DM NomadSage's Jade Regent (Inactive)

Game Master nomadicc

"I don't intend to fight him without magic since I doubt he would honor me to fight blind."

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Setsuna flashes a wry grin. "I cannot claim to know the man, but, I am sure Higashiyama Shigure would have a very clear answer to your question."

"Some treat honor as an absolute thing -- one has it or one does not -- but I have come to believe that honor spans across a wide scale. There are those who adhere to it constantly and strictly, and others who pay it heed only on rare occasion... and everything in between. One may strive to be honorable and occasionally lapse, as we are imperfect creatures. Even ninja -- scoundrels, mercenaries and murderers -- adhere to their own codes, though it would be a stretch to describe them as 'honorable'."

"Surely if Takahiro was a samurai for any length of time, he must have demonstrated loyalty, dedication and integrity... traits integral to our concept of honor. Who knows the pressures or influence powerful enough to make the man betray his own oath and murder his friend? Someone must."

"The right information can be a weapon as keen as any blade. Learn your enemy; study his weaknesses, and strengths; come to understand his motivations. Come to know him well, and when you do confront him, you will find yourselves well prepared. No skill at arms, prowess in magic, or the greatest subterfuge are worth anything without the knowledge to use them, accurately and precisely."

"And perhaps you might find a way to depose him without a fight," she adds, her smile widening as she crosses her arms. "A truly matchless swordsman never need unsheathe their blade."

Heng nods at the wisdom spoken by the master swordswoman. "Knowledge may well be our greatest weapon. We have gained some few clues from the ancestors we have spoken to so far and gained a pledge of their blessing upon our mission should we recover Higashiyama Shigure's remains and deal with the other imperial families with honor and respect. I take it that although our companion Parity fought honorable, we have not earned the Shojinawa blessing as he did not successfully defeat you."

"Perhaps you can tell us more of the war between your family and the Teikoku family. The last Emperor seemed to imply that Teikoku Sokai and Shojinawa Ito were behind the demonic well that we must brave. I am not sure how we can earn their blessing when it seems that we must attempt to destroy them."

"No, you have my blessing already. The duel was the thing, not the victory. Your champion faced the challenge bravely." She nods in respect to Parity.

Setsuna seems caught between sorrow and anger as she continues. "The Shojinawa and Teikoku clans carried a feud between them for many centuries. Most times, it manifested as competitiveness, but occasionally delved into violence. The fools could not bury their pride and let it go, and in the end, it became their doom. I suspect agents of the Five Storms subtly stoked the flames between the clans in the last years. They may have been involved, but an excess of pride and stupidity were the main culprits."

"As for Ito," she adds, her face darkening. "That man is a blight upon my family name and Minkai, as are all the fiends in the Well. I know not what schemes he is up to, but I guarantee they serve only him. It would be a great service to Minkai to destroy him, permanently."

Parity bows in response to the compliment, but otherwise stays silent having been soundly beaten.

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" Are there any other Teikoku shrines here or is shogun the only representative left?" he turns to the others. "it seems we will face powerful undead in the well: perhaps a ghost, ghoul-like creature, and lich. What weapons do we have against them?"

Setsuna nods, "The Teikoku have several tombs just to the south of the Shrine of Heavenly Sovereigns. Kenshiro Teikoku, Sokai's older brother, is one laid to rest there. Known as 'The Unprepared Heir', I believe. He was a timid soul, and died young, ushering in his brother's rule."

"I have positive energy, but I'm not sure we have any weapons specifically designed to hurt them. Hopefully we won't have to face them all at once. I think we should talk to Kenshiro."

"Then I bid you fare well and the goddess's good blessing on your path ahead. Minkai deserves a strong, fair ruler after so many years of misery. I hope the country can learn from its mistakes and accept one. Should you require anything of me, or seek mentorship in swordplay," she adds with a nod and smile to Parity, "You know where to find me." Setsuna bows her head momentarily, then disappears.

