The Journal of Thalia Velerin -- A Jade Regent Campaign Journal


Campaign Journals

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25 Kuthona, 4711

After ten more days of travel, we finally reached the Storm Tower. We could see its bluish glow on the horizon when we stopped to camp last night, and as we approached today, we could see the massive black tower itself, a crackling ball of blue light floating above its top, hundreds of feet in the air. We concealed the wagons behind a large snowdrift and approached on foot, pushing through the storm-force winds surrounding the structure. Yoska cloaked us in a sphere of invisibility as we drew near, allowing us to slip past patrols of skeletal sentries.

The ground floor of the tower had a variety of strange undead and plant life, including a cluster of invisible fungus creatures that could see through our invisibility. We had to fight them, but we avoided the other inhabitants before entering a smooth, crystalline shaft in the center of the tower. A strange crystal panel activated the device, which created a platform of blue force which lifted us up to the tower's upper levels. Here, we confronted an immense worm with glowing, red-hot spines along its back, large batlike wings and fiendish horns curling from its brow, the three-fingered hand of Sithhud branded into its scales. Fortunately, the monster had a weak will which Yoska exploited by using a powerful illusion to basically kill it with its own greatest fears!

The platform of force took us up once again to the top of the tower, where six huge crystals shot arcs of power to the floating blue sphere of light above, the source of power for the hungry storms sweeping across the land. More undead guardians awaited us, along with their mistress, Katiyana herself. Perched atop a platform along the wall, she was a beautiful woman with pale-white skin decorated with whorls of blue and an airy, graceful way of movement. Unfortunately, her black-feathered wings, cruel sneer, and icy laugh shattered any illusion of beauty. Katiyana took to the air, calling upon her demonic patron to bolster her undead allies and batter us with blasts of greasy, evil darkness. Suishen proved invaluable in the fight, using his powers to grant several of us the ability to walk on air, our other magic keeping us safe from the howling winds that whipped about the chamber. Similar magic kept Katiyana safely out of Rugger's grasp, but she was still no match for our superior numbers. Roga scored a deep slice with his blade, infused with arcane energies and wreathed in flames. As she spun from the deadly stroke, I drove Suishen deep into her gut. She let out a final scream of frustration, rage, and pain, and in that moment it seemed as if her very soul was torn from her body, shrieking as it was sucked into the crackling sphere and scattered to the four winds.

With Katiyana dead, we proceeded to shatter the crystals. Their destruction caused the ball of light to implode, and the howling storm immediately ceased. Our task completed, we returned to the caravan to continue our journey. Hopefully, the threat of the morozkos has been dealt with and we will only have to confront the mundane dangers of the Crown of the World for the rest of our journey--bad enough without having to worry about supernaturally powered storms of death!


That was a beautiful description of the events unfolding around Crystalhue and the relationships between the PCs and NPCs involved.
I hope that this journal really gets the attention it deserves!


Monrail wrote:

That was a beautiful description of the events unfolding around Crystalhue and the relationships between the PCs and NPCs involved.

I hope that this journal really gets the attention it deserves!

Thanks, Monrail. I mainly write for my own enjoyment and for the other players in my gaming group, but that doesn't mean I don't enjoy words of praise from other readers. :)

The last few weeks have been pretty busy so I haven't had a lot of time to catch up on the journal, and I'm going on vacation next week so that won't help matters, either. At least we won't be playing for the next couple weeks. I'm still about four-and-a-half gaming sessions behind, so there's a lot of fun stuff coming up. Wait until we get to Hongal! ;)


9 Arodus, 4712

It's been a few weeks since I've had the motivation to write a new entry. I suppose the fatigue of the journey is finally starting to get to me. The constant howl of the icy wind, the struggle to keep the horses warm and healthy, our dwindling supplies of fresh food... It's been over a month since our caravan has come across a friendly face. Twice, powerful blizzards have slowed our journey, and we've had to fend off malevolent wisps, cranky ice elementals, and even the undead spirit of a lonely maiden lost to the frozen wastes. The new year came upon just as any other day on this trek--morale is beginning to flag, and we weren't much in the mood for celebration. Ulf assures us that we've almost completed our journey across the High Ice, and that we should reach the village of Ul-Angorn before the week's end--if we're still in one piece by then.

Even as I write this, it's becoming apparent that a small army is forming around us. I've only caught glimpses of numerous shapes moving through the falling snow, but Shalelu reports dozens of ice-encrusted skeletal creatures slowly converging on the wagons--a parting gift from Katiyana, it would seem. If we get caught out in the open, we'll be torn to pieces. Ulf thinks we can make a stand at the high ground of Dead Man's Dome, if we can make it there before the undead reach us. Legend holds that the lone warrior who made his final stand there still guards travelers who come to his final resting place. I hope the tales are true. We can use all the help we can get.


10 Arodus, 4712

We reached Dead Man's Dome ahead of the unliving horde. The crumbling ruin of the watchtower that once stood atop the hill provided enough cover for us to mount a suitable defense. As the skeletons began to clamber up toward us, a cold wind rose, carrying with it a mocking feminine laugh that rose to a horrific shriek. Perhaps the foul spirit of Katiyana lingers still in this world. We did not have time to dwell on such matters as we had our hands full of corporeal threats. Shalelu and Yoska took out a few of the undead from long range, and as they got closer, Aurora and Yoska brandished their holy symbols, blasting the monsters with the channeled divinity of Desna and Shelyn. The rest of us stood in a ring around them, hacking at the creatures that made it through the withering hail of arrows and holy energy.

As we fought for our lives, another presence manifested in our midst. It was not the ghost of Katiyana, however, but the spirit of the legendary Dead Man himself! The nameless warrior lent his spectral sword-arm to our cause, throwing himself against the advancing army of frosty fiends. The battle was long and grueling, but eventually all that was left of the enemy's forces were fractured bones, shattered ice, and the frustrated wailing of the wind. The Dead Man saluted us before sinking back into the ground, resuming his eternal vigil over his final ward.

We will camp here overnight to heal the wounded and repair the wagons that sustained damage. I sincerely hope we can make it to Ul-Angorn without further incident--the next time, we won't have an ancient warrior to fall back on.


