: help him find his horcrux, and the door to the stars would open. Bo-Jing agreed to help—later.Nyng disagreed. His voice turned cold: You will help me now.

Bo-Jing resisted the magical compulsion. Bangqiu spotted the invisible Nyng and responded with magic missiles. Once again, Nyng died.

The boat passed through another magical gate and entered a marshy stretch of river—close, Captain Hu said, to the spot where he had thrown overboard the girl named Youshi.

Against the Bear People

 

Having defeated the Master—and destroyed the older, darker force that birthed him—the heroes of Zhou Dang lingered in triumph at Hosadas’s palace. The Master’s minions had scattered, hauling away what treasure they could carry, yet leaving behind more than enough food, drink, and comforts for their conquerors. The party traded travel-stained garb for new finery, slept in warm beds, and debated whether conquest obliged them to rule.

• Bo Jing – young khan, imperial agent, skilled swordsman
• Bangqiu – mercurial wu-jen, master of destructive spells
• Salt – Mongolian udgan, shaman with natural attunement
• Tetsukichi – disciplined warrior from Zipang, adopted by the Sansar clan
• Hyamsam – unpredictable magician, sometimes ally

Even without seeking it, power gravitated to them: former attendants of the Master now pledged fealty to Bangqiu, Bo Jing, Tetsukichi—or even to Salt, who wanted nothing of dominion. Among the obsequious courtiers, four stood out as valuable allies:

• Sahir, a wizard who had feigned loyalty only to pursue magical knowledge.
• Nagar Ahmar, a carpenter who survived by playing the fool, gaining access to storerooms.
• Zhak Shi, a vengeful wanderer who had lost his family to the Master’s cruelties.
• Hu-Fei, who had led them from Hunza’s heartland to the secret valley where the Master had built his citadel.

With their counsel, who had pledged loyalty to Tetsukichi, the party turned to the testimonies of Hunza’s farmers. These laborers, once promised “enlightenment” through endless toil, knew the land best. They spoke of the northern frontier, where rice paddies met dark forests haunted by savage cave-dwellers. These raiders—primitive yet deadly—kept no herds, sowed no fields, and struck the farms with terrifying ferocity. The Master had driven them back once, posting patrols of Red Robes to enforce an uneasy truce. But since his fall, the raids had grown bolder, threatening even the heartland of Hunza.

Zhak Shi had walked those patrols. He remembered their totems hidden in trees, their arrows striking unseen, and a fire glowing behind a waterfall at the mountains’ edge. Now, with raids unchecked, the new rulers faced a choice: to leave the savages to their own realm, or strike them in their lair. The heroes chose the latter—and even summoned Hyamsam to join them.

---

Into the Caverns of the Bear People

Zhak Shi guided them west, then north, along ridges above the forest, until they found the river that plunged as the waterfall concealing the raiders’ den. Behind it lay a vast cavern and a tunnel flanked by crude statues of wide-mouthed women. When Nekhil strode forward, lightning leapt between the figures, scorching but not killing him. 

Bangqiu and Hyamsam transformed themselves into small birds and tried to fly past the statues. They, too was struck by lightning, but shook off the pain and flew deeper into the cave. 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. 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. The men dropped to the floor, their torches extinguished. Bangiqu and Hyamsam dashed up the slope and examined their still steaming bodies. Each carried a leather pouch containing a few polished greenish gray stones.

Experimentation revealed that greenish-gray stones, taken from slain warriors, could be fed into the statues’ mouths to permit safe passage.

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. But when Bo Jig removed the bar and pushed it open, the door squeaked loudly. 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.

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. 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.

They wandered into a large cavern, the floor slick with guano and the foul air almost unbreathable. 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 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.

Hyamsam, using his magic to conceal himself from being seen or heard, climbed through the fissure and into the room.

The party watched the men closely and silently, waiting for any sign that they had detected Hyamsam.

While the rest of the party was watching Hyamsam, Salt, ever wary heard the noise of someone creeping up behind them; without asking any questions, she turned and blasted the approaching figure with boiling steam—only to discover she had slain a lone woman.

The sound alerted the bear-men. Bangqiu attacked them with magic missiles and Bo-Jing charged in with his sword, followed by the other warriors. The bearmen barely had time to stand before they all been cut down.

Salt, fearing that she had overreacted, inspected the body of the woman she had killed and found that she had snakes 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. 

From his position beyond the fissure, Hyamsam reported that he had found a large corridor that led back to the entrance. What now?

Though their incursion was devastating, the caverns proved too vast to conquer in a single push. Hungry, tired, and unwilling to risk rest in such a place, the heroes withdrew. They returned to Hosadas’s palace alive and unscathed, having slain many of the raiders and penetrated deep into their lair without alerting the tribe.

It was not yet victory, but it was a show of strength. The caverns of the bear-people remained—a lurking threat. Yet for now, the heroes returned secure in their dominion over Hunza, their claim bolstered by both triumph and fear.. The sound alerted the bear-men. Bangqiu blasted them with magic missiles and  Bo-Jing charged in with his word, followed by the other warriors.  The bearmen barely had time to stand before they all been cut down.

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.  Hyamsam reported that the large corridor led back to the entrance.

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.  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.

Taking the Fight Home to the Master

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.

They all agreed that The Master was unrelenting in his attacks on the Empire.  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.  The lands once belonging to Nergui horde had been scoured. The clans of the worm and eagle had also suffered losses.  And the people of trees, based on Bo Jing’s expedition had proved to be illusory allies at best.  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.  The Master’s armies, based on what they had seen in Paranyama, would sweep through the Lands of the Five Fires without serious impediment.

But, based on Ryu’s research in the Monastery, they could take the fight to The Master.  They had maps, information about his strange mountain kingdom and the “Temple of Death” that lay at the heart of it.  If they could bypass his armies and engage him directly, they would likely prevail.  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.

Bo-Jing asked Batu, a baghatur from the Worm Clan who had joined his household,  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.

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.  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.

After nearly a month of travel, the Company reached Hunza, the realm of The Master.  Ryu had warned them, based on his research, that it would be a strange place.  The Master’s edicts prescribed modes of dress and what people were allowed to eat and drink.  When to wake up and when to sleep.  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.

All of these things seemed very much true.  And yet, Hunza was not the miserable place they imagined.  The people they met recognized the Company as outsiders and congratulated them on finding their way to the land of freedom.  They shared food and helpful information.  Conversations often turned to informal exams regarding current Knowledge, with the most Knowledge citizens instructing the half-ignorant who, in turn, instructed the foreigners.  While unusual, these instructive conversations had a tone of levity about them made the Knowledge seem more and more palatable.  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.  For as a rule, the pursuit of Active Defense Knowledge seemed to be a lifeterm commitment.

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.  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.  Where they came from.  Which way did they travel.  Who sent them.

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.  After making a show of following the Guardians advice, the Company fled the town and continued their travel.  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.

Despite their best efforts, the party was surprised in camp by a single young man, wearing a tattered and soiled Guardians robe.  “They know you’re here,” he said.  “They’ve been following you.  And if you continue the way I think you’re going, then you’re headed for an ambush.”

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.  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.  You have to take me with you.”

The young man’s name was Hu-Fei.  He was clearly brave, and in a manner capable.  But he carried no weapon and seemed nearly incapable of using one.

