With the decision made, you all begin the journey to Chandago and enjoy the safety of the heavily patrolled roads of Po Li. As you approach the city, you suddenly spot the extraordinary sight of the Eternal Emperor, a colossal statue that has been under constant construction for the past three centuries. In the shadow of the massive structure, just outside the city walls, you find what you seek…
A busy trading yard just outside the city gates is populated by all manner of people from across Tian Xia. To one side of the yard stands a well encircled by a low stone wall. A young Tian-Shu man wearing a broad straw hat stands beside the well, the line of his bamboo fishing pole disappearing into its depths. As you approach the man, he gives the pole a brief, quizzical glance before unceremoniously dumping it down the well. The clattering echoes of the falling pole are just audible above the sounds of the trading yard. The young man with the round hat approaches, hands outspread. ”Yú méiyǒu yú shì zhīdào zhìhuì de.”
The young man gives Pai Gow a stern look at his retort, followed by a withering glare directed at the rest of you. He then looks at Dawn when she speaks the name. "The ruler who listens more closely to his fool than to his councilors knows only foolish counsel. No more direction should you seek, elf." He suddenly speaks in Common.
He nods absently before reaching into his satchel and removing a bundle of poorly-preserved papers and hands them suddenly to Pai Gow. The pages of crowded with Tien characters and Yue Xin elaborately gestures to one section outlined in red ink. "You see here why Mai Chun was so interested in my find." Pai Gow only has a brief moment to glean something about 'words written in fire' before Yue Xin snatches the papers back and stuffs them back into his satchel.
"When Imperial Lung Wa controlled these lands, quick and accurate communication was of paramount concern to the Eternal Emperor and his servants. Relay stations formed a network covering much of the continent, speedily carrying imperial dictates to the farthest corners of the realm. In these dark days, those relay stations have fallen into ruin.
"But into darkness comes light, as into memory comes charitable action. My researches indicate that some of the messages that passed through these redoubts were secretly recorded. A clue to the location of the palace Mai Chun seeks is certainly to be found in a ruined communications station just half a day’s walk to the west, down that road and left at the first crossroads you reach. Directions to the palace are said to be ‘writ in letters of green fire.’ Surely heroes of your mettle will have no trouble traveling to the ruin, avoiding the soldiers who guard it by day, exploring it by night, and overcoming the ghosts said to haunt it. The restless dead offer no threat to he who sparks the tinder." He looks at you all for a moment and unless you have any questions, he suddenly waves you away. "Cranes fly on the north wind, but the swallow knows autumn approaches."
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Aoyagi uses her considerable charm to try to gain information.
Po Li’s obsession with the artifacts and practices of Lung Wa extends to jealously guarding any imperial ruins within its borders. Soldiers who guard these ruins are particularly diligent during the day, but known to be somewhat lax by night.
The Pathfinders set forth and have no difficulties in locating the ruins of which they seek. You all settle in nearby and wait for night to fall... As you creep up towards the ruins, you quickly determine that no soldiers remain in the area. A number of crumbling buildings make up this compound. Lit only by the stars in the cloudless night sky above, the ruins take on an empty, haunted aspect. An eerie silence pervades the ancient buildings—even the wind has died away to nothing.
A number of crumbling buildings make up this compound. Lit only by the stars in the cloudless night sky above, the ruins take on an empty, haunted aspect. An eerie silence pervades the ancient buildings—even the wind has died away to nothing.
While examining the strange building, you notice cracks that form an unnatural square shape in the nearby flagstones. This single piece of stone appears to be a lid covering something... It is quite heavy, though, and will likely require a good amount of strength to move it . Or it is possible to chip away at the stone with the proper tools .
Fahr asks around. Despite his blunt demeanor, he does know a thing or two about talking to people.
"Ruins associated with Lung Wa are frequently said to be haunted, if not literally by undead then by mystically bound guardians of various types, such as creatures from the spirit world or from other planes."
"This structure was designed to facilitate the launch of fireworks for communication purposes. Two fireworks can be launched from the chimney simultaneously."
Fahr also tries to lift the lid, but struggles!
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Dawn looks to buy a vial of blessed water before they head onwards. "I heard ghosts hate this stuff."
Moving up, Dawn hears the stories about the buildings and shrugs. She moves up to the lid and tries to lift it.
"If this doesn't work, I can smash it with my hammer. I'm just trying to be quiet, here!"
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Too-tuk begins to make several clicking, trilling, and whistling noises and then gestures towards Dawn. The elf slowly begins to grow in size until she stands well above the others.