15 Arodus, 4712

Civilization at last! After forty days of traversing the treacherous frozen wastes of the High Ice, we stumbled into Ul-Angorn, exhausted both physically and mentally. Compared to the other tiny Erutaki settlements we've encountered thus far, this village is a veritable metropolis of six hundred souls ekeing out a living on the shores of the Saltsea Lake. There are even a small number of dwarves among the largely human settlement, and I think I may have spotted an elf among the crowd as well. The villagers were very excited to receive visitors at this time of year, and they welcomed our caravan with open arms. Rugger quickly made friends with Salt-Speaker Khorokh, a dwarven druid who helps guide the Erutaki hunters and gatherers in providing for the people of the village. He and Sandru are working to get a good deal on fresh supplies for the remainder of our journey, while Ulf and Koya are comparing maps with the locals to chart our course to warmer climes. For my part, I'm just grateful I get to sleep in an actual bed tonight and eat some food that isn't either infused with salt or magically conjured--Shelyn may be the goddess of beauty, but the food that Aurora has been conjuring to help augment our stores leaves something to be desired.

The hardest part of the journey is behind us. We'll rest here for a few days before heading out again, but then it should only be another two weeks or so until we cross over the Wall of Heaven and into the nation of Hongal. What wonders and perils await us in Tian Xia? Time will tell.


18 Arodus, 4712

The villagers of Ul-Angorn are a talkative lot, and word of our caravan's arrival in town spread rather quickly through the settlement. Unfortunately, it seems we have attracted some unwanted attention. Earlier today, Lil told us she had overheard a strange man asking questions about us. Clad in a silk kimono of blood-red hue, he wore a broad hat obscuring most of his features. There was no hiding the massive, oversized blade he hefted easily over his shoulders. Lil shadowed the man to the outskirts of the village, where he made his camp. Determined to confront this potential threat on our own terms, we went out to meet him.

We found the man sitting beside a roaring fire, roasting a whole seal on a spit. Of course, this was no mere man, for when he saw us approaching, his form swelled with muscle. Before us stood a hulking, red-skinned ogre mage, sharp tusks jutting from his protruding lower jaw. Greasy dark hair hung limply from beneath his conical jingasa, and his jagged blade was etched with fell runes of power. My grip tightened on Suishen's hilt, and I could feel the sword's tense anticipation as well, but the oni did not immediately fall upon us in a murderous rage. Instead, he introduced himself as the samurai warrior Sejiro, and he offered to share his meal with us that we might meet as honored enemies.

Every fiber of my being screamed that this was a trick. I asked what he had come here for, and he quite plainly said that he was here to capture or kill the last scion of the Amatatsu bloodline. Before I could say anything, Yuto boldly stepped forward and declared that the oni would have more than one scion to contend with. My jaw hung open in disbelief. Was he really foolish enough to have just revealed his existence as another heir to the bloodline? Sejiro threw back his head and laughed with amusement, and I knew we had to kill this fiend before he could report back to his foul masters.

I moved to draw Suishen, but it was Rugger of all people who reached out to stay my hand. He said he was interested in respecting the oni's traditions of honor and suggested we speak with him rather than fall upon him in a hail of steel. Has the whole world gone insane? The spike-covered dwarf insists on talking to a vile ogre while the delicate half-elf wants to tear his throat out? I looked to Aurora to help me out, but even she took Rugger's side! I threw up my hands and stalked off, wanting nothing further to do with the heinous spirit.

I stomped back to the caravan and threw myself onto my bed, infinitely frustrated. Didn't they realize how much danger they were putting us in--putting Ameiko in--by talking to Sejiro? (They ended up letting him leave without a fight, too, in exchange for a promise of delayed hostilities.) I'm not sure how long I sulked there by myself until Ameiko came in with some fresh supplies from the village. Seeing me there, she sat at the foot of the bed and asked what was wrong. I explained the situation to her, and while she was surprised at our friends' decisions, she told me to trust that they were only doing what they thought was best for the caravan's safety. I sighed, but eventually I admitted that I might have overreacted a little bit because I was worried about what might happened to her. She'd already been kidnapped and badly beaten once on this journey, and I didn't want any more harm to come to her.

She smiled and placed her hands on my shoulders, massaging the tension out. I allowed myself to relax, closing my eyes and enjoying the feel of Ameiko's closeness. Her perfume had a crisp floral scent that put my at ease. Unconsciously, I slipped my arms around her waist, and I heard her breath catch a little bit. I opened my eyes, only then realizing how close her face was to my own. Her eyes were warm and inviting, her lips parted ever so slightly. I leaned forward and--

--abruptly jerked away as the door to the wagon reverberated with the sound of knocking. Ameiko gave me a brief apologetic look before Yuto came in to talk with his sister about remaining extra cautious in case Sejiro went back on his word. As Ameiko scolded him for revealing himself to the oni, I made myself scarce to hide my embarrassment at the unexpected interruption.

We're back on the road tomorrow. Who know how long it will be before Ameiko and I might have some privacy again? Shelyn tests our faith day by day.


27 Arodus, 4712

The path out of Ul-Angorn lead us along a high mountain pass and through a spider-infested forest before passing through the small town of Jaagiin. From there, it was a straight shot across open tundra to the Wall of Heaven Mountains, the last physical barrier between the Crown of the World and the lands of Tian Xia. As we neared the Last Pass that would take us through the mountains, it began to grow even colder as dark storm clouds began to appear around us. Mocking laughter echoed from the skies above as the clouds raced by overhead, unleashing a roiling blizzard that blocked the way ahead. Katiyana had returned with a vengeance, and with nowhere to hide, it seemed that we would be sitting ducks in the face of the hungry storm.

Things seemed bleak, but Koya offered a solution. The old priestess recalled tales of a nomadic people called the Uqtaal who worshiped Desna and carved a vast necropolis within the caverns at the base of the Wall of Heaven. The stories said that they had carved a passage called the Path of Spirits for the souls of the dead to make their way to the top of the world so that Desna would carry them home into the stars. An ancient traveler claimed to have found this secret path through the mountains, and if we could find the landmarks referenced in his account, we might be able to escape the fury of the morozko.

We set off at once, racing ahead of the greedy tendrils of the rapidly growing storm. Fortunately, we managed to spot the landmarks Koya's account alluded to, and as dusk approached, we reached the entrance to the Path of Spirits. Two great statues of the goddess of dreams once stood here, but one had broken off at the pedestal. Beyond the statues, a wide cave mouth opened at the head of a valley, with a carved stone lintel and doorposts etched with faded stars. We traded the perpetual darkness of the polar night for an even deeper darkness below the ground.

