Chapter 1: Lotus Rises from Water

Feng, Iko, and Wei

The Twelve Lanterns Inn isn't the most luxurious in the city, but it's one of the largest. Its location across the street from the Explorer's Guild, as well as discounts offered to guild members, guarantees it a steady clientele all year round.

Music.

Hee-Chul, the slug-man who owns and runs the place, doesn't have any official clan affiliations but is known to receive sizeable contributions (probably to curry favor with the Guild) from many of the city's most prominent families, most notably the Quian.

Tonight the common room is packed as usual with both dusty explorers newly arrived from far-flung corners of Qing'lai, and Opal City locals eager for some news or gossip from abroad.

Near the entrance, a pair of poppy field bosses share a pot of tea with a trio of ginseng root hunters.

At the bar, a white-bearded guild cartographer is trying his best to take down notes from a drunken trailblazer.

At a mahjong table, a group of dwarven miners look on as three of their buddies are thoroughly trounced by a human gold prospector.

There are no empty seats available yet, and so the three of you drift around for a bit and manage to catch snippets of conversation:

"...trouble on the river ferry route...missing shipments... no bodies washed up...bad for business..."

"...gang war in the lower east quarter...quieted down of late but word is it's the calm before the storm..."

"...it's the Changgok family, I tell you!...no one gives them a second thought, but... secretly in league with the Guong..."

"...I don't know, but they went looking for the rumored treasure in the northeast jungle and came back changed somehow...I heard about it from Sikeo..."

"...some sort of manhunt in the Upper City... a thief stole some fancy shit from one of the noble houses..."

At length, you find an empty booth in a quiet corner. As luck would have it, the Guildmaster Tamchim is huddled in the adjacent booth with a scarred veteran, having a whispered discussion that sounds like it's taking a turn for the worse.

"I told you, my men have got it under control!"

"And I say they don't! That pet of yours killed two people again last night! If I hadn't had people erasing tracks--"

"Quit your whining! We'll have it back in its cage tonight or I'm a toad."

"You said that two days ago! I've a mind to revoke your membership and report you!"

"Try it and I'll report you! And I'll have your job next week, Guildmaster!"

"You wouldn't dare! You have no idea what my benefactors are capable of. I could have your head!"

"You've no idea what I'm capable of! I could have your head with a snap of my--"

The argument cuts off when a serving girl approaches. She asks them if they need anything, but they shoo her way. She goes to your booth next. "What can I get you folks?"

The Twelve Lanterns Inn

For a long time there is only stony silence from the adjacent booth. No doubt, Tamchim and his companion are wondering how much of their conversation was overheard, and how best to deal with the eavesdroppers. The serving girl returns with two bowls of Makgeolli and a pot of black tea. Abruptly, the scarred human rises from his seat, scowls at the three of you, and swaggers out of the inn altogether.

Tamchim calls out coldly, "I know you heard us. Are you coming over here to tell me what your silence is going to cost me? Or do I send hunters after you? I'm certain Jimseung is already seeing to the latter."

What do you do?

Tamchim glides over to your booth. The elf's fine features are marred by three pale scars that run parallel across his face as if dealt by some sort of wild beast. With a subtle hand gesture he summons three well-armed bodyguards, two humans and a hulking crab-man, who surround your booth in the blink of an eye. All feign easy stances, and friendly expressions, but the implied threat is clear.

"Here I am, and thank you for the invitation!" the Guildmaster says. He summons the serving girl. "Food for my new friends. And tell Hee-chul to prepare my private suite for their stay here tonight." When he turns back to you, Tamchim maintains the cordial facade. "You are my guests tonight. Please, I insist. Now, you said you were looking for a job? I just happen to be in need of a few discreet individuals. Interested?"

What do you do?

"Hmm... for your fungus hunt you'll want Sikeo. I'll send word, put you in touch." Tamchim crooks a finger, and one of the bodyguards sends messenger to fetch the botanist.

The Guildmaster sips wine before continuing, "As for the job... Jimseung is fond of exotic beasts. One of his pets has been causing trouble at night down by the river docks, making a public menace of itself." With a slender hand he slides over a sketch of the creature. It looks like a horrid cross between a water buffalo and a spider. "As a concerned citizen I would like to see it destroyed. Discreetly. It wouldn't do to start a panic, would it? The same goes for your yellow fungus. Ah, here's Sikeo now."

The botanist is an ugly squat person who resembles a tree stump, partly because much of his attire is covered in panels of tree bark. He is intrigued by your story of the yellow mold, and agrees to lead you on a hunt for samples in the jungle.

"Feel free to decide your best course of action," Tamchim says, taking his leave. "If you need me, I'll find you. We're always watching." The Guildmaster departs, taking his lackeys with him. Sikeo leaves as well, saying you can find him any time at the guild office.

What do you do? River monster hunt? Killer mushroom hunt? Tonight or tomorrow? Or do you go looking for your friends? Based on what you overheard it sounds like Rong Hua and Meng might be in a bit of a bind.