Master of the Desert Nomads Part 4: The Salt Swamp

Tetsukichi, Bayan, Bo-Jing, and Bangqiu continued their way up the river. The channel widened and grew more shallow. They pushed the raft forward with long poles that sank deep into soft brown mud. The air was thick and unmoving, and the smell of salt burned in their nostrils. Withered palms and dry reeds were crusted with brownish-white crystals. As the day wore on, a salty film settled on their eyelashes.

Everyone was hungry and thirsty. The water teemed with pale, sluggish fish. Damai speared one, but when he cut it open, worms burst out, and he flung the writhing mass back into the water. The river itself was undrinkable.

At sunset, as the swamp darkened, the party noticed a light ahead. They pushed the raft toward it, sometimes slashing through reeds, sometimes knocking aside rotten, half-submerged trees.

The light came from a wooden hut raised on tall stilts, with a narrow dock below. A ladder led up to a doorway covered by a rough curtain, glowing faintly from within. The travelers tied their raft to the dock. Bayan volunteered to climb first. At the top, she called out. There was no reply.

She drew her sword and stepped inside.

The room was small and bare, with a single window looking out over the dark swamp. Another doorway stood opposite, curtained, with light spilling faintly from within. Bayan pushed the curtain aside with the tip of her blade and peered in.

Another small, empty room.

She returned and called for the others to come up.

A cool breeze stirred outside, and a light rain began to fall. Within minutes, the wind rose and the rain thickened into a fierce storm. The hut swayed on its stilts, but no one wished to remain with the raft below. Without setting a guard, they lay down and slept.

Bangqiu woke first, hot and sweating, and began shouting at the others. Tetsukichi and Bayan stirred. It was bright again—harsh daylight, perhaps near midday. The storm was gone.

Everyone had dreamed.

One of the soldiers did not fully wake. He rose when spoken to and followed simple commands, but he would not speak, and his gaze remained fixed—on nothing, or on something no one else could see.

Damai began to explore the hut. He found no end to the sequence of small rooms, each divided by curtained doorways. He became absorbed in them, searching for differences—tracing the scratches in the floor, mapping their patterns.

Tetsukichi stepped outside.

The raft was gone.

So were most of their remaining provisions.

Bangqiu declared that he could take the form of a hippopotamus and ferry them to safety—but first he would scout ahead as a bird. The sky was overcast and did not clear as he climbed. Flying lower, just above the turgid water, he wove through the reeds toward the horizon.

He saw a structure ahead and quickened his pace.

As he approached, the shape resolved.

The hut.

Bayan said nothing. She began tearing planks from the walls, organizing the others to rebuild the raft.

The day passed in slow misery. Hunger, thirst, and exhaustion pressed down on them. No one spoke more than necessary.

As the sun began to set, someone asked whether it would be safe to sleep—glancing toward Nayan, who had stood all day at the window, unmoving.

It was a fair question.

No one answered it.

Then, from somewhere out in the swamp, they began to hear whispers . . .

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.”

Master of the Desert Nomads Part 2: On the Asanda

Over the next several days, the raft continued its way up river. One day, they met a group of soldiers who confessed that they had deserted from Fitar’s army. With encouragement from Bo Jing, they agreed to redeem their army and join the party. During the day, they saw deserted and destroyed villages and one day encounter two rafts filled with refugees making their way downriver. During the nights, the party saw many strange sights including fire-breathing dogs.

One day, sailing up the river, the party found themselves in the midst of an army camp, with about 20 horsemen on one side of the river and 30-40 infantry on the other. They were spotted almost immediately and soldiers from one side of the river challenged those on the other to a contest of target practice. But before anyone from either side could score any points, Bo Jing put the contest to an end. With two quick shots from his own bow, two of the cavalrymen were shot dead. Most of the others fled for cover in the underbrush. The infantry archers on the right bank were more disciplined, but their aim was poor. Most everyone on board the raft took cover and rowed harder while the leading warriors took well-aimed shots at their enemies. Tetsukichi instructed Mustapha to use his best illusions; moments later a second, larger raft appeared behind the first. The enemy captain orders the archers to train their arrows on this second raft while he and his bodyguards charged out onto a sandbar and intercept the first raft. Bayan and Tetsukichi were glad to join in melee combat against these over-confident foes, cutting them down as they tried to reach the raft. The sohei and the reformed deserters did their part, slaying those infantry soldiers who escaped the flashing blades of Tetsukichi and Bayan. Bo Jing challenged the cavalry Captain to enter the water if he dared.