The journey along the journey passage with unsettling to all except for Rugger, who was reminded of his distant home beneath the Five Kings Mountains. The Path of Spirits lived up to its name, as every so often we caught glimpses of glowing spectral figures walking alongside our wagons, clad in tribal garb and all of them, unnervingly, missing their heads. After a full day's journey along the subterranean path, we at last came to the necropolis proper. The tunnel floor and walls were smoothed and decorated with faded cave paintings, and regularly spaced pillars depicted human skulls painted with red demonic faces. This did not bode well, as Aurora identified the symbols as related to Fumeiyoshi, the Tian god of dishonor and undeath.

A carved bridge spanned a deep crevasse, and here we encountered the first of the walking dead who yet lingered in this place, headless wardens of the ancient catacombs. Though they didn't pose too much of a threat, across the bridge was an immense petrified tree in a pool of violet-tinted water. The pool seemed to be filled with restless spirits who did not take kindly to our intrusion. We battled them along with the shade of an ancient priestess and the reanimated corpse of a would-be grave robber, getting the wagons through the chamber to the safety of the passage on the far side. Along the way, we found a few fine items of treasure, including an enchanted temple sword that could banish spirits which Yuto claimed for his own use.

Deciding to make our way out of this haunted place as expeditiously as possible, we ignored several side passages filled with burial niches and cracks leading to adjoining caverns which scouting revealed to be occupied by a tribe of yetis. At last, the main pathway through the necropolis opened into a wide cavern with another crevasse to the north and a broad switchback road leading up and out to the south. Unfortunately, in the middle was a huge throne atop a broad dais, and standing before the throne were a trio of hulking yetis. With a howl, they signaled an attack, and the entire tribe of yetis came pouring out of the crevasse to fall upon the caravan!

As our friends battled the hulking man-beasts, we rushed forward to deal with the savages' apparent leaders. To our surprise, as we drew near, an even larger yeti emerged from the stone dais with which he had been melded, glowing with magical wards and enhancements. The ensuing battle was fierce. Yuto and I danced amid the brutes, dodging their swiping claws as we slashed and at them with our blades. Aurora's magic bolstered our fighting skills as Yoska used strategic illusions to hinder and harrass the yetis. Rugger and Roga went toe to toe with the mighty chieftain, though Rugger's favorite tactic was ineffective as the chieftain's magic allowed to effortlessly slip free of the dwarf's spiked grasp. The chief proved a formidable foe, managing to power through even Rugger's impressive defenses and leaving deep wounds with his vicious claws. Fortunately, as Rugger began to falter under the assault, Aurora stepped in with Shelyn's grace to heal his grievous wounds and keep the dwarf in the fight.

Those who remained with the caravan fared well against their attackers. During the melee, I caught glimpses of Kelda and Ulf cleaving through the mass of furry brutes, of Shalelu astride Goti-Drangi, firing arrows as the woolly rhinoceros bull rushed a pair of yetis back into the ravine from which they had emerged. My focus shifted back to the yeti chieftain as Roga at last struck a fatal blow. But the battle was not over, for as the yeti collapsed, the ghostly spirit of Katiyana emerged from his body, screeching with rage and filling the cavern with a swirling blizzard! She took to the air to harrass us with spells, and with Suishen's aid, Yuto, Roga and I walked through the swirling winds to get to her. Aurora unleashed bursts of positive energy whenever the ghost drew near, and we weathered her assault to get close enough and pin her down. The nine rings on Yuto's new sword glowed with power as he delivered the final blow, destroying the vengeful spirit once and for all. The few remaining yetis fled back into their dark hole, and we headed up the pathway out of the necropolis.

We emerged into real sunlight for the first time in months. I may never see a more beauteous sight than the clear blue skies overhead. Down past the mountains, vast swaths of grasslands stretched to the horizon. The gloomy pallor that had hung over the caravan since we started across the Crown of the World almost three months ago vanished in an instant. I choked back tears of joy as I embraced my friends in celebration. We had made it. We had survived one of the most dangerous journeys anybody could imagine and emerged on the other side in one piece. Here before us stood Hongal, and beyond, the Dragon Empires of Tian Xia.

The hardest part may be behind us, but the journey is far from over. We still must traverse Hongal and the Forest of Spirits before we reach Minkai itself, and even then, we don't know who or what might be waiting for us when we finally get there. But now I know that if we work together and believe in ourselves and each other, we can accomplish anything! Woe be unto anybody who tries to stand in our way!


Sorry to interrupt but I just wanted to let you know this Journal has inspired me to run my own Jade Regent campaign for a group of real life friends. I hope that their game runs with half as much dedication and fun that I see presented here.


mathpro18 wrote:
Sorry to interrupt but I just wanted to let you know this Journal has inspired me to run my own Jade Regent campaign for a group of real life friends. I hope that their game runs with half as much dedication and fun that I see presented here.

I'm glad to hear that, mathpro! If I've inspired only one person to play in this excellent adventure path, then I've done my job. I hope you and your friends enjoy it as much as my group! :D


30 Arodus, 4712

Today we arrived in Ordu-Aganhei, the gateway to Tian Xia. It's the first major outpost of civilization we've reached since leaving Kalsgard all those months ago. Not knowing what the political situation might be like in the city and wary of Sejiro or other oni of the Five Storms alert for our group, Yoska suggested we take some precautions before entering the city. Rugger would take the role as the leader of the caravan, a traveling prince from the Five Kings Mountains interested in opening trade routes with the distant Dragon Empires, with Aurora acting as his royal advisor and translator. After some convincing, Ameiko agreed to disguise herself as a lowly servant girl to avoid attracting undue attention. Yuto would pretend to be one of Rugger's bodyguard, along with Roga, but he'd assume a false name to help obscure his true heritage. Yoska himself adopted an illusory disguise as a jovial Erutaki guide, a comical character that would allow him to perform reconnaisance in his true form without revealing his ties to the caravan.

With the facade in place, we approached the gates of Ordu-Aganhei. Forty-foot-high walls surrounded the city, topped with spikes adorned with the severed heads of bandits who dared prey upon travelers along the Path of Aganhei. The guards were obviously suspicious of our arrival--a caravan coming out of the Crown of the World in the off-season is nearly unheard of. They inspected the wagons thoroughly, and seemed as if they would not let us in, when a well-dressed man emerged from the gates and literally threw himself at our feet. This man was Chua, royal advisor to the ruler of the city, Prince Batsaikhar. He brought greetings from the prince, and an invitation to dine with him at his palace and tell the story of our journey. He then presented all of the women in our group a black rose, and these words: "There is no fire like the fire in the souls of the women of far lands. Beauty is the wisdom of women, and wisdom is the beauty of men." They certainly have a way with words around here.