"That should help you move the stone," Too-tuk informs her after the fact. The tengu then tries to add what force he can to moving the chimney.
With numerous grunts of exertion, the group of Pathfinders just barely force the their fingers into the cracks and lifts the lid before sliding it to one side. Beneath you find a cache of a dozen skyrockets, the tubes of which are still brightly colored despite their age. There are two each of red, blue, orange, yellow, white, and violet.
Too-Tuk quickly recognizes the simplicity of mixing the two colors into green and the group sets both skyrockets up in the launchers. Letting the wicks is easy enough and... Smoke billows out from the stone tubes and the two rockets roar into the sky, trailing sparks of blue and yellow. At a surprisingly low altitude, they simultaneously explode, blue and yellow flashes combining into sizzling green. The green sparks coalesce and twist in the dark, forming enormous words written in Tien. Those that can read/write Tien recognize that the symbols reference the Dragon Empires Zodiacal symbol of the Dog. The symbols last for approximately 18 seconds before the fiery words break apart and settle to the ground... As they do, some of the individual characters unexpectedly retain their forms. Upon coming to a rest on the cool flagstones, the burning green letters let out a roar and suddenly look as if they are preparing to charge you!
Round 1
Bold May Post
Aoyagi:
Dawn:
Fahr:
Pai Gow:
Raevin:
Too-Tuk:
Enemy 1:
Enemy 2:
Round 1
Before the elementals have a chance to rush furiously towards the Pathfinders, Aoyagi steps up with her rapier and strikes out! Fahr fires off an arrow, but the missile goes wide! Pai Gow inspires his companions to better performance in the fight. Too-Tuk recognizes these strange enemies as being of pure flame from the elemental planes and wisely hexes one of them! Dawn holds her position and attacks the moment the first elemental comes within reach of her blade. Raevin holds steady for a moment while waiting for the elementals to make their move...
The elemental closest to Aoyagi slams into the tengu hard and singes her feathers! The second rushes to join its companion in battle and opens itself up to a devastating jab from Aoyagi's blade! It then rounds the corner and flinches back from Dawn's attack that just barely misses; however, it is unable to recover before Raevin draws their own rapier and moves forward to skewer the elemental! It explodes in a shower of beautiful green sparks!
Round 2
Bold May Post
Aoyagi: 4 DMG
Dawn:
Fahr:
Pai Gow:
Raevin:
Too-Tuk:
Enemy 1 (Grey): Evil Eyed 1/2
Enemy 2 (Blue): 15 DMG, Dead
Party Buffs: Inspire Courage +1 Attack/Damage, STs Charm/Fear
With a shower of green sparks the combined attacks of Pai Gow and Fahr end the threat of the elemental letters. With all the information in hand, you all begin the journey back to report your findings when you spot the familiar figure of Yue Xin camped just outside the station, seated on a folding camp stool and peering through a tripod mounted telescope pointed at the night sky. Gesturing upward, Yue Xin says, "So the letters of green fire invoke the sign of the Dog, eh? Dogs may be vicious gluttons or friendly allies, and the wise know to be cautious until a cur’s true nature is revealed. But tell me, what does the Dog have to do with the lost palace?"
After concluding your business with Yue Xin, you find another letter from Mai Chun detailing your next venture; the School of Affinities in Xiwu. As seem oft in this part of the world you find your destination without difficulty and soon are standing before the school...
The School of Affinities stands on the southern side of Xiwu, overlooking the Golden River. The school is a compound of several freestanding buildings surrounded by a stone wall. A small fountain bubbles in the space between buildings. The sliding walls of most buildings are open, allowing light to reach rows of students kneeling at their desks. Teachers walk between the desks, occasionally pausing to check work before continuing with their calligraphy lessons.
Before you have even the briefest of moments to explore, a young and energetic youth in yellow robes approaches and greets you with a smile. "Greetings and welcome to the School of Affinities! I am Jianghong. And you are?" He speaks in Tien. Behind him is a tall, muscular Tian-Shu man with a scarred face.
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"Students and bodyguards... we must be surrounded by um, what did Foremother call them? Nobility! The school's security wears blue and black sashes." Dawn takes a cursory scan of the school grounds.
The youth walks up before Dawn can continue her thoughts. Too bad he's speaking in Tien. "Uh...wh-what do we tell them?"
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If he was speaking TIen, Raevin has nothing to say, not understanding him.
If he was speaking in common, Raevin replies by offering him a pack of rations and a small handful of gold (10gp) to buy himself a hot tasty meal, maybe fish? "Thank you for your assistance, sharing your wisdom with us."