Brave, generally capable.  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.”

Once they had accepted Hu-Fei’s help, the young man was eager to gain their full acceptance.  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.

They allowed him to show them his secret route, which would involve passing though a series of underground caverns and mountain passes.  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.

The Most Unfortunate Khatun Part 2 - Naransetseng's decision

The following day, Bo-Jing, Tetsukichi, Salt, and Bangqiu met with the surviving leaders of the Eagle Clan and learned the full measure of the disaster that had befallen their people. During the Master's invasion, a large war band of beastmen, accompanied by giants, had broken away from the main host to ravage the Eagle lands. They stormed the clan's ancestral hall, slew the khan and many of his household, and drove the survivors into exile. Though the stronghold itself held little military value, it had become the center from which the raiders continued to terrorize the surrounding countryside.

The companions concluded that they could not safely continue toward Khanbaliq while such a threat remained at their backs. Together with the Eagle Clan, they devised a plan. The combined horsemen of the Bolad Horde, the Sansar Horde, and the Eagle Clan would protect one another while a small company of trusted warriors infiltrated the occupied hall, struck down its leaders, and freed whatever captives could still be saved. Naransetseng remained with her brother Batzorig under the protection of the allied camp.

Guided by Eagle Clan scouts, the companions reached the occupied stronghold without raising the alarm. They silently dispatched the sentries at the gate before slipping deeper into the hall. Concealed by magic, Bangqiu and Bo-Jing entered the great feast hall, where the giants celebrated amid the plunder of the Eagle lands. There Bo-Jing employed the Coin of the East to sow confusion among their enemies while Bangqiu imprisoned the gathering within a ring of fire. As the giants turned upon one another in panic and rage, Tetsukichi led the remaining warriors in a swift assault that shattered their resistance.

The companions then pressed into the council chamber, where the giant chieftain and his captains were making plans for further raids. Once again, deception, sorcery, and disciplined swordsmanship proved decisive. Before the night had ended, the chieftain lay dead, his household destroyed, and the dungeons beneath the hall had been opened. Several dozen prisoners, long believed lost, were restored to freedom.

Believing the danger past, the companions escorted the rescued captives to safety and made camp a short distance from the ruined hall. At first light they rejoined the Eagle Clan, expecting to celebrate a hard-won victory.

Instead they found tragedy.

Two nights after the companions had departed on their assault, the allied camp had been discovered by one of the Master's sinister flying deer. 

Before dawn, hundreds of beastmen descended upon the camp. Batzorig and the warriors of the Bolad Horde prepared to die defending Naransetseng, but she refused to purchase her own safety with the lives of others. While the fighting raged around her brother's tent, she slipped away unnoticed and surrendered herself to the beastmen.

Batzorig, grievously wounded after holding the attackers at bay, believed only that the enemy had suddenly abandoned the assault. He staggered into his tent and collapsed from exhaustion. Only with the coming of morning did he discover that Naransetseng was gone, and understand the terrible choice she had made.

Siege of Banua Day 2

At dawn, watchers on Banua’s towers saw the enemy encampments stirring. Beastmen began withdrawing, marching westward toward a long ridge. Despite their rout the night before, they still outnumbered the defenders three to one. Strangely quiet and efficient in their movements, they no longer resembled an undisciplined horde. It was as if an alien intelligence had assumed command.

Sensing deception, Bangqiu and Salt cloaked themselves in invisibility and set off to scout. Skirting around yetis scavenging the battlefield, the two magicians crept to the ridge’s crest—where they beheld a disturbing sight: the beastmen were clustered around a deep pit, excavating with inhuman speed. Lines of them marched out carrying dirt. Something was tunneling toward Banua—fast.

Among the monstrous laborers stood a solitary human in black armor. Without hesitation, Bangqiu and Salt unleashed a barrage of magic missiles, driving him into his tent. To compound the chaos, Bangqiu summoned a stone wall and dropped it across the mouth of the tunnel. Then, taking the form of an owl, he flew back to Banua. Salt, cloaked and cautious, made her way back on foot.

That night, few slept. Red flashes lit the sky. The ground trembled. Rumors raced: the well water tasted wrong. People heard screams beyond the ridge.

Before dawn, watchmen saw movement: beastmen advancing again—this time with giants and juggernauts.

Ganbaatar organized the defense. Armed soldiers manned the battlements. Citizens were herded into the inner barracks.

Then, the earth split.

Right beneath the inner gate, a colossal claw burst through the ground, ripping stone and earth apart. The gate crumbled. Up rose a monstrous, red-eyed badger—taller than two men, its snout dripping with hunger. It lunged. A slash of its claws cleaved a soldier in half. Its jaws snapped a horse’s spine.

Soldiers fled. The beast pursued, killing, devouring.

Then came Bo-Jing. With him stood his henchmen, also Nar-Nuteng, and all of the bravest warriors of Banua. Long spears drove into the beast’s flanks. Arrows peppered its back. At first, it seemed unstoppable. But a spear found its underbelly. It halted. Bo-Jing leapt forward, slashing deep into its face. Nar-Nuteng struck beneath its foreleg. Surrounded and bleeding from every side, the beast collapsed—its death shaking the earth again.

But chaos reigned.

Beastmen had scattered into Banua, setting fires, slaying unarmed townsfolk, killing livestock. The juggernauts arrived next—three immense engines of war—rolling toward the outer gate. With the city’s defenders drawn inward, the gates fell. The juggernauts rolled into Banua.

But the magicians were ready.

Bangqiu, Hyamsam, and Salt struck the wheels of the lead juggernaut with fireballs and magic missiles. Flames erupted. The behemoth veered, tumbling into the pit torn open by the badger. The others crashed in behind.

Still, the beastmen pressed toward the marketplace—toward the tents of the Nergui refugees. Arrows rained down from the rooftops, but the monsters moved from tent to tent, slaughtering the defenseless.

Then Bo-Jing and Nar-Nuteng returned.

Rallying Banua’s remaining warriors, they charged. This time, the beastmen broke. Driven into a corner of the marketplace, they were caught, surrounded, and destroyed.

Siege of Banua Day 1

As the sun went down, the people of Banua feared an attack from the besieging horde outside. Beyond the walls, bonfires blazed, and gusts of wind carried the sounds of aggressive chants punctuated by screaming; in certain parts of the city, a deep rumbling in the ground shook the tent poles. The sky flashed red with fire to illuminate the forms of giant flying lizards. When the horde charged, the archers of Banua were ready. Arrows rained down on the onslaught of beastmen, trolls, and yetis. Still the monsters pressed in a crazed fury, many with multiple arrows embedded in their flesh. Pondering behind the hordes of beastmen was an enormous wagon with an iron head. Arrows bounced off it harmlessly. Beastmen who stumbled before it were crushed underneath its thick, spiked wheels. As it reached the gates of Banua, the town’s defenders began to pelt it with stones. These missiles barely damaged the juggernaut, and did nothing to slow its progress. When it reached the entrance to the town, it began to rock back and forth, ramming its iron-shod head against the wooden gates. Bo Jing directed the defenders to direct their fire at the beastmen who were scaling Banua’s walls.