Knowing it wise to accept a direct invitation from the prince, we agreed to bring the caravan to the royal palace. Chua rode along with us to guide us through the city, the streets of which were narrow and winding, laid out in a confusing manner to protect against would-be invaders. The city seemed immaculatley clean, and colorful flags hung from every rooftop. Grinning merchants lined the streets, pressing up against the wagons to try to get us to buy strange foods and finely crafted trinkets. Those citizens who weren't intrigued by our arrival were absorbed by street performers doing dangerous stunts or demonstrating fancy martial arts routines. The local children seemed to be obsessed with Aurora, straining to get a glimpse of her or to reach out and touch her hand or leg. Chua explained that the locals believing touching somebody with blonde hair brings good luck. Upon hearing this, Aurora cheerfully reached down to touch anybody that passed by, hoping to spread luck among the people.

The Palace of the Prince stood beside a large, parklike garden that surrounded Ordu-Aganhei's central lake. After parking the wagons and making sure our draft animals would be cared for (the looks on the stable hands' faces when they saw Goti-Drangi were priceless), Chua hustled us past countless guards and groveling slaves to the palace's central courtyard. The huge courtyard surrounded a steaming lake, with blooming flowers, colorful birds, and hanging prayer flags in abundance. Here we got our first glimpse of Prince Batsaikhar, a enormous, smling man dressed in scant robes. He reclined upon an equally enormous bed, along with numerous women with white-painted faces. A tall woman stood behind him, clad in full samurai armor and holding an enormous two-handed sword.

The prince bid us welcome, offering fine food and tea as he asked us about our journey and our reasons for crossing the Crown of the World at this time of year. I offered him our practiced tale, that we were the entourage of Prince Rugger Taggoret here to explore mining opportunities in Hongal and beyond. We had made the perilous journey to scout ahead of a larger force of dwarves who would be coming when the weather turned more amenable to engage in a massive operation. Batsaikhar seemed only vaguely interested in the story, though the smile never left his face, and I could see his eyes roaming across my body in a manner akin to leering. I suppressed a shudder but maintained my decorum as he moved on to stare at Aurora and Shalelu in turn.

His eyes remained on Shalelu as he announced that we would stay at the palace as royal guests for the next few days. With a clap of his hands, he sent his staff scurrying off to provide rooms for us and to begin preparations for the Five Feasts of Hongal, to be held in our honor. This night would be ours to rest from our long journey, and the first feast would be held tomorrow night. We expressed our gratitude for the honor and left the prince to his own devices, not wanting to test the limits of his hospitality.

There were enough rooms in the palace that each of us got our own personal quarters. The prince was gracious enough to put up every member of the caravan, even our "servants" Viks, Shayliss, and the Ulfen drivers...and of course, Ameiko, still in disguise. The chambers are luxurious, with servants to attend to our every whim--whether we like it or not. It's definitely going to be difficult to do anything unnoticed while we're here. Hopefully, Yoska's illusions will be able to cover for us should the need arise.

After months on the road, an opportunity to relax in such pleasant surroundings was just too good an opportunity to pass up. Our chambers open up into a secluded grotto with hot springs to bathe and relax in, and it wasn't long after we had got ourselves situated that we took advantage of them. I slipped into the warm, bubbling water and closed my eyes, allowing myself to just relax for the first time in a long time. I was dimly aware of the others who entered the springs--of Lil teasing Kelda about her inability to loosen up, of Aurora speaking to Sorshen, using the mink to make plans with Yoska and the other men who were in their own springs on the opposite side of the palace. I allowed my thoughts to wander, and as they often do, they settled on Ameiko. Thus, when I opened my eyes and saw Ameiko demurely removing her towel and stepping into the spring, I wasn't sure if I was still daydreaming.

Ameiko floated across the pool to sit beside me, and her fingers laced with mine beneath the water. I quickly became alert again, painfully aware of the warmth of her body beside me and our distinct lack of clothing. Aurora soon realized what was going on, as she ushered the others out of the pool on some pretense or another. Within moments, only Ameiko and I remained in the spring. I turned to look into her eyes, and she smiled slyly as she ran her fingers through my wet hair.

I asked her if enough time had passed for her to consider her feelings for me.

She nodded.

I asked her if she was ready to change the dynamics of her relationship.

She nodded.

I asked her what she was waiting for.

She kissed me.

This time, there was no Yuto to interrupt us. There were no ninjas, oni, or murderous ghosts breathing down our necks. There were no more doubts, no more worries, no more second-guessing. There was only us, and our love for each other, and months' worth of repressed passions bursting through walls that could no longer hold them. And there was music, the sweet song of birds, as Shelyn celebrated the long-delayed joining of two kindred souls.

At length, we retired to Ameiko's chambers, where she fell asleep in my arms. I slipped away to write this entry, to express my joy while it is still fresh in my mind and the excitement won't let me sleep. Words cannot begin to describe how alive I feel at this moment. I know that our love will only grow from here. Praise be to Shelyn! And praise be to Ameiko Kaijitsu, the woman I love--the woman that loves me.


Awesome :)


1 Calistril, 4712

We slept in late this morning, and even after waking up it took us a while longer to get out of bed. Ameiko and I simply lay together, at peace with ourselves and our feelings for the first time in a long time. Eventually, hunger won out and we got up to join the others for a late breakfast. Shalelu was missing, apparently called away by the prince's advisor. When she returned to us, she looked rather confounded, explaining that Prince Batsaikhar had invited her to share breakfast with him. As they dined, he didn't say anything, but simply stared and smiled at her from across the table. The unwanted attention had made the stalwart elven ranger distinctly uncomfortable, so Aurora and Yoska hatched a scheme to protect Shalelu from further unwanted advances. Since many elves possess an androgynous beauty, they convinced her to pretend that she was a man, and had been the whole time. With some clever costuming and illusory "enhancements," Shalelu became "Shale," a disguise they hoped would throw the prince off of her scent, so to speak.

To further establish Shale's manliness, Yoska decided to take "him" to a local brothel. Yuto was only too eager to tag along, and I fear his time at the Hall of Valor in Kalsgard may have turned him on to a new vice. I couldn't help but notice Aurora's lingering stare as he walked off with Yoska and Shalelu. Has she still not told him what his gift at Crystalhue signified? I told her that she needs to tell him sooner or later, but she merely shrugged it off. "Love will find its way," she said. Well, sometimes love needs a little nudging in the right direction.

