Taxman Part 2

During their time getting to know Banua and its people, Bo-Jing and Beatriss were joined by their friends Bangqiu and Hyamsam. Bangqiu agreed to help them find the bandits’ lair. Using his magic, he located an ancient tower high up in the hills of the borderlands, surrounded by a dozen yurts. Bo-Jing, Beatriss, and their retinue were able to locate the tower and visit the people who lived there. They called themselves “Oken’s Horde” and claimed no allegiance to either brother. The tower was the tomb of their ancestors and they camped near it to prevent its desecration. They dismissed Bo-Jing’s questions about bandits, explaining that it was common practice for young men to raid across the border for livestock. It was an unfortunate practice but not the work of organized outlaws. Oken himself pledged his allegiance to the Emperor. He offered 1,000 taels as tax payment for the Oken horde and suggested that be taken into Bo-Jing’s service. “We know this land like the back of our hands. Give us authority to collect on your behalf while you take your ease in Banua or Blue City.” Bo-Jing declined and Oken, visibly offended, all but order the group to leave.

Having traveled to the borderlands, Bo-Jing and Beatriss decided to make his way to Khuzu Kala and meet Gaanbaatar’s twin. They were met and welcomed by a group of horsemen, who showed them the way to Khuzu Kala, offered rest in their own yurts and promised to introduced them to the khan the next day.

Gaansukh showed himself to be a hard man, scarred and half-dressed for battle in leather armor and with his sword close at hand. He lectured Bo-Jing on his superior suitability to be chief, insinuating that his cowardly brother had poisoned their father to prevent him from naming a successor. “And so the nobles selected that coward only because he was a few moments older. What about stronger?” However, he almost promised that he would pay the Emperor’s tax.

While staying in Khuzu Kala, Bo-Jing and Beatriss learned more about Oken’s horde. A tradesmen asked Beatriss to bring some food and warm clothes to his brother who was a “guest” of Oken’s. While scard to say so, it was clear that the tradesman understood that his brother was being held against his will. With some reconnaissance help from Bangqiu, Bo-Jing and Beatriss were able to confirm that multiple prisoners were being held in the tower. The three of them planned an early morning visit to Oken’s horder, arriving at the camp as dawn was breaking, and going straight to the tower without advertising their presence, thanks to Bangqiu’s cloaking magic. They entered the tower easily and were met by a few armed men, poring over a map at a table on the bottom floor. Beatriss accused them of holding prisoners. The men objected to the accusation and one went upstairs to get Oken. Soon violence broke out. Oken, his lieutenant, and his adviser, a sorcerer were all killed and the other bandits surrendered. Beatriss and Bangqiu found the prisoners and freed them while Bo-Jing stripped one of the dead bandits of his leather armor, deducing that it must be magical given that it had survived a magical assault that had charred its owner to black bones. Meanwhile, the surrendering bandits had used this opportunity to loot their former leader’s treasure chamber, releasing a cloud of poison gas. Bo-Jing, Beatriss, and Bangqiu decided that if they really wanted to rescue prisoners, they would have to forego any looting and instead used this opportunity to make a get away. Bo-Jing had the wherewithal to take the map from the table, reasoning that if it was useful to bandits, it would be useful to a taxman.