Bo Jing called on the power of the Coin of East to freeze the wheels of the juggernaut. He and his henchmen joined the defenders in killing the attacking beastmen; their bodies began to pile up at the foot of the walls. Once the beastmen’s onslaught was neutralized, the defenders resumed their efforts to destroy the incapacitated juggernaut. The strongest men attacked it from above, casting down huge stones and barrels of flaming oil. At this moment, Bo Jing received word of another attack in another part of the town. Dragons had descended from the clouds into the midst of the crowded mass of yurts behind the Khan’s palace. They were devouring people and setting fire to their homes.

Bo Jing and his men, rallied the most capable of Banua’s defenders and dashed to the rear of the town to confront the dragons. There were two fearsome beasts, surrounded by burning wreckage. Bangqiu and Salt, from the safety of the Khan’s palace, blasted one of the dragons with magic missiles. Enraged, it took wing, flying toward them. Bo Jing and his men to attack the second dragon, striking it from all sides with swords and spears. The dragon thrashed from side to side, desperate to seize and devour a hapless spearman. But Bo Jing, with astounding bravery and quickness, stayed at the dragon’s head, slashing at its eyes and mouth, denying it the opportunity to strike. The dragon weakened and Bo-Jing saw his opportunity. He rushed toward it, feinted to the left and, as the dragon went to the right, dashed past its open maw and slashed its throat with his long sharp sword. Black blood gushed out and the dragon died. The flying dragon, meanwhile, had made itself a target for archers throughout the town. Pierced with many arrows, it floundered and crashed to the ground, never to rise.

The Taxman Part 9: Meeting the Rivals

 Back in Banua, Ganbaatar had good news for Bo Jing.  The people of the Bolad horde, having heard that the Imperial Agent had drivn off the bandits and killed the yetis that were attacking the fire camp, were paying their taxes with minimal grumbling.  Ganbaater asked Bo Jing about his success in searching for the lost coins.  Bo Jing was clumsily evasive but Ganbaatar didn't press the matter.

Bo Jing and his companions spent a few weeks in Banua, waiting out a blizzard and a cold snap, and then decided to go to Kuzhu Kala so that  they could return Narantsetseg's necklace. On the way there, they found the remains of several large campfires.  By investigating one of these sites, they found a discarded brass badge of a distinctive design.  Beatrsiss and Bo-Jing both recognized it as part of the uniform of the armies of the "Master" whom they had fought in the Sind desert.  The next evening as they were seeking a suitable place to make their own campsite, they heard the noise of a large gathering and as they cautiously approached heard snatches of songs in the voices of the bestial bakemono, possibly amasssed in large numbers.  They circumvented the sounds of the enemy camp and rode onward through the dark, Beatriss leading the way.

After another dya of travel, the party reached Kuzhu Kala and found a place to stay in one of the yurts outside the walls. Soon, they learned that Gansukh was entertaining a pair of mysterious visitors, foreign sorcerers whose descriptions made them instantly recognizable as Bangqiu and Hyamsam.  Rumors hinted that Gansukh had hired them to find something and that he was very disappointed with the news of their progress.

Beatriss and Bo-Jing decided that  even if their friends had become their rivals, they were friends first and might need assistance.  They entered the town just as the gates were closing and went to the yurt of Gansukh.  A cataclysm of emotions erupted over the Khan's face as Bo-Jing came into his presence, holding the Khanum's favorite necklace.  Caught in the midst of a red-faced red directed at Hyamsam and Bangqiu, GanSukh looked ready to draw his sword when he heard Bo Jing's greeting-- until he caught sight of his necklace.  The color drained from his face and he smiled weakly.  "Oh, where did you find that?"

Gansukh was saved from further embarrassment by his wife's excitement at seeing her necklace.  Gansukh sent her and the other women away as his soldiers crowded in.  Bo-Jing and Beatriss learned, as they expected that Bangqiu and Hyamsam had found a coin and that they were refusing to turn it over to Ganuskh in exchange for the reward he was offering of several thousand tael.  A long argument ensued in which Bo-Jing revealed that he too had a coin. Beatriss told Gansukh about the threat posed by the Master and offered her services in fighting off his advance.  Bangqiu nodded, avowing that he too would help protect the lands of his host but would not relinquish the coin. With nothing else to offer, Gansukh became threatening.  The coin rightfully belonged to him and he would take it by any means required.  If the sorcerers refused his gifts of wealth and prestige that was no matter.  Beatriss and Bangqiu agreed that they were ready to fight if necessary, but that Bangqiu should first try his charm magic.  Because it was clear that Gansukh had become an enemy.

Bangqiu sat down and stared at his hands as if considering Gansukh's offer.   Then he looked up without standing and said, "I think you are a good friend and have made an interesting offer.  I only wish to think about it over night.  Let us retire with our friends outside the walls so that we can see the wisdom of your offer."

To everyone's surprise, Gansukh agreed.  He ordered his soldiers to make way for the visitors to leave his tent and gave the order for the gates to be opened.  Once outside, the reunited friends rode into the cold night, headed towards Banua.

Friends?  And still rivals.  Bangqiu told Hyamsam and Bo-Jing that they should both give him their coins, that he was the most powerful member of the party and that he was the best suited to unlocked the combined power of holding all four coins.

The Taxman's Rivals

In Khuzu Kala, Gansukh’s henchman Batzorig made quiet inquiries among the shamans, foreigner sorcerers, and wanderer, seeking adventurers for a special quest. Among those who answered the call was Bangqiu and Hyamsam, magicians from the far south who, since arriving in the lands of the Five Fires had developed reputations for eccentric behavior and awesome powers.

As soon as he appeared before Gansukh, Hyamsam proclaimed that the Emperor had sent him North to search for the magic orbs. There was a significant language barrier. The translator asked Hyamsam several times what he meant by an orb and received a different answer each time.

The next day, Hyamsam returned to the tent of Gansukh, this time accompanied by Bangqiu. Hyamsam had prepared for himself a special draught that allowed him to understand the language of his hosts, even while he continued to pretend ignorance. Listening to their side conversations, he learned they were looking for coins. He and Bangiqu explained that in their language orbs and coins were the same thing. The continued misunderstanding allowed all parties to believe they had come to an agreement. Gansukh explained that an Imperial agent and his well-armed warriors along with a pale-skinned woman warrior, was searching the valley for magical treasure, having entered the holy ground under the pretext of burying their fallen comrades. If the foreign magicians could discover what they had found or where they were searching, Gansukh would be very glad to receive the information. Bangqiu and Hyamsam were introduced to several local shaman who would accompany them into the Valley of the Five Fires and to the burial mound where they might pick up the trail of Bo-Jing and Beatriss.

The sorcerers spent a night at the Nergui fire, where they repaid thinly-veiled insinuations about their masculinity with insouciant displays of their magical powers-- and then retired early. The next day they descended into the valley and across the plains. The next day they found the burial mound and a pair of wolves pawing at the fresh graves. Hyamsam assisted the wolves in exhuming the bodies and stripped one of his burial armor, leaving the corpse for the wolves. And when the wolves slinked off, each dragging a warrior’s leg, Hyamsam followed at a safe distance. When the wolves reached a cave, Hyamsam announced his intention to follow them. When a shaman produced a glowing rock to use as a light source, Hyamsam took rock and told the shaman to wait outside. Reaching the mouth of the cave, Hyamsam, found the wolves crouched just inside, gnawing on warrior femurs and looking territorial. Even more territorial were the 12-foot tall men dressed in animal skins. Hyamsam blasted the group with a cloud of hot steam. The wolves were killed, but the giants melted into wall, ony to appear a few second later. By this time, however, Hyamsam had made himself invisible and the shaman was retreating to rejoin the rest of the party. The giants gave chase and Hyamsam used this opportunity to venture into the cave. Following a trickle of water, he ventured deep into the cave until he found himself on the shore of a large pool of warm, swirling water.