Rugger and Sandru went into the city to trade and resupply the caravan, so I spent the day in idle pursuits, practicing swordplay with Roga, working on my calligraphy and courtly graces with Ameiko. That night, Prince Batsaikhar treated us to the first of the Five Feasts of Hongal. Over three hundred people crowded into the prince's lavish throne room courtyard: guests, wives, courtiers, slaves, all seemingly as eager to please us as the ever-smiling prince himself. Shalelu's disguise seemed to have the desired effect, as the prince seemed at first confused and later disappointed that the object of his affection was apparently of the wrong gender. However, it wasn't long before he fixated on a new target, as he sat Aurora on his right side and did his best to charm her the whole night. The prince's royal guards performed an exhibition of the Three Games of Hongal: mounted archery, bareback horse racing, and wrestling. The prince then asked us to show off something similar, and Roga gladly accepted the challenge, holding his own in the first two contests and then grappling and pinning the prince's champion. Batsaikhar seemed pleased and presented us with a gift of a bow and arrows for performing well, but after the feast, Yoska caught him openly berating his men for failing to impress.

As the feast was winding down, Roga stepped up to the prince and asked him if his royal bodyguard would be willing to give a demonstration of her skill with the blade. The samurai stiffened as Batsaikhar asked if Roga desired a challenge. Without thinking, Roga said he was, which the prince took to mean he was challenging the woman to an honor duel! I shook my head in dismay as the woman, Okimoto Izume, nodded her acceptance. With such a challenge, honor demanded Izume meet Roga on the field of battle in a fight to the death, the prince explained with a wide grin. Too late, Roga realized what he had just set up and tried to back out of it, but Batsaikhar would have none of it. The duel would take place on the last day of the Five Feasts.

We chastised Roga after the feast for speaking without thinking. We'd have to figure out a way out of this mess while still saving face in the eyes of the prince. It turned out Rugger had more bad news for us as well. While exploring Ordu-Aganhei, he saw a man moving through the crowds with an enormous sword strapped to his back. It could only be Sejiro. His presence here does not bode well for us, but we can't leave while still under Batsaikhar's hospitality. The dwarf sent the angel Helgavar to keep an eye on Sejiro and report back if he makes any moves against us. We will just have to wait and see what the enigmatic oni is up to.


2 Calistril, 4712

We spent today in a similar manner as yesterday, enjoying the luxuries of the palace and the shopping opportunities the large trade city has to offer. Roga sought out Izume to try to reason his way out of the duel he had inadvertantly initiated, but judging by his glum expression upon his return, I don't think he had much success. Aurora was called away to spend time with Prince Batsaikhar, who clearly has settled on a new object of affection. Unfortunately, I fear it is too late to pretend that Aurora is a man. At least she has more experience with matters of love and lust, so I hope she will be able to handle the situation diplomatically.

Ulf and Kelda are beginning to grow restless. Both of them signed up to help guide the caravan across the Crown of the World, but now that we've crossed the deadly wilderness, they seem to be unsure how useful they will be for the remainder of the journey to Minkai. Rugger has tried to alleviate their concerns, taking them out on a hunting expedition to keep their combat prowess sharp.

Lil has been slipping in and out of the palace since our arrival, often times clutching handfuls of books or scrolls and secreting them in her room. I asked her what she was up to on one of her return trips, and she said she was gathering as many local stories and folk tales as she could find. It seems she's made it her personal mission to collect the lore of the land and try to organize it into one coherent source. A noble goal, to be sure, but I worry about her going off alone when Sejiro is lurking around.

Tonight was the Feast of the Ancients. The food was even more extravagant and strange than the previous night, and the entertainment consisted of shadow puppet theater, singing, and musical performances of traditional Hongali folk tales and songs. Prince Batsaikhar again asked us to provide a similar performance, so I sang and told stories from Varisian folklore, while Ameiko provided accompaniment on her samisen. The prince seemed more intent upon plying Aurora with honeyed words and platitudes, making no secret of his desire for her. Things might have progressed further if Aurora had not insisted they end the night with the "dwarven twilight ritual." I'm pretty sure it's something that she and Rugger invented specifically to confound the locals, involving chugging copious amounts of the dwarf's "special stash" of potent alcohol. Suffice it to say, after two full steins, the prince excused himself for the remainder of the evening, sparing Aurora his advances while he left to presumably be sick in private. The stalling tactic seems to be working for now, but there are still three more feasts to go.


3 Calistril, 4712

Prince Batsaikhar hosted the Feast of Fire tonight, and the fare that was offered ranged from the odd to the downright bizarre. Cow's lung in chili sauce, pig face, snake venom soup, deep fried bee larvae... But worst of all had to have been the thousand-year old eggs: duck eggs coated with lime, ashes, and mud and soaked in horse urine for a hundred days. Yuck! Who comes up with these sorts of things? I wisely abstained from eating much of anything tonight, but I could see Sandru and Yoska eagerly chowing down on all sorts of grotesque things.

The evening's entertainment was "The Taming of the Kirin," a dazzling display of fire breathing and swordplay and dancing on hot coals. Once more, the prince wished us to amuse him with similar displays from our home land. Tonight was Yuto's moment in the spotlight, as he showed off the unique flowing style of martial arts he learned in the Monastery of Blue Stones. Batsaikhar was pleased, and rewarded Rugger with a case full of elixirs of fire breath as a reward.

The prince declined to participate in the "dwarven twilight ritual" this evening, but invited Aurora for a private walk in his gardens once the feast concluded. I could see the priestess' reluctance, but she accepted the invitation to avoid offending the prince. Yoska insisted she take Sorshen along with her so that he could keep an eye out in case the prince attempted any funny business. I intended to be even closer at hand in case things turned sour. After retiring to our quarters for the evening, I rummaged through my packs and produced the enchanted shozoku we recovered from the Frozen Shadows ninja who had captured Ameiko back in Kalsgard. Within a few minutes, I was clad as a ninja myself, shadowing Aurora among the rooftops and gables of the palace.

I have not had much opportunity of late to put my stealth skills to the test, and it felt rather thrilling slinking through the shadows while below, Batsaikhar lead Aurora by the arm through his magnificent gardens. Things seemed to be innocent enough. While Batsaikhar desired Aurora, he was polite enough not to force himself upon her, and for her part, Aurora seemed to be playing along, flirting with him as she subtly pressed for more information about the situation in Minkai and what Hongal's relationship was with the Jade Regent. I allowed myself to relax, seeing that my friend wasn't in any real danger. However, that's when Suishen's mental voice alerted me to something approaching.