You backtrack across the cemetery, finding the Teikoku area just as Setsuna described it. Ameiko finds Kenshiro's tomb and calls out for him, but the emperor's spirit does not appear. She continues trying several times, using different words and methods of speaking, but to no avail.

Ameiko tries her best plea for aid, but after a quiet minute, there is still no response.

"I'm not sure what else to do. Any suggestions?"

"He's probably scared, we were told he's timid. Teikoku-san, we are not here to hurt you."

"Maybe a song?"

Kiyomi nods and begins to sing a song of welcome and new beginnings.

I struggle with the names a lot, they all blend together for me, but I think I just finally made this stupid realization--Takahiro, the Jade Regent, doesn't belong to any family.

The overtures and song do not garner any result for several minutes. Just as you're about to give up and move on, a young man in fine royal robes steps out from the bushes beside the tomb. He is barely a teenager, and his skin is mottled with pox and oozing pustules. He eyes you with a mixture of wariness and hostility.

A voice fills your minds, 'Go away. I can't help you.'

"We think that you can. We seek to enter the Well of Demons and end the dishonor that Sokai has brought upon your family."

He flinches at the name, but remains defiant. No, his shogunate brought glory and power to Minkai and elevated our house, unlike my own, worthless reign. His crimes pale in the light of the good he brought to our land. He should be honored, not vilified.

Heng frowns. "Pardon my ignorance, but what happened to you? I know only that you were Sokai's older brother."

He flashes a disgusted grimace. I am of no consequence: a disappointing footnote in the long chapter of a glorious dynasty. I was born weak and frail, and fought diseases my entire, short life. A pox epidemic was my end. He shakes his head, frowning. The most significant act of my life was my death: it ushered in my brother's rise to power.

Knowledge History: Is this true?: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30

Yes, as far as you know. Teikoku Kenshiro died in his teenage years during an epidemic.

Kiyomi sighs. "Emperor, self-pity is not a mark of greatness. Your story may have ended on the mortal realm with sickness, but you live again in this place and may yet redeem your reign. If you aid us, if you help us to put a good and just Empress on the throne, I will sing your song and speak of the man who redeemed himself even in death to become a great leader and a great advocate for his people."

Perform Sing: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 22

Harlan limps forward slightly.

"Kenshiro-san, I know what it's like to be thought small and weak. I know what it's like to think you can't compare to your brother. It's a hard thing, to hear that your family may not be perfect. My brother isn't perfect either, but he is my brother and I still love him."

Harlan takes a deep breath.

"But you have to be honest with yourself too. If your brother was a good person he would mourn you. He wouldn't cast you aside and let you be forgotten just because he thought you were weak. Good people protect the weak. Your brother has done terrible things to Minkai, and we need to fix it. We need your help to fix it. You may be dead, but you can still do something great. Aid us and you will not be forgotten, you will not be cast aside."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (7) + 21 = 28

Edit: Gah, ninja'd by a bard!

The spirit's unhelpful demeanor finally gives way beneath the weight of Harlan's words. You... lay me bare with your words, sir. I acknowledge my unkind fate, but I refuse to denounce my brother's greatness. He committed evils, just as he committed goods... I will not sit in judgement of a man caught in the crucible of leadership, when I could not manage the same responsibility.

Still, I have to power to bestow the Teikoku blessing. Go to Sokai, show him the respect due his station and accomplishments, and I will grant it.

Anyone?

I kinda figured that we were on hold due to GenCon.

Heng thinks that the Teikoku are definnitely his least favorite imperial family, but holds his tongue until the group is well away from the tomb. "I do not know that I can show respect for Sokai's accomplishments..."

"I agree... It seems we will have to face this Sokai creature either way. I think giving him a show of respect will be the lesser of two evils, compared to whatever the demon may offer."

"So the Sokai character isn't in the Well of Demons? I'm all for taking a stab at it, if it prevents us for entering that hellhole."

"No, I think Emperor Shigure indicated that Sokai was among those in the Well." She frowns and sighs. "Shall we head there next? As lovely as that place sounds, I suppose we should get it over and done with."

Heng wonders if Parity's hearing is becoming as bad as his sight...