Outside the cave, the shamans and outlaws repelled the giants; the giants to their cave.

Back inside the cave, Hyamsam stripped down and dove into the pool. The glowing rock provide great visibility under water and he found that the gentle whirpool was created by a natural drain in the middle of the pool Re-surfacing for a moment to take a great gulp of air, Hyamsam dove back under and into the drain, following the submerged tunnel for a some distance. Though half-afraid of running out of air, Hyamsam kept pushing until he reached the end of the tunnel, and re-surfaced in a small cave. There was a coin there, pure gold and with a white tint. He took the coin and immediately sensed a number of new powers, among them the ability to see in the dark.

Hyamssam swam back through the underwater tunnel and then out of the cave. He kept the glowing rock in his pocket and brought it out when he met the giants; by throwing it into a distant corner, he distracted them long enough to run outside. That night, after dinner, while the others were settling into sleep, Hyamsam told Bangqiu about the coin.

Master of the Desert Nomads Part 7: Disrupting the Master

 Based on their experience with the so-called "Master," Beatriss and Tetsukichi realized their own adopted homeland was in danger.  Without believing that the Master could pose a serious threat to the Imperial Khan, he could bring misery and destruction to the people of the Zhou Empire, very likely beginning with the Happy Valley.  They asked their proteges Bayan and Timur to accompany Al-Fitar in his efforts to rally defense of his father's lands to the best.  But Beatriss, Tetsukichi, along Hyamsam, Bangqiu, and Bo Jing collectively decided to go east.

On this occasion, the journey home was nearly as trying as the journey out.  The Master's armies seemed to attract strange and terrible monsters-- a multi-headed lizard buried in a pit, a lizard made of flames that emerged from their own campfire.  But they were truly horrified when they reached the Asada River and the ruined village of Pramayama.  A huge contingent of the Master's army was encamped along the banks.  The river was the only thing blocking them from the most peaceful region of Zhou.  And that army, was busy building a bridge to bring their supplies and siege engines across the river.

Thanks to the magic of Hyamsam, Bangqiu,a nd Mustapha, evading the army was easy enough, but as they pressed on they encountered a horrifying advance party of giants, trolls, harpies, gnolls, a fire sorceress, and bloodthirsty barbarians.  The defenders of Zhou determined that this was not just a raiding party, but scouts, seeking the pass by which the army would invade.  In a first skirmish, several of Kafka's archers were killed and the most powerful raiders escaped.

The homelanders regrouped.  Bangqiu took to the sky and found a short cut; the defenders pushed ahead, and sought a place where they wanted to stage a battle.  They chose a high hill on the edge of a plain where they expected the raiders to pass.  Bangqiu approached the raiders invisibly.  The archers started the attack, firing from the top of the hill.  Most of their arrows fell harmlessly among the well-protected raiders who responded by charging the hill.  Mustapha created a troop of illusionary skeletons at the bottom of the hill, giving the raiders what looked  like an easy target.  The fire sorceress made the mistake of identifying herself.  Before she could cause any damage the defenders on the hill, Bangqiu blasted her with a barrage of magic missiles.  He then reverted to bird form to escape the giants and flew back to the hill.

As the raiders reached the hill, the defenders created a wall of fire, trapping them at the base.  As the harpies approached, the archers shot them down from the sky.  The raider's ground troops were divided, with half trapped by flames as the trolls and barbarians circled around the hill.  The powerful fire giant happily waded through the fire and bounded up the hill.  Hyamsam blasted him with a cloud of steam and Kafka finished him off.  Meanwhile, Bo Jing singlehandedly killed one of the trolls with his fiery sword.  As the raiders fell victim to their own homicidal urges at the hands of the calm, well-organized defenders, Tetsukichi noticed that the human leaders of the band were hanging back.  He and Bangqiu led a group down the hill to make sure none of the raiders escaped.  They were successful.

The defenders pressed on toward the Happy Valley, stopping periodically to ensure that they weren't being followed.  There were no raiders in sight.  They reached the Happy Valley and quietly prepared their troops for a possible attack.  None came.  Invisible Victory.

Master of the Desert Nomads Part 5: Lost and Found

Meanwhile, Beatriss, Hyamsam, and Temur had little difficulty finding the Salt Swamp. After parting ways with Kalashar, they pointed their horses north and after a few hours saw the white flash on the desert before them, comparable to a mirage that stretched along the horizon. As they drew closer, they were nearly overcome by a brilliance in which the horizon virtually disappeared. Everyone used their cloaks to shield their eyes and those of their horses. Beatriss covered her own sensitive eyes and face completely.

Towards nightfall, the soft desert sand gave way to salt crystals that crackled loudly under their horses’ hooves. There was a pungent smell and unfamiliar birdcalls. Beatriss unwrapped her face and stared into the swamp, but saw nothing alive. They decided to camp and make plans in the morning. Ju-Mei refused to sleep and spent the night softly chanting and burning incense.

They woke early and in the morning light were happily surprised to find a long, flat-bottomed boat, painted a bright sky blue. Hyamsam elected to guard the horses on shore, along with the soldiers of Fitar. Beatriss, Temur, Ju-Mei, and Naron rowed the boat into the swamp.

Ju-Mai sat in the prow of the boat while the others paddled. This was the place of his nightmares. He urged his comrades to paddle and push forward, guiding them through a maze of strange trees and salt-encrusted mudflats with uncanny confidence. As night fell he did not waver, and continued chanting, until he suddenly interrupting himself, “There!”

Ahead of them they saw a flickering light. Soon they heard moans mixed with shouting, mixed with incoherent babbling.

Ju-Mei chanted in a low whispered and directed his companions to pilot the boat toward the light and the voices . . .

-------

For those in hut, the whispers from the darkness seemed to be drawing closer. In time, Bangqiu noted something moving through the water. Those who were fully coherent looked forward to a direct confrontation with whatever had been tormenting them. Al-Fitar loaded his crossbow. Tetsukichi stood on the dock with his sword. Bayan tried to rally the sohei and soldiers. Bangqiu strained his eyes against the darkness, seeking a target for a blast of magic missiles. The shape moving through the water glided into a patch of unobscured moonlight. It was a moved, filled with several people. One of them stood up. “Bangqiu! We found you!” It was Beatriss. At once, the whispers rose to a single loud chant of several voices. The people in the hut responded with a deep sigh and rushed toward their friends in the boat, some clambering down the ladder, others jumping down onto the dock or even into the shallow water. Bayan guided the catatonic soldier down the ladder. By the time he reached the boat, he was sobbing but fully alert. Ju-Mei, while continuing to chant, lit candles and hurled them into the hut and on the dock. Once everyone was safely on the boat, Naron and Temur turned it around and those who were able helped to push and paddle it away from the swamp. Ju-Mei ordered that no one should look back at the hut. “If you cannot move the boat forward, pray with me! If you cannot pray, close your eyes and sleep! If you cannot close your eyes, stare up into the sky!”