Heart pounding, I whirled to see a cloud of mist coalescing into the form of a hulking, red-skinned giant--Sejiro! I moved to draw my blade, but he held out his hands and bade me wait, assuring me that he had come only to talk. I was understandably wary, but a closer look showed his bedraggled appearance and a look of exhaustion in his eyes. I crossed my arms and told him if he wanted to speak to me, he had better do so quickly. The ogre mage sat down, but I remained standing, though even so we were both still at eye level. I remained tense, expecting a trap, but the oni calmly poured himself some sake, making a show of sipping it and offering me some. I declined.

Sejiro confided he had been having terrible dreams of late, nightmares in which he grew old and weak, powerless to even take his own life to spare him the shame of impotence. He had begun to question whether his devotion to his masters in the Five Storms was leading him down a path of ruin. If this was an attempt to garner pity from me, it didn't work. I still felt nothing but contempt for this horrible monster whose stated purpose was to kill or capture the woman I love. The only thing staying my blade was the knowledge that I was no match in single combat with the powerful oni. Sejiro said that I would soon encounter several of his lesser brothers and sisters, and that he hoped I would hone my blade against them so that I would be prepared when the "proper time" arrived. The oni finished his sake in one big gulp and then vanished as suddenly as he had appeared.

Still somewhat mystified by the encounter, I turned back to the gardens to see Aurora kissing Batsaikhar! My eyes widened with shock, but then I saw her free hand snake up behind him and pluck a lock of hair from his head. Aha! With that, Yoska could use his magic more effectively against the prince should things come to that. That Aurora is a wily one. Still, I worry that she just might be encouraging the prince to accelerate his plans of courtship. And isn't Aurora already engaged...sort of? What would Yuto think if he knew what she was up to?

This is all starting to get rather complicated. I hope we get out of Hongal soon.


Great updates! Looking forward to reading about how all of this will eventually play out!


4 Calistril, 4712

Today was the Feast of the Honored Visitors, which was our turn to provide the food and entertainment for the prince and his court. Advisor Chua woke us up at dawn to instruct the household staff on how to proceed. In honor or "Prince" Taggoret, we would be hosting a traditional dwarven feast, complete with fanciful decorations to make the royal courtyard resemble the dwarven halls of the Five Kings Mountains. Copious amounts of red meat and potent alocholic beverages would be the order of the day.

While the servants scurried about to make Rugger's desires a reality, I told Yoska about my encounter with Sejiro last night. The bloatmage choked out a bitter laugh when I explained about the oni's nightmares. Apparently, ever since our first encounter with the ogre mage near Ul-Angorn, Yoska has been spending part of every night using his magic to infiltrate his dreams and plant the nightmares there! A devious way to torture an enemy...but if it keeps Ameiko safe, then I can accept a bit of psychological warfare. Yoska was concerned about Helgarval. The diminutive angel did not report back last night, and he fears Sejiro might have discovered him and done something unpleasant to the poor fellow. I do hope he's okay.

Just before noon, Prince Batsaikhar called for Rugger and Aurora. They were gone for a long while, and when they returned, it was with mixed emotion. Batsaikhar had given Rugger's people exclusive mining rights to a nearby mountain range in exchange for the promise of Aurora's hand in marriage! To sweeten the deal, the prince also offered a special dowry: the Ruby of Hongal, an enormous, flawless gemstone worth thousands of gold! They had reluctantly accepted, not wanting to offend the powerful prince, but I could tell that neither one was quite happy with the deal, especially Aurora. So now she's double-engaged? How does that even work? The two of them immediately began conspiring with Yoska, trying to figure a way out of the deal without angering Batsaikhar. As if our lives weren't complicated enough already!

At least the feast went well enough. Most of the prince's guests were bemused by the "exotic" fare we served, and of course it didn't take long for most of them to become rather drunk on dwarven spirits. I lead several rounds of dwarven ballads and drinking songs, translated into Tien for the guest's convenience, and we ended the evening with traditional Varisian dances. This was when Yoska initiated the first part of his plan, which apparently involved convincing the prince that Sandru and Aurora were in love. After an evening of Aurora looking sad and Sandru gazing pointedly in her direction, the caravan master pulled the priestess away from the dancing for a "private" conversation (staged to be in the presence of several of the house servants). There, Sandru professed his love for Aurora and insisted they run away together this very night, but Aurora had already pledged herself to another and would not break her word, even though she loved him too. Sandru then said that Shelyn would find a way for true love to fly free, and then he swept Aurora into a passionate kiss.

Yoska seemed pleased with this initial performance, but I couldn't help but notice Aurora's flush as she returned to the party. She still has feelings for Sandru! The kiss was more than just an act for her. Is that why she hasn't told Yuto what his gift meant yet? Which of them does she really love? Does she even know?

Roga has a duel to the death tomorrow. I wonder whether he or Aurora has it easier.


5 Calistril, 4712

The last of the Five Feasts of Hongal, the Feast of the Dragon, took place this evening. We spent most of the day packing up the caravan and preparing for an anticipated swift exit from Ordu-Aganhei, for when Yoska's plan concluded or if Roga's duel went awry, Prince Batsaikhar was likely going to be furious. Unlike the other feasts, this one took place across the city. The merchants were instructed to show the finest wares of Tian Xia at a speical market on the shores of the steaming central lake. In addition, the streets were filled with hundreds of brightly colored dragon costumes parading around, along with paper candles and other small fireworks displays. The height of the evening's entertainment would be the honor duel between Roga and the prince's bodyguard, Okimoto Izume.

We browsed the wares and sampled the food, but it was hard to relax with all the anticipation that had been building up for our imminent departure from the city. At last, a gong sounded to indicate that Prince Batsaikhar had emerged from the palace. The time for the duel had come. Roga and Izume met in the special ring that had been set up for the event. The crowd gathered close to get a glimpse of the two warriors, while the prince looked on from his palanquin with Aurora by his side. Advisor Chua signaled the start of the fight.

Her body a blur of motion, Izume shot across the ring, her curved blade opening up a deep gash in Roga's belly. I gasped with shock as blood poured forth from the devastating wound. The fight had been decided in the first few seconds--there was no way Roga would be able to survive another hit. To my surprise, however, that finishing blow never came. I'm not sure where the horse lord picked up such fancy moves, but he twisted and turned, dodging and parrying each one of Izume's follow-up strikes as he landed several powerful blows of his own. All the while, blood continued to slip out of his punctured gut, and with each strike he grew weaker, but his rain of strikes had a similar effect on Izume. Once more, Roga batted her blade aside and slashed under her guard, and then they fell--both at the same time!