"From what we have heard, we may be facing the most vile of undead within the Well. Harlan, does your faith offer anything potent to ue against these lost souls?"

"How does everyone feel? I have spent much of my ki in battle already today. Should we rest first to be at our best for the challenge ahead?"

I'm pretty much at half ki, etc. atm.

"I would rather take a rest. I'd like to have the daylight powers of the bow I wield be ready for use if we face the undead again."

"Whatever you need ... I dont get the sense we are in a tremendous rush. I can take watch, i feel fairly well."

I have most of my resources

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"I can use positive energy to repel them and smite them. Otherwise I can protect us from evil and have the ability to force one incorporeal undead to assume physical form, if I'm able to overcome them."

Ghostbane Dirge

Heng nods at Harlan's accounting,"Good. Let us return to the Shrine of Heavenly Sovereigns to rest. I suspect that we will be greatly tested by the Well of Demons."

Ameiko nods, "Or we could stay at the chapel down by the docks, if you don't feel like sleeping in a cemetary."

Please indicate your watch order, and post any preparation/changes.

i only need 2 hrs sleep with my ring is sustenance so I'll watch the first 6.

I'll take the last 2 and in the morning cast a battery of spells. Airwalk, resist cold, keen edge, countless eyes, stoneskin, see invisibility.

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Harlan also only requires 2 so I'll watch the last 6.

Malnival just needs time to study his spell book.

sounds like me and Mal starting out, me and Harlan through the mid-shift, and then Harlan and Parity for the last shift.

You gather up to rest inside the Imperial Mausoleum. The ghost of Emperor Higashiyama remains out of sight, but you can sense his presence in the area. The feelings of impatience and simmering rage tinge your dreams, but you are able to get effective sleep. Those on guard remark upon how quiet the island outside is, void of any normal night insects or animal calls. Only the wind indicates that the world is still alive around you, and even it is muted.

When you proceed up the path into the hills covering the north half of the island, it first reaches a small plateau dominated by a small lake - the Lake of Tears. A wellspring to the west feeds the cool, clear lake, which spills off into two waterways. The southern stream becomes the waterfall that cascades down the steep hillside towards the cemetery. The northern stream falls into what can only be the Well of Demons.

You circle the small lake, approaching a gaping chasm in the ground. The island's low hills surround the chasm like silent, stern guardians. The stream from the Lake of Tears dumps directly into the hole, becoming a waterfall. The crashing water echoes up loudly from below. The path continues on, becoming a narrow, muddy track that descends into the abyss, winding in a spiral as it passes multiple times under the waterfall.

You sense a palpable evil coming from the Well, like an oily film that clings to the skin.

Actions? Map updated on Roll20. Please post any desired preparations.

Kiyomi will unsling her bow and nock an arrow as they approach.

Parity looks hesitant, maybe even a tad afraid. He turns his cloak opening toward Ameiko and smiles, "We've been lucky so far, no reason we can't keep it up, yeah?"

He casts bulls strength and follows Heng in.

Heng makes sure that his potions are near at hand and enters.

Harlan casts Magic Circle Against Evil on himself and Heng then readies his Holy Crossbow.

"If I knew we'd be facing a type of elemental damage I could prepare for that as well, but we'll just have to be ready for it."

Heng leading the way, you start down the spiraling path. In addition to the malign aura of the place, once you descend below the surface, the air becomes a foul miasma of corruption. The waterfall sprays you with mist as you go down, and coats the rock walls and path with a slick sheen.

Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26

Heng is somewhat distracted wiping the corruption out of his eyes.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

Harlan is distracted watching Heng wipe corruption out of his eyes.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

"Haunt! Do not leap!" Kiyomi gasps. She begins to sing! Using countersong in case the compulsion is verbal!

Perform: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (17) + 21 = 38

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Ameiko is distracted by Harlan watching... oh, never mind.

Malnival and Parity?

Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (6) + 24 = 30

Almost distracted, one of the eyes in Parity's hands swivels forward and catches his attention.

"No jumping, of course ..."

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