Amidst the darkness, there was no way to measure their progress. In time, morning broke and far ahead of them, through the screen of reeds and sickly trees, they saw solid land, and the figure of their friend Hyamsam waving and shouting encouragement.

Master of the Desert Nomads Part 3: Ju-Mei's Fortuitous Nightmare

Meanwhile, back in the Happy Valley, Ju-Mei was troubled by strange visions; he convinced Beatriss that her friends were in danger and that she should go their aid. Tetsukichi’s protégé, Temur was glad for an opportunity to prove himself by coming to the aid of his master. And the always unpredictable Hyamsam agreed to accompany them.

Beatriss, Hyamsam, and Temur (leading a few soldiers from Fitar’s army who had remained in the Happy Valley) reached Pramayama to find that both their friends and the army had already departed. A few stragglers explained that Tetsukichi had traveled up river by boat while the army had ventured overland. Based on warning from Ju-Mei, Beatriss decided that they would take the overland route. All were mounted, with at least one spare horse, and they made good time, following the tracks of the army of Fitar.

After about a week of travel, the party spotted a large encampment. Beatriss and Temur discussed whether this would be soldiers from the army of Fitar, enemy soldiers, or someone else. Hyamsam volunteered to investigate while the others found places to hide on a rocky ridge. He became invisible and approached the encampment, making a beeline for the largest and most elaborate tent. Spotting a pair of guards just outside the entrance of the tent and hearing voices inside, Hyamsam found a place outside where he could listen to the conversation. To his happy surprise, they were speaking Findi, his own native tongue. They were two men, a merchant named a Kalashar and his assistant, discussing what sounded like a familiar debate—whether the way ahead of them was becoming too dangerous. As other merchants had been frightened off by stories of attacks by savage bandits and monsters—or simply never returned, the money available to those still willing to travel the “Dark Northern Mountain Way” seemed too good to pass up. Anyway, it would never do to back out on this contract with an army. Nevertheless, this time would be the last time for sure.

Hyamsam returned to share the news. Merchants sounded harmless enough, but which army were they supplying? Beatriss and Temur had found a small cave to spend the night. Better sleep on it rather than make a rash decision unnecessarily.

But then the party heard the sound of hoofbeats from the other side of the ridge. A large group of horsemen were gathering and seemed to be planning an attack on the merchant caravan. Hyamsam demanded that his friends assist him in protecting the merchants; Beatriss and Temur agreed that it was the only honorable course of action. They led their horses quietly down the ridge and then rode quickly toward the merchant camp. When challenged by a guard, Beatriss answered that she has a warning for Kalashar, that the camp was in danger. The guards asked the party to dismount and then led them into the camp.

Kalashar was surprised at the news but had little time to question it. They all felt the ground shake with the sound of pounding hoofbeats. Kalashar called for his guards and their captain, Khel, who sent his men to four defensive positions. Beatriss and Hyamsam joined the guards in front of Kalashar’s tent. Temur, plus Fitar’s soldiers took a position with a group of archers at the front of the caravan.

The attackers proved to be bandits—brutal in their tactics, but most intent in making off with camels and cargo. With a magic blast of steam, Hyamsam broke the charge of the fiercest bandits who had attacked Kalshar’s tent directly. Beatriss and her henchmen dispatched the others of this charge. At the front of the column, bandits from behind rocks and guards from behind a wagon, exchanged missile fire. Temur broke the impasse, leading a group of Fitar’s soldiers in a swift flank attack on the surprised archers. When the heroes of the Happy Valley turned their attention to the other parts of the battle, they found the caravan guards in a bad way, overwhelmed by sheer numbers. But when the bandits saw the magician and the warrior woman coming, they took what they could and fled. Beatriss decided that they should not pursue them, but instead stay and help the wounded. Roughly a third of the caravan guards, plus several drovers had been killed in the battle. Nevertheless, Kalshar thanked the strangers for their help, fully realizing that he too would have been killed if it weren’t their surprise assistance.

The party traveled with Kalashar for several days. He cautioned them against exploring the Salt Swamp, advising them that few who ventured within ever returned. “Centuries ago, a terrible witch lived there. She made men mad and devoured their minds. Nothing good lives there now.”

These warning echoed the dreams that troubled Ju-Mei and reinforced the party’s commitment to rescue their friends. The day came when it was time for the party to part ways with Kalshar. He indicated the way he was headed, pointing out rough mountains to the west and a dark spot before them that he said was an oasis. “We will rest there for a few days. If any mortals can venture into the Salt Swamp and return, it would be the ones who stand before me now. May we meet again.”

The Way Back Interlude - Bald Island, Spring Island, Bone Island

The Binggongchang needed maintenance after its long voyages. Bangqiu determined that the fishing village of Nokori-Fodo offered adequate supplies and know-how. In addition, a couple of the sohei were native to Zipang and knew the town by name and its reputation.

In the meantime, Hyamsam and Bo Jing decided to explore the many small islands visible from the town. They were most intrigued by stories about Bone Island, rumored to be either haunted by ghosts or the home of savage cannibals. More accessible was Bald Island, known for its dome of smooth granite, but also boasting acres of fertile farmland, fertilized by the seabirds that roosted up on the rock. Bayan and Hyamsam, along Peerapat and Ryu, one of the Zipangese made the short trip to Bald Island and encountered the farmers who made the daily trip from the mainland to tend their rice crops. The farmers were extremely wary at first and made preparations to leave almost as soon as the visitors arrived. But Hyamsam, using a mixture of magic and clownery convinced them that he meant no harm. The farmers explained that there was a group of bandits who had a hideout on the island. As harvest time was approaching, they expected that the bandits would demand their tribute. Bo Jing and Hyamsam agreed that they would protect the farmers.

After a few weeks, when the first of the crops approached optimal harvest time, the four defenders asked the farmers to leave them on the island overnight. Hyamsam made himself invisible and waited outside the small cave that the bandits were known to use as a hideout. When the bandit appeared, it was by boat. They came ashore on the far side of the island, but rather than go to their cave, seemed to be approaching the flat area where the farmers grew their crops. Hyamsam followed them. Though he was invisible and the possible bandits were nosiy, he was even more noisy. When he tripped on a rock, they stopped and called out. "Show yourself! Do-Hai!" When Hyamsam spoke, they became more alarmed. They continued to demand that he show himself and refused to answer his questions. Hyasam claimed that he was Do-Hai's little brother.

"We never heard about you!"

"That's because he thinks I'm dead."

The men began whispering to each other and then returned to their boat and rowed away from the island.

Hyamsam and Bo Jing continued to stake-out the island for a few more nights, but the men did not return. The farmers harvested the crops they had cultivated.