Perhaps Roga is more clever than I give him credit for. He and Izume must have worked out a deal before hand that would preserve both their lives and Izume's honor. Prince Batsaikhar was forced to declare a draw, and signalled for healers to rush in and save the pair of combatants before either one bled to death. The crowd applauded the spectacle, and once both were back on their feet, they bowed to each other and to the prince.

One crisis had been averted, but the next was about to begin. Yoska nodded to Sandru, indicating it was time to complete his plan. The elder Vhiski brother swept to Aurora as she finished tending to Roga, grabbed her by the hand and pulled her away. Batsaikhar's eyes widened as he ordered his men to seize the pair! Sandru and Aurora raced to the edge of the lake, falling to their knees as the royal guards closed in on them. They began to pray to Shelyn to save them, to let their true love fly free, and, with a fanfare of heavenly music and a burst of golden radiance, the pair transformed into colorful songbirds and flew away from their stunned pursuers! (This, of course, was all an illusion provided by Yoska. In reality, he had rendered the two of them invisible and had them slip away in the confusion.) Batsaikhar sank to his knees in shock, and I think Yoska had another part to the plan where he showed up as a ghost or something, but I'm not sure because it was about that time that the ninja attacked.

Several of the nearby dragon costumes were thrown aside to reveal a dozen ninja, steel blades flashing in the reflected lights of the fireworks exploding overhead as they leaped in to attack! Worse, a trio of bystanders suddenly began to twist and grow, transforming into full-fledged ogre magi. The crowd immediately began to panic, scattering in all directions as we suddenly found ourselves in a fight for our lives. The royal guards quickly ushered Batsaikhar back to the palace, with Izume fending off any ninja who got too close, but it was clear their focus was on us. I made sure to stay at Ameiko's side, not letting any of our foes get near her, while Roga and Yuto rushed in to engage the ninja and Rugger leaped about the nearest oni. Fortunately, Yoska and Aurora had not gone far, and they soon returned to aid us as we battled back towards the waiting caravan.

Somewhere along the way, a young woman emerged from an alley brandishing a kukri and joined the fight against the ninja. As we boarded the wagons, she introduced herself as Miyaro and said she was sent to aid us. Under the effects of a true seeing spell, Aurora said that this woman was a kitsune, one of the fox-people who dwell in Tian Xia. She seemed trustworthy enough, despite Yoska's protestations, so we brought her along as Sandru and the other drivers whipped our draft beasts into a trot. Soon, the walls of Ordu-Aganhei receded into the distance behind us as we at last left the city behind.

Given more time to explain things, Miyaro said that she was an agent of the kami of the Forest of Spirits. The forces of the Five Storms heavily patrol the road into the nation, and the best way to avoid pursuit would be to traverse the massive forest. Besides, the kami are aware of Ameiko 's heritage and the Amatatsu Seal, and wish to meet with her and discuss matters that might aid us in the coming battles. So we are now bound for the "haunted" woods for a meeting with the spirits of nature itself. The grand journey continues...


Rugger has said he wants to pop in with another guest post at this point in the story, so I'm waiting for him before I continue on with my own journal entries. It might be a bit though since I know he's busy with work this week.


Well well well, Looky wha' I found rummaging through the fancy box when I went to put my shiny new rock in it. Little missy's personal book of ill-remembered truths.

So I figured, it's time for more notes from the editor! Also, I'm now the editor. since the Lass can't keep her whats from her whos. (And I'm supposed to be the drunkard)

On that note in particular, I dunnae know what She's talkin' bout with the Crystalhue bunk, I know I woke up and my crown was in the fire, but I'm fairly certain I saw other people throw stuff in to that fire before I was so far gone to remember doing whatever I did, but my beard wax was tragically low the next morning. Luckily fire doesn't hurt mithril, or else I'd be in real trouble when I get home.

Also, I dunno why you'd think I'm sweet on Kelda, I appreciate a lass in armor, but c'mon... still human, and you clearly dunnae know anything about how dwarves show affection...

This Sejeiro business is gettin' me ticked proper, mah angelhat still isn't back, and it seems the devils got him locked up in a soulbox somewhere. I know I'm not really the lad's commander, but if my instructions got irrevocably trapped, dunno if I could forgive m'self.

Just know that when it comes down to business, that red devil's going to answer to me, and my spikes, and those alone. I showed him a modocom of respect, and the arse couldn't return it. Heh, I've gotim scared though. Using a cheaters weapon to slide through my armor? guess we'll just have to take it away from him and watch the big oaf cry!

Also since this little book will undoubtedly end up in a museum, I've taken the liberty of etching some of the important parts of a contract I've had signed in it, sorry Thalia, buuuut dwarven mining rights are more important than your personal brickabrak, and I figure the more places I have copies of this the better.

And on another note, while I suppose its only fair, since I can't spell crap in yer common tongue. : Gonti Drengi. Is how you spell it.

I don't know why everyone got in such a fuss about Hongal, other than being framed for murder it was proper fun. I got the whole country to pretend they were dwarves, and the damn city is throwing their stupid little ceramic cups on the ground, they shatter like nothing else, it's wonderful.

oh, yes, Thalia, for your history book: Sejeiro decided to frame me for murder, killed two of the palace guards who I was drinking with last night, Aurora Yoska and I cleaned it up yesterday morning before we left, so no worries.

Now if I can just start getting them to stop building structures out of rice paper, this little buggers might be a civilization worth taking note of. unlikely though. I can't wait until We get our picks into that mountainside, untold amounts of precious ore in that mountain.

I'm almost done with Ameiko's armor, and she's almost ready to wear it, hope she steps up once we get to her little paper kingdom, just have to take a walk through the woods. Woods is terrible places, cursed, full of ghosts, too much life in one place, means its surrrounded by that much more death... I mean c'mon, they sent a fox-lady to watch after us? I don't know what these people are into, but whatever kind of mating had to happen to make one of those? GROSS...

Ah crap, I've gone an' got meself being insightful. So you - future scholar - you may now resume yer fancy pantsy elven love story, and remember Thalia, if Ameiko is going to be a Empress, she's going to need an Heir... got to know these things when you're a king.

Grand Lodge

More dwarven insights from the Ruggernaut.And now back to your regularly scheduled ming-kai love story.


