Chapter 1: Lotus Rises from Water

Atekhramun believed he could squash anyone like a bug, but he's never met anyone like the people he is facing now. Where the hell did they come from, and what do they want? Clearly, drugging the female was a mistake. But there seems to be more to it than that!

Meng's strike sends a shock through the serpent's vitals as Wei's razor-sharp sword opens up its belly, spilling its guts just as Feng's fiery dagger takes it in the throat. The thing collapses into a seething mass of bugs, worms, and insects that engulfs Rong Hua, stinging and biting, before scattering in every direction, making good Atekhramun's escape. The sorcerer's voice floats in the air, dripping malice,

"𝔜𝔬𝔲 𝔥𝔞𝔳𝔢𝔫'𝔱 𝔰𝔢𝔢𝔫 𝔱𝔥𝔢 𝔩𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝔬𝔣 𝔪𝔢. 𝔚𝔥𝔢𝔫 𝔫𝔢𝔵𝔱 𝔴𝔢 𝔪𝔢𝔢𝔱, ℑ'𝔩𝔩 𝔢𝔞𝔱 𝔶𝔬𝔲𝔯 𝔰𝔬𝔲𝔩𝔰!!!" The immediate threat appears to be over, but there's something wrong with Rong Hua. The fight in the square has scattered people, animals and goods. The gate guards have their hands full trying to restore order. The girl Shen Xin sent you here to rescue has yet to be found.

What do you do?

Zhang Wei
holding your beloved tenderly in your arms, you find something stuck in her braid: a ring roughly cut from black stone. You're guessing it came off Atekhramun's finger when he and Rong Hua were tussling.

Meng
Based on the description given you by Shen Xin, the person in the cage is indeed Mei. You easily rouse both her and Rong Hua, though both women are weak from their ordeal. Mei can hardly speak, but manages to gasp, "More... inside..." while pointing wearily at the tent. Could there be more captives? Glancing inside, you don't see any more cages. There are, however, several expensive-looking chests and trunks. You have rescued Mei from a life of slavery in Hiptos; now you can return her to her life of slavery here in the Opal City. The irony of this is not lost on you.

What do you do (all of you)?

"We've done nothing to hinder you!" Sungyeol retorts. "My brother took a knife wound defending you and your friends, and I helped fight that snake!"

The trunks contain ostentatious clothing and several bolts of silk. In one of the chests, Meng finds 250 coins. Another chest contains two spell scrolls, and a wooden flute engraved on which Meng is shocked to find the mark of Shifu Rao, Master of Wind!

Iko examines Rong Hua's wounds. They are superficial, requiring nothing more than cleaning and bandaging. He judges the sickness wrought by the poison smoke and insect bites should pass after a good night's rest.The guards are gradually restoring order, and will soon make their way to Atekhramun's tent. It is now the Hour of the Rat. What do you do?