About a week later, Hyamsam and Bo Jing returned to their quest to find Bone Island, this time joined by Bayan and Bangqiu. They set out one morning for Spring Island, the "other" island visible from Nokori-Fodo. After landing, they climbed to the top of the nearest hill and from there they could see most of the island. Most notably, one the other side of the island, they saw signs of habitation, including smoke from cooking fires and crops growing in a level space between two hills. They made their way down one hill, toward the center of the island, and crossed through a forest. On the other side, they met five men, heavily tattooed, dressed in skins, and wearing long beards. The men pointed their spears at the newcomers and, in a strange language accompanied by familiar gestures, demanded to know their business.

Ryu spoke for the group. He was able to greet the men in their own language. They softened enough to speak to him in Zipang-- and declared that they did not want visitors. Bayan produced a couple gold coins, souvenirs from Maztica, and asked the men whether they knew of Bone Island. The men allowed that they did and noted that they were five and the coins were two. Bayan added three more coins. One of the men pointed due west, while another pointed at the way the party had come and then swung his spear in a sunwise motion. Ryu explained. "It's west. But they demand that we return the way we came and go around."

The party agreed. Except that the magicians-- Hyamsam and Bangqiu had become invisible. After some whispered arguing-- which did not please the men of Spring Island-- Bayan and the others agreed to go back to the boat. Bangqiu and Hyamsam continued their conversation. The men, looking ill-at-ease, started up the ill. Bangqiu assumed the form of a bird (still invisible) to get a better vantage point while Hyamsam trudged up the hill. As a bird, Bangqiu was able to get a closer look at the Spring Islanders village, but also noted that one of the men was laying in wait for Hyamsam. The other men seemed to be raising an alarm.

When Hyamsam, kicking up dust, passed by the place where the man was hiding, he leaped out, stabbing wildly at the ground. Hyamsam stumbled on the unsteady ground, flattening, the grass but before the man could take advantage of this information, Bangqiu landed on the his shoulder and screeched. Startled and terrified, the man swatted Bangqiu off his shoulder and ran up the hill. Bangqiu and Hyamsam agreed that they should get back to the boat.

The party, reunited, circled around Spring Island and then sailed west. Soon they saw the outline of land, and in time, noted a tall, rocky island, its upper heights, bare of vegetation and indeed looking something like a skull. Before they could make landing, they were attacked by blood-sucking birds. In the confusion, Bangqiu got stabbed (he looked like a bird himself at the time). The party landed and encountered an animated skeleton. Ryu raised his holy symbol and drove it away. After a quick conference, the party decided they had indeed found Bone Island and that they return another day when they were well-rested and hadn't stabbed each other.

Another day never came. Bangqiu finished making repairs to the ship and the time came to leave Zipang and sail to Zhou Deng. The voyage to the port of Heng-shai was easy. After making their reports to imperial port officials, Bayan announced her intention to return to Beatriss's stronghold at Happy Valley and invited her fellow voyagers to join her. All except Shoji accepted.

The Way Back 1 (Return of the Blind Captain I)

The explorers, with Saradin’s assistance, climbed out of the pyramid, and drew untainted clean air into their cramped lungs, and then rinsed their mouths with long pulls from their waterskins. Still thirsty, they searched for water, Bo Jing leading the way toward the stream he remembered splashing through when being chased to the pyramid. They found the stream, but its flow was reduced to a trickle, the surface coated with a fine layer of ash. They drank half-heartedly and surveyed their surroundings, noting that the vegetation looked dry. They sky was hazy. They discussed their next move. Unanimously, home.

For Rhialle, Maztica was everything he remembered and worse. These people had risked their lives to bring him home; his home then should be with them. “I am not ungrateful, but . . .”

Bangqiu assured him that he would be glad for his support in whatever future adventures he pursued, starting with the voyage back to Oa.

And so the explorers set off through the untracked jungle to find their ship. Traveling due west they came to edge of a steep-sided valley where they encountered many mysteries: a monkey wearing a feathered hat, a cacophony of birds feasting on a panicked mass of snakes and birds and insects, a stone altar strewn with flowers and a twist of paper with a prayer for rain.

Strangest of all, they met Mai-Thi, the sohei who had been left in charge of the boat. She wore the simple smock of a Maztica woman and greeted them without surprise, advising them that the valley was a place of peace that she did not want to leave. “However, if you desire to continue your lives of meaningless striving, do not stop, even to sleep. If you meet any of the people who live here, you must not harm or threaten them in any way.”

Bayan was dubious, but did not argue. Marching through the night, they crossed the valley and climbed up the other side by morning, finding themselves on a high ridge overlooking a misty sea. From the ridge, they found a path that led down to the cove and, hopefully their ship, where they’d left it anchored. Hopefully, but not actually. Just open ocean. They climbed back up to the top of the cliff for a better view. It was midday, the fog had lifted, and the Binggongchang was visible, anchored much further out, beyond sight of the cove. But it was there. So they marched down to the cove once more and spent the rest of the day cutting trees to build rafts, and then camped on the beach.

The next morning, they set to the tasks of assembling the felled tree trunks into something that could carry them out to the Binggongchang. But they hadn’t been working for long when Hayam spotted a boat—the landing boat from the Binggongchang.

Shu Yin, one of the sohei, piloted the boat together with four other sohei and explained that he “had a good feeling I would find my master today.” Shu Yin, it turned out, had been selected by general consensus to lead the sohei in Kafka’s absence after Mai-Thi went crazy. Went crazy? Strange things had happened on the ship in Kafka’s long absence—

Long absence? Oh, there was so much to explain, and it was difficult to talk and pilot he boat at the same time.

As they drew closer to the Binggongchang, it became more and more apparent that much had changed. Gleaming metal objects had been attached to the railing. Golden wires were strung from the prow to the stern. “I have made some changes,” Shu Yin explained, “and I hope you like them.”

Once on board, Shu Yin became increasingly animated in expressing his excitement about how the Binggongchang had been enhanced. The objects nailed to the railings turned out to be the “oddly-formed metal shapes” retrieved from the ghost ship. At the nexus of the gold wire (which they had also taken from the ghost ship) there was a chair. And Shu Yin asked Bangqiu to please sit in the chair so that he could demonstrate the ship’s new capacity. Bangqiu refused. Hyamsam expressed interest, but the others restrained him. Sharp words were exchanged and at last Shu Yin retreated to his cabin.

Bayan, Bangqiu, Bo Jing, and Hyamsam began asking questions of the sohei on deck, most of whom seemed to be preparing the Binggongchang to set sail, with some conducting both typical nautical duties like checking lines while others polished the strange metal instruments or plucked at the gold wires. Those who could be exchanged in conversation said contradictory things, especially when it came to explaining Mai-Thi’s disappearance.

At some point, a group of shei went to the captain’s cabin and knocked on the door. Not long after, a figure emerged, dressed in a monk’s robes, but with his face wrapped in bandages, just like the captain of the ghost ship. By his bearing and at last his voice, they knew they were dealing with a familiar adversary. And he was accompanied by eight more just like him. In a strange chorus, they commanded Hyamsam to sit in the chair at the center of the wires. Hyamsam refused. Bangqiu wanted to know what would happen.

“We will sail to the stars.”