At this moment, two enormous tigers came charging out of the infantry camp and flung themselves onto the two rafts. One of these rafts proved to be a product of Mustapha’s illusion and so one tiger found himself splashing foolishly in the middle of the river. The other, however, landed in the middle of the real raft, testing the courage of the inexperienced soldiers. But this beast was the challenge that Bo Jing had been waiting for. He leapt into combat, putting himself at risk of the flashing claws and powerful fangs of the feast and then finding the right moment to strike with his katana of fire. The beast howled in pain and the other soldiers chose this moment to strike with their own swords. But for nought! The brilliant orange and black coat deflected their blades better than any armor. Only the gift of Saradin could harm the unnatural beast. Bo Jing ordered the soldier and sohei to protect Mustapha and to assist the other leaders in fighting their human enemies while he fought the tiger. The blow of a single claw sent him sprawling to the deck. The tiger pounced and clamped his jaws around Bo Jing’s forearm, the strong fangs barely repelled by the the steel of the warrior’s armor. And now the second tiger proved to be very comfortable in the water; it swam after the first raft and with one motion, climbed on board. Al-Fitar, fighting side by side, turned back in time to see the brave young noble in peril. Clutching the hammer passed down to him from generations of honorable warriors he threw himself into battle against the two beasts. With one blow, he stunned the first tiger. Bo Jing wrenched his arm free of its jaws and found his feet. Al-Fitar struck the second tiger, knocking it off the raft. Bo Jing stepped backwards and let the first tiger come to him; he struck at the moment when the tiger pounced, slitting its throat open wide. As the tiger fell dead and slid into the water, its body changed to that of a man. The second tiger was not deterred by the fate of its brother, but jumped back onto the raft, as hungry for battle as for the flesh of the men it would consume if victorious. But now the odds were against it. As Bo Jing had struggled to fight two tigers, now the tiger struggled to fight two powerful men. Convinced of unnatural wickedness, they would not let it escape, but fought the second tiger until it too was dead and had resumed its human form.

During the course of this battle with the weretigers, Tetsukichi and Bayan, assisted by man brave soldiers and sohei fought and killed many of the enemy including the cavalry captain. While many of the heroes suffered grievous wounds, none were killed. They rested for the remainder of the day, allowing the light wind to catch their sail and take them further up the river.

Master of the Desert Nomads Part 1: Tetsukichi's Choice

After a few years of quiet, repose, and fatherhood in the Happy Valley, Tetsukichi received word tales of his valor had spread far and wide. He had taken on a seemingly thankless mission to seek out Governor Kawabi and succeeded where others had failed, opening up trade routes between the Empire and such far-flung settlements as Quitokai and Pasar. He had defended his adopted clan the Sansars from the threat of Sakatha, the undead lizard king. And through it all, he had shown himself a loyal friend to Al-Fitar, treating the foreign hireling as a brother, sharing equally in danger, glory, and treasure.

An imperial representative was on the way, requesting that Tetsukichi return the jade sword that he had received from the Emperor when he located the lost city of Tempat Larang. This was not an insult, but a coded invitation for Tetsukichi to come to Khanbaliq, deliver the sword personally, and so demonstrate that he could be trusted with the Emperor’s full confidence and welcomed at court.

The elders of the Sansar clan advised against this. The Emperor was plotting against them and knew that Tetsukichi was their brightest hope for the future. He should simply relinquish the sword. His help was needed in the Valley of the Five Fires. If he succeeded in driving the bandit marauders out of the sacred valley, the Sansar clan might join this group of ancient and honored clans—with Tetsukichi named its Khan.

Finally, Al-Fitar had a request. Or two. A group of three dozen ragtag soldiers, men from his father’s kingdom, far to the west had arrived in the Happy Valley. Strange marauders from the mountains threatened the realm of Fitar. Al-Fitar begged Tetsukichi to return with him to the West and help defend his family. Barring that, he begged Tetsukichi to release him from his service so that he might join his father’s army.

When the imperial envoys arrived, Tetsukichi relinquished the jade sword and departed with Al-Fitar. He was accompanied by Bangqiu and Bayan, and by various hirelings.

After a fortnight of hard riding, they reached Pramayama, a once squalid and benighted village on the banks of a muddy river, now reduced to an even lower state by the mysterious marauders. A part of Fitar’s army was using the village as a base and they welcomed the volunteers, especially the renowned Tetsukichi. (For reasons unknown, Al-Fitar kept his own identity a secret.) After a few days in the village, Tetsukichi met a bedraggled man, pursued by a shadowy, hissing, monster. After Tetsukichi slew the monster, the man thanked him with the gift of a map. The map indicates a Temple of Death that most be destroyed—by Tetsukichi as the new owner of the map.

The local commander is interested in the map and Tetsukichi’s encounter with the monster. This seems to confirm a plan that he’d already been considering. It’s time to go to meet the main army. The quickest way is by water, the Asanda River. But there’s only one poor raft in Pramayama and there aren’t resources available to build enough to accommodate the local forces, plus their mounts and supplies. So, the main force will go overland while Tetsukichi and his friends are to travel up the Asada River to the salt swamp and find the main army near there. Give them the message that more are coming.

