Chapter 2: Birdsong in Hollow Valley

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Sep 30, 2019 3:05 pm
The spirits hiss in Wei's ear. "We answer your questions when we feel like it. We'll never lie, and we'll try to keep you alive. In return, you answer our questions. Starting with this: do you really trust them? These newcomers? The Guild? Your friends? Your precious woman lying there in an unnatural sleep? Yourself?"
Sep 30, 2019 3:06 pm
As Wei thinks this over, there's another knock at the door. It's the inkeep, Hee-Chul.

"The Guildmaster will be using these rooms today, so you'll he to clear out," the slug-man says. "I'll move Rong Hua to a private room where she can be seen to as she recovers."

On the way to the Crippled Crane, Mei thanks you all for rescuing her, and says she is eager to return to Shen Xin. She whispers to Wu Meng that the money he gave her will go towards maybe eventually buying her freedom, but for now she's content where she is.

That done, you all head to the Dragon River ferry dock to hunt the killer beast. You find the ferry service bustling with morning activity - merchants plying their trade, men-at-arms, goods and currency changing hands, local urchins gawking at the outlanders, teamsters keeping a wary eye on their nervous animals. It's organized chaos under the watchful eye of the dockmasters and city guard.

What do you do?
[ +- ] The Three Rivers
Oct 1, 2019 12:18 am
Wu Meng was contemplative of Mei's return to Shen Xin. His internal sense of right and wrong did not judge her for her life choices, nor did he overthink the nature of slavery in Qing'lai. As the great wheel turns, all things have their place and time. That was one of the precepts Meng had learnt from his master. It was not for him to question the grand order of things, but to know unfailingly what the correct action was in any given instance.

"Do we have an indication of which river we are to investigate?" Meng looked towards the companions who had met the Guildmaster yesterday and received his instructions.
Oct 1, 2019 1:13 am
OOC:
OOC reminder for those who were present during the interaction with Tamchim:
Jabes.plays.RPG says:
An overheard argument has put you in between the guildmaster, Tamchim, and the hunter, Jimseung. A deadly creature is loose down by the Dragon River ferry docks. Tamchim wants it quietly destroyed. This may be a problem, as the beast appears to be Jimseung's property.
Of course, reports centered on the Dragon may be attributed to the sheer volume of traffic there. Only fisherfolk ply the Phoenix, and only slaves travel the Tiger.
Oct 1, 2019 5:55 am
"This one." Feng answers, overlooking the sheer amount of traffic on display. "This is a labyrinth in itself, how shall we go about this? Try our luck with the thugs and merchants who will no doubt demand payment for the information, or the patronizing guard who will brush us off? Either way let us make an effort to watch for any mercenaries working for Jimseung, they would be foolish not to retake such a beast."
Oct 1, 2019 6:58 am
Wu Meng closed his eyes to get his own sense of the ebb and flow of the busyness of the Dragon river ferry dock. There was so much going on, but surely there would be some who would be genuinely concerned about the beast.

Rolls

Spout Lore - (2d6)

(51) = 6

Oct 1, 2019 7:39 am
OOC:
Mark 1 XP, Meng.
You're convinced the city guards would be the best people to ask. You spot a likely pair, but it seems your group already has their attention. You're not sure what they could be thinking, but they eye you with what you imagine as suspicion. Has this anything to do with the Guong Estate? Did Zhao Xun sell you out? Or could it be something else? The fight against Atekhramun, perhaps?

What do you do?
Oct 1, 2019 9:59 am
As Mimi walks back out into the crowd, Orengi leapt into her arms in nervousness of the noise. Mimi clutches him close to her like a baby. She sticks close to her new found companions, trusting in their judgement.
Last edited October 1, 2019 3:41 pm
Oct 1, 2019 2:08 pm
"The guards are looking at us." Wu Meng mouthed softly. "It's early morning, let us not act with suspicion. Shall we approach them?"
Oct 1, 2019 5:12 pm
Kalam nods respectfully to passer bys who gawk. "Yes, better to be open and honest with our work with the proper authorities. " Kalam keeps his hands open and at his side as the guards approach. "Good sirs," Kalam bows his head respectfully towards the gaurds. "Might I have a moment of your time?" Kalam inquiries.
Oct 2, 2019 6:34 pm
"Move along. We're--" the barrel-chested one begins, but the lanky officer cuts in, "A moment, and no more. What do you want?"
Oct 2, 2019 11:10 pm
It seemed all the guards in Qing'lai were curt and impatient. Meng stood next to Kalam and let his fellow brother continue.
Oct 3, 2019 4:32 am
Feng crosses her arms at the two, but cuts her sassy remark off on account of needing any intel they can find.
Oct 3, 2019 3:22 pm
Mimi watches with close attention at the interaction between the guards and Kalam. This is a good opportunity to see how to correctly speak with these men! She thought.
Oct 3, 2019 7:15 pm
Wei walks up and stands beside Mimi. Glancing over at her, Wei looks at her crossed eyed...to see if she would smile.
Oct 4, 2019 2:59 am
When Mimi sees Wei's eyes, she is caught by surprise. "Ah! Is everything okay?" Her face is filled with worry as she looks him up and down.
Oct 4, 2019 1:47 pm
After several long moments of waiting for Kalam - or anyone - to ask them a question, the officer guard loses his patience. Throwing his hands up in disgust, he spins on his heel, uttering something about 'stupid foreigners."

Suddenly, there is a commotion centered around a fruit farmer's boat. It seems a dead body has been found floating near the north bank about a mile downstream from here. Joining th onlookers, you see the bloated body is of a male human; apparent cause of death is a large puncture wound in the chest, as if from an animal's horn or tusk. The skin has a greenish in cast, as if from poison of some sort. This matches perfectly the sketch of the beast you were shown by the guildmaster. This is the first time a body has been retrieved by the public; up until this point, the Guild has been able to keep this problem a secret. Now, it seems word of the monster's existence is about to spread.

What do you do?
Oct 4, 2019 2:12 pm
"Wonderful, someone useful to talk to." Iko remarks as he pushes past the onlookers to get close to the body. He waves a hand irritably at their protests as he examine the body.
OOC:
Iko wants to know:
What happened here recently? (Just to have it spelled out clearly)
What should I be on the lookout for?
What here is useful or valuable to me?
Last edited October 4, 2019 2:14 pm

Rolls

Discern Reality +WIS - (2d6+2)

(65) + 2 = 13

Oct 4, 2019 2:37 pm
While it's true this man was gored, there is also a puncture wound in the neck through which the poison was delivered. If you could only obtain a sample of the poison, there's a chance Wei's contact, Yao Fei, the apothecary, can create an antidote.

You also find something curious in the man's mouth: a tiny black snail which one would not normally find anywhere near the Dragon River, but is plentiful in the salt marshes where the crab-men live.

Iko barely finishes his examination before the guards begin dispersing the crowd. What do you do? Do you try to obtain a poison sample? How?
Oct 4, 2019 3:02 pm
"Now we know where to start our search." Wu Meng observed along with Iko as he picked out the tiny snail. "The salt marshes. So the beast is poisonous. That will be more life-threatening to us when we confront it."
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