Bayan refused to discuss the matter further. She attacked with her katana and was joined by Kafka, Rhialle, and several of the sohei, who seemed to have been waiting for just this opportunity. The blind man’s many doubles proved to be illusions, but he showed himself to be a formidable opponent in his own right. His frightful voice struck several party members into paralysis—Bo Jing, Bangqiu, Bayan, and Shoji were unable to move. Most of the sohei found themselves too frightened by the blind man’s presence to attack him directly, but could only attack his illusions. He focused his magic on the party’s most powerful henchmen—Kafka, Sing-ha, Rhialle, and Damai were all overcome by powerful illusions. The blindman continued to plead with Hyamsam to try sitting in the chair, even as Hyamsam blasted him with missiles.

Bangqiu silently called upon Sarandon for help again, and help appeared in a pillar of flame. Bangqiu and the others were freed from their curses. The blindman fled to the Captain’s cabin. Damai and Bangqiu chased after him. While Damai battered the door down, Banqiu prepared a spell. As the door burst open, Banqiu saw the blindman standing with one foot out the cabin window. Not giving him a change to speak, Bangqiu blasted him with magic missiles. He burst into flame; the bandages burned away revealing a gleaming white skull. In an instant, there was nothing left of him. Saradin warned his friends that their enemy stored its soul in a magical box and that the blindman would likely return.

The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan (collab with Rainbow Monkey Sock)

What happened inside the pyramid?

Bo Jing remembers it this way . . .

I Bo Jing was on the ship seeking adventure and new trade routes that would benefit my family.  I found many adventures, but as we reached Maztica, I wondered what new goods I would find. .But I really wanted adventure.

Inside the pyramid, I had many adventures.

There was a huge boulder that turned out to be a giant crab.  I leaped on top of it, drawing my fiery sword and with a great shout and a mighty blow, cleaved its shell in half and killed the monster.

Approaching another room, we heard singing.  We put wax in our ears to thwart any magical charm.  There was a woman swimming in a pool. I did my best to ignore her, telling myself she was an ugly siren, like a tadpole without a tail.  I knew that she wasn't really beautiful but just looked that way because of magic.

In another part of the pyramid, Bayan and I  got trapped behind iron bars that fell from the ceiling.  My friends noticed a painting of a sun and Shoji pressed it.  The bars opened and a secret passage was revealed behind the sun.

In that hall, there were four animal heads, one an eagle with a shiny thing in its beak.  When Kafka tried to get the shiny thing, the eagle's mouth shut and hurt him. Bayan unlocked the eagle's mouth with a tickle on the chin.

Continuing to explore the pyramid, we were alarmed when suddenly two iron doors slammed in front of us and behind us and sand began filling up the little space we had.  Singh got his axe and kept battering the door then he gave me the axe and I screamed my battle cry and smashed it down.

We came upon a room filled with giant beetles.  Bangqiu was a  coward. He floated up to scare the beetles and climb the mountain of trash and then he grabbed a shiny knife from inside the stinking pile of beetle excrement.


After the ball game (a tale for another day) my cowardly friend Bangqiu called out for help from Sardan. We got out of a hole in the roof that sardan made.

Play Report: The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan

Sometimes I write reviews of adventures that are five years old.  Sometimes I write reviews of reviews that are 5 years old.  In this case, Dungeon of Signs, reviewing The Hidden Shrine of Tamoachan.  I'm doing this because I don't have much to add to what Mr. Lux wrote, except that I won't follow him to his bizarre conclusion that this is a really good module, but not good enough to play.  Because I did run the adventure, I have access to some additional insights, that I offer as tips on how to run the adventure.

As Lux notes, this one is hard to drop into a campaign, and I can't imagine re-skinning its Meso-American setting.  Its far from "accurate."  Mayan and Aztec pyramids were places for sacrifices, not burials, and didn't have much of an inside.  The Nereid (beautiful naked temptress) is from Greek mythology and feels really foreign to the Meso-American view of life as pain without pretense.  Despite this, the illustration booklet is very important to the adventure and everything in it looks Aztec  (or Chinese-- but only slightly and it's just one room.)  For me, the setting was easy.  My players wanted to leave their faux-Asian homeland to sail across an open ocean and discover a new world.

The illustration booklet is great and essential.  I very much agree with Lux that rather than try to describe the various trap-ridden rooms, it's great to have a picture to pass around.  My copy had no map booklet, but it's easy to find the illustrations online.

In the 70s, everything was foreign and foreign was always a license to weird.  Unlike Maztica, which tries, oh so earnestly tries, to respect other cultures (and makes them all sound like hippies), this module's authors have no embarrassment about their ignorance and rely on their imaginations to fill in the gaps.  Again, the Nereid makes no sense but provided a lot of laughs, even though none of the PCs wanted to play the straight man and instead went to great lengths to avoid looking at the cavorting nymph. (Shoji revealed that he was asexual.)

The monsters are good, though as Lux notes, PC will easily miss the most interesting ones. This could be fixed by coming up with a quest to retrieve a particular object rather than simply escape the pyramid.  He's also correct that all the monsters all seem attack-oriented.  (Except the Nereid, I keep coming back to the Nereid.)  I'm not sure this is a problem worth fixing.  The rooms are self-contained and the residents are so alien that it's believable that they wouldn't have knowledge or interest in other parts of the dungeon.  And the aggressiveness kind of fits with Aztec views of the world.  On another note, the monsters, while individually tough, are not numerous.  My party of 10 (PCs and henchman) was probably too large.

Lux disapproves of the poison gas, but it worked well for me.  We have limited time IRL so it was good to have an in-game reason for haste.  I didn't track the time closely, but the players had a sense of urgency about them. And they could not take a brute force approach to every problem ("Everyone stands guard and I individually press each block on the south wall.  Ok, now the west wall.  Ok, let's rest and heal and re-learn spells.") Lux is correct that this feeling of haste creates tension with all the weird objects begging for attention, but I think this helps preserve the wonder.  My PCs know they missed some things and are talking about going back.

Lux is correct about the clunky text and clunkier special mechanics.  I don't agree, however, that this necessitates hours of preparation.  Because the rooms are self-contained and because the residents are combat-oriented, you don't need to think too much about how it all fits together.  The adventure kind of runs itself so you can just pause and skim each room while your players look at the illustration.

Here's what I would do to prepare:

1. Look at the map.  Starting with a cave-in that lands the PCs in room 1 works well and the gas extends through to room 39.  Like Google maps, there are three routes that lead to the same destination.  The routes cross over each other, so there are probably 7 or 8 combinations that will get PCs through the maze.
2. Think about whether you want to move the cover star to a different room where the PCs are more likely to meet him.  Or if he has something that will cause them to seek him out.
3. Be ready to wing it on things like drowning or dodging boulders.  The mechanics are complicated and inconsistent and rather than study them it might make sense to use saving throws.  As with the poison gas, the threat of sand filling up a closed room is scary.  But the in-play emphasis should be on the atmosphere rather than the mechanics.  Rolling dice doesn't really enhance the suspense. 

Over the Waves Part 10 (Landfall)

And so the Binggongchang left the Island of Wisdom and after another day of smooth sailing reached a suitable place to land.  Bangqiu dropped anchor about one hundred yards off shore and the boat was lowered.  All passengers and sailors were ferried to shore, just to give everyone a chance to walk on dry land after their many weeks at sea. 