The Commander set out the next day. Bo Jing found the raft in need of repairs and so the departure of Tetsukichi & co. was delayed until the afternoon. As the repairs were nearing completion, Bayan noticed a large creature circling in the sky above them. Bangqiu, assuming the form of a falcon, flew into the sky for a better look. The creature was some sort of two-legged flying reptile (a wyvern, Bo Jing would explain, based on this description). And there was a man riding on its back. Bangqiu blasted the man with a bouquet of magic missiles. He fell to earth and the wyvern flew away. On the body of the man, Bangqiu found a claimed a skull amulet. He tried it on for a moment and then put it in his pocket.

The raft sailed upriver day and night under Bo Jing’s watchful eye. The second night on the river, the raft struck a sandbar, and three giant crabs scuttled onto the raft. Bayan, Tetsukichi, and Bo Jing killed them and drove off an opportunistic crocodile. Knowing that they well spend the next several weeks eating hardtack, the party decides to live up to its name and have a crab feast. (“Watch the shirt-tails flapping in the wind!”) Their fire attracted visitors, a mysterious pair of adventurers, one a woman, who wore her face completely covered and spoke with a strange accent similar to Beatriss’s. When Bayan questioned her about this, the woman acknowledge that yes, she was from Cynadecia. Although she carried a sword herself, she claimed not to know Beatriss or any of the members of the warrior women’s society. Soon it emerged that this pair was part of a larger group of adventurers, who were invited to join the feast. Their leader was a slow-moving priest whom Al-Fitar identified to Bayan as a “demon worshipper” based on his vestments. The priest mourned the fact that he didn’t have his spices with him so that he could demonstrate the right way to prepare crab. He made strange remarks about the party’s “innocence” in the face of the dangers that lay waiting for them upriver and suggested he might accompany them “for the right price.” His followers took turns remembering the fine dishes he had prepared for them. Tetsukichi and co. listened politely and encouraged their guests to take some food and be on their way.

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 2 (Return of the Blind Captain II and Almost home)

Over the days the followed, Bo Jing, Bayan, and Shoji directed the efforts to remove wires and other eldritch attachments from the Binggongchang. They considered throwing these objects overboard or leaving them on the beach, but at last elected to keep them in a waterproof sea bag, well doused with holy water. Other sohei were sent ashore to fill their water barrels, collect food, and recruit additional crew members. Upon their return, the sohei reported that they had found a good spring, but food was scarce, and they had alienated themselves from the local inhabitants, who seemed to have encountered the blindman and associated him with the benevolent newcomers. But the sohei contended that they had learned how to sail the ship at least as well as the sailors who had hired on back in Zhou Dang. Shu Yin, in studying the blindman’s books and nautical charts had learned that if they could find a westward current, their return travel could be accomplished in about a month. They had enough water, and their chances of finding food, in the form of fish, were better on the open sea than in this accursed land.

And so the Binggongchang began its homeward voyage. Early setbacks came in the form of submerged reefs and the kelp fields, but one night when they found the westward current, there was a stirring below decks. A walking skeleton, with burning red eyes emerged from below, sending the sohei not terrors. It was the blindman, and he demanded an explanation. Bo Jing directed him the bag where they had secured his instruments. Opening it eagerly, he splashed himself with holy water. Screaming with rage, he lunged at the nearest sohei, threatening to kill him if his demands weren’t met. Bo Jing drew his katana and attacked. The blindman release the sohei who fell to the deck, trembling and retching. With a last kick, the blindman turned and ran toward the captain’s cabin. Shoji castigated him with a blistering sermon; the blindman screamed and stumbled, but continued his mad dash, pushing other sohei out of the way. The blindman made it to the cabin and closed the door, but Bayan was right behind him. She battered the door down and found the blindman holding his spellbook and a small box, while opening the cabin window. Bayan splashed him with a vial of the holy water from Saradin’s cave and the blindman was consumed in a burst of blue flame. Bayan suggested the book should be destroyed. They doused it with oil and set it on fire. After it had burned for a few minutes, they cast it into the sea. They did the same to the wooden chair that had been set at the nexus of the gold wires. The small box, was empty, but they decided to keep it.

The voyagers on the Binggongchang enjoyed several days of smooth sailing, even finding what appeared to be verdant island. After sending a boat ashore, they found that it was blessed with waterfalls and fruit trees.

After leaving the island, the Binggongchang sailed into a fierce storm. The sky was so dark, that Shu Yin could not get a bearing day or night and Bo Jing ordered the crew to out all their efforts into keeping the ship together rather than holding a particular course. Days and nights merged together. When the weather cleared one fine morning, they beheld a huge island or continent, and as they approached, a small location of human settlement.

The first people they encountered were fishermen piloting small, narrow boats. The fishers were friendly and greeted the voyagers in a language that Bayan recognized, having heard Beatriss use it in conversations with Tetsukichi. Shu Yin confirmed that they were in northern Zipang, close enough to home that they could afford to linger. The Binggongchang was anchored in a sheltered harbor and the voyagers were welcomed ashore.

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.