The landing place was a narrow beach surrounded by marshes and jungle.  Rhialle recognized a mountain range further inland and Bagqiu concluded that he had made good use of Sakatha's ring.  The sailors and sohei returned to the ship while Bangqiu organized an exploration party that would travel inland to find Rhialle's settlement.  Kafka argued that he should remain with the ship to maintain order among the sohei and sailors.  But Bangqiu insisted that he would need his help in this strange new land.  Kafka relented and placed Mai-Thi in charge.

Thus, the exploration party comprised:
Bangqiu, with Kafka, Damai, and Rhialle
Bo-Jing
Shoji and his bodyguard Singha
Bayan and her adviser Minh
Hyamsam

The Lucky Ten camped on the beach and then set off into the jungle the next morning.  By midday, they came upon a human settlement, one where the people spoke the same language as Rhialle.  They did not know him, but they knew the way to his home.

A few more days of travel brought them to the village of Tamoachitz.  Here Rhialle was recognized and the party was welcomed and honored-- but not in a manner that they recognized as friendly.  After a few nights, Rhialle heard the shrill piping that he recognized as the prelude to a special sacrifice.  He thanked Bangqiu for bringing him home and urged him to flee with his friends. Bangqiu agreed that he did not wish to be sacrificed but convinced Rhialle that he was ready to explore other paths to enlightenment.  And so the Lucky Ten left Tamoachitz in the middle of the night, setting up across the surrounding jungle.

A full moon guided their path, and they made their way toward a light that glowed in the trees.  This turned out to be the ruins of a towering pyramid.  They slept on the white stones of the deserted city.  In the morning, while planning their next move, the explorers heard the noise of the pursuers.  In controlled panic, they ran toward the pyramid.  Then the earth shuddered and gaped open beneath the party's feet.  They fell amidst a roar of collapsing masonry.  Dust filled the air and the sunlight disappeared as the darkness swallowed the,. 

Over the Waves Part 9 (The Island of Wisdom)

Morning showed no obvious place to seek harbor.  Binggongchang skirted beneath the rocky cliffs of the new continent, close enough to enjoy fragrant breezes but without finding a place to put the boat ashore.  After a few hours, the tantalizing cruise seemed to offer something better-- a verdant island with a deepwater harbor with a channel that was navigable into its interior-- a huge flooded cave. 

Shoji and Bo Jing who had improved on their rudimentary knowledge of sailing during the course of the voyage were able to bring the Binggongchang to a natural dock.  Artful placement of the gangplank allowed the passengers to walk down to a gravel beach without getting their feet wet.  The dripping water sounded like music.  Or maybe that was music, even singing.

Was this Party Island at last?

No,  it was her older, wiser older sister.  About half the sailors refused to get off the ship.

The leaders of the expedition, however, were intrigued and after disembarking made their way eagerly toward a gentle light.  They met a man there who introduced himself as Saridan and invited them to join him in meditation. 

Weeks passed.  Those who weren't familiar with seaweed salad learned to love it.

And then it was time for The Tests.

Hyamsam was brought into a small room and told to sit at a table and watch a rock until it jumped.  It seemed boring and pointless but (with some meta-game encouragement from White Bear) he persisted.  Saridan reward him with this lesson-- moderation in all things including patience, especially when someone asks you to wait for a rock to jump.

Shoji was brought a shrine dedicated to The Path of the Red Mountain and invited to re-dedicate it to his own School.  Although he found the practitioners of The Path of the Red Mountain to be insufferable busybodies, he allowed that their beliefs affirmed goodness in thought, word, and action, and that he refused to treat his faith as a tribal affinity.  He declined to disturb the rival shrine.  Saridan congratulated him.

Next, Saridan invited Bo Jing into a cave lined with swords and asked him a provoking question.  "What would you do if I tried to kill you?"  Bo Jing laughed off the piece of hypothetical sophistry.  When Saridan picked upa fiery sword, Bo Jing drew his katana and fended off a flurry of attacks without seeking to strike Saridan.  Saridan congratulated Bo Jing on his ability to defend himself without excessive force and gifted him with the fiery sword.

Finally, Saridan led Bangqiu and Bayan to a cave with a seemingly bottomless pit in the center.  He told them that they would be leaving the island soon but that he would answer a call for help if they were willing to sacrifice their most valuable possession.  After some debate between the two of them Bayan cast her magical sword-- a gift from her mentor Beatriss-- into the pit.  Bangqiu, reasoning that even though he didn't see much use in the Blood Gem Crucible, he had fought a dragon to get it and assassins to keep it, and thus it was, objectively, the most valuable.  He cast it away with little reluctance.  Saridan scolded them for their lack of confidence in their own abilities but promised that he would honor his promise.

Shoji and Bo Jing were each presented with an additional gift, a glowing pearl, that when dissolved in saltwater, resulted in a bubbling ruby-red drink that was sweeter than honey.

Everyone else-- except those sailors who had refused to leave the ship-- got a vial of holy water.

Over the Waves Part 8 (Another Blind Captain)

In the tense days after the ghost ship encounter, Shoji tended to Bayan and the most shaken sohei, many of whom had suffered spiritual or mental trauma from their contact with the crate. As their minds cleared, Bayan requested to see the contents again.

Bangqiu claimed the mirror — the most obviously magical item. Bayan identified a functional astrolabe and chronometer among the odd metal pieces, intuiting their purpose. Bo-Jing quietly pocketed a set of intricate keys, believing they must unlock something important. The jar of dark liquid, too strange to keep and too dangerous to discard, was entrusted to Shoji.

The remaining contents — oddly-shaped metals and rotting books — were given to Bangqiu for future study.

But the real threat was hunger. Hyamsam shared his food with the sailors, and Captain Won asked Bangqiu to requisition rations from the sohei. Bangqiu agreed — enforcing shared rations across the ship. The crew’s mood improved, and with long oars, they rowed day and night, trying to escape the stillness of the sea.

Then things broke.

During sparring with Bo-Jing, a sailor hurled a hammer at Captain Won. It missed — but signaled a mutiny. More than a dozen sailors attacked. Won cut down several, even as Hyamsam turned against him, firing magic missiles. The rest overwhelmed him. Bangqiu appeared on deck, commanding them to stop.

The sailors, afraid, obeyed. Bangqiu demanded answers. The crew confessed: Won had threatened that if they didn't obey, he was going to let Bangqiu eat them. As Won stood up and killed another crewman, Bangqiu struck him down with a blast of blue-green energy. The sailors finished him off.

They named Hyamsam their new captain, who promised to sail to “Party Island” — a myth Won had used to keep them in line.

That night, Bangqiu searched the captain’s cabin, uncovering the truth: Won had long since given up on escaping the doldrums. In his cabin, Bangqiu took out Sakatha’s ring. He turned it, imagining faraway places. The ring turned to lead and cracked.

A wind rose. The ship turned north. The current swept them east. In five days, they saw land: a vast continent.

That night, the crew danced. Shoji led meditations, joined by Bo-Jing and three students. But inside the ship, the jar of dark liquid boiled violently, shaking as if possessed. Shoji hurled it out the window.

It exploded.

From the steam and shattered glass, a man emerged, newborn and slick-skinned, but Shoji recognized the face — twisted, skeletal, now soft and blank — the undead captain reborn.

He hit the water and disappeared. Bayan, awake, saw the figure in the moonlight, clutching something to his chest as he sank beneath the waves.