14 Calistril, 4712

It looks like Rugger got into my journal again since the last time I had a chance to write in it. I know I promised to shave his beard if I caught him doing it again, but now I just feel sorry for him. His ramblings are a bit more coherent than last time, and I can sense that he's just as eager to sort his thoughts out by writing them down on paper as I am. I didn't know about Sejiro framing the dwarf for murder, an event that likely weighs heavy on his conscience. If you're reading this, Rugger, I sympathize with you, but I would prefer it if you would start a journal of your own and stop intruding upon mine.

As for his comments about an heir for Ameiko, it's something I try not to think about. We haven't even reached Minkai yet, and now isn't the time to worry about future problems when we've got plenty enough in the present to deal with. Today we reached the edge of the Forest of Spirits. The vast, snow-covered woods are nearly twelve hundred miles across, separating Minkai from mainland Tian Xia, and filled with the eponymous spirits, both friendly and malevolent. As our wagons crossed the threshold into the forest, we came across a waymarker fallen across the path. Miyaro explained that such markers often have guardian kami who watch over them, and indeed, after we set the waymarker aright and left a small offering, a tiny man made of stone emerged to offer his blessings. The kami warned us to exercise care through the enchanted woods, but that the other kami knew of our arrival and would be waiting at an appointed meeting spot.

Indeed, as we continue along the way with Miyaro guiding us, I can't help but shake the feeling that we're being watched. Strange noises break the stillness at random intervals, and we remain tense despite the beautiful surroundings. We must trust in our enigmatic kitsune ally to take us to the kami's gathering.


29 Calistril, 4712

For the past few weeks, we've been making our way through the trackless forest. The passage has not been too challenging, though we have encountered several wayward spirits of those who have died under its eaves. These lost souls all seem to share a desire to possess the living and share their sorrow or rage. Thus far, Aurora and Koya have managed to keep the spirits at bay with spells and prayers to Desna and Shelyn. A brief encounter with a band of stone giants has been the only physical threat we have had to deal with, and deal with it we did, quite handily.

At last, we reached the sacred grove where the kami of the forest have been waiting for us. A giant torii gate stood at the entrance to the twilit clearing, and as we approached, an armored figure appeared beneath the gate. Floating just above the ground, the figure resembled a noble samurai with no legs. Miyaro explained that this was Noburo, the guardian of the gate, and we must ask his permission to enter. We spoke to Noburo and explained our quest and our intentions, and after making sure our souls were free of the stain of evil, he allowed us into the grove.

The rest of the day passed quietly as we waited for the kami to arrive. Gradually, we could sense the presence of the curious spirits gathering in the shadows outside of our camp. Miyaro urged us to remain still and silent so as not to frighten the kami away, and little by little, they began to file into the clearing. There were animals of all shapes and sizes, and spirits with stranger forms as well--trees, rocks, snow, vaguely humanoid shapes with oddly placed eyespots. The variety of kami on display was breathtaking, and they began to whisper strange words, which Miyaro translated. The kami swore an oath long ago to guard the oni of the Five Storms, who were imprisoned in a place called the House of Withered Blossoms. They had kept their vigil for centuries, but one night over a hundred years ago, most of the oni somehow escaped their prison. They were unable to discover how, for entrance to the pagoda is barred to them as long as at least one oni remains inside.

The kami asked us to enter the House of Withered Blossoms to learn what happened to the Five Storms and, if necessary, defeat the oni that still linger within. The Five Storms are allied with the Jade Regent--an exploration of their former prison might give us information and weapons we can use against our enemies. We agreed, and the kami seemed to sigh with relief. They lingered for a few more moments before disappearing into the forest as mysteriously as they had appeared. Tomorrow we make for the pagoda.


30 Calistril, 4712

The House of Withered Blossoms stands in a decaying garden only a day's travel from the kami's clearing. The towering pagoda is choked with vines and webs, presenting a menacing sight as we arrived. Miyaro guided us this far, but she refused to enter the former prison of the oni, promising to wait with the rest of the caravan until our business here is complete. After setting up a camp, we made our first foray into the House. The upper levels of the pagoda had been taken over by a large clan of spiderlike shapeshifters called aranea. They had hidden nefarious traps throughout the corridors of the pagoda, and they came at us in groups in an effort to capture fresh prey. Of course, we weren't about to succumb to such creatures after all we had been through to make it this far.

We fought our way to the top of the pagoda, where we faced off with the aranea's leader, a grotesque, bloated sorcerer. While the others squared off with his bodyguards, Roga called on his magic to fire a hook of force that dragged him up to the high ledge where the sorcerer was casting damaging spells down at us. I danced up the walls after him, arriving just in time to see the sorcerer transform Roga into a tiny spider! I was worried as the leader turned his beady eyes on me, but a well-timed dispel from Yoska restored Roga to his normal form, and angry at the polymorphing trick, he hacked away at the aranea. I arrived in time to deliver the finishing blow, driving Suishen into the foul arcanist's chest, and by the time I turned around, the others had dispatched the remaining aranea.

We searched the upper levels for signs of the oni, but found little to aid us. However, in the center of the pagoda, a gaping chasm leads into the bowels of the House of Withered Blossoms. We've retreated to our camp to recover from the day's battles. Tomorrow, we will plumb the dark depths and discover what lies beneath.


Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Real life has kept me busy the past several weeks. I'll try to get back to things as soon as I can--there's still a ways to go before this journal is complete!


1 Pharast, 4712

Beneath the pagoda lay a vast network of roughly hewn caverns. A great wall festooned with bloody spikes guarded the way into a subterranean village filled with vile hobgoblins and feral giants led by a strange shogun with an odd propensity for pigs. Fighting past these disgusting guardians, we found ourselves facing yet another pagoda, in an immense chamber where an underground river cascaded down in an impressive-looking falls. This pagoda was twisted and crooked, decorated as if in mockery of the prison that stood above ground. Here, more leprous hobgoblins stood in defense of a strange shrine to a ja noi oni that had apparently been left behind when the Five Storms escaped their prison sixty years ago. In the time since, it seemed this oni had given birth to several fiends and other monstrous creatures, a fact attested to as we ran into one of her barbaric spawn over a pit filled with gorgon bulls!

Past the pagoda was a large subterranean lake, and here an ogre mage samurai guarded a bridge mounted upon a truly enormous gorgon. The metal-plated bull stood nearly twenty feet tall at the shoulder, and its massive bulk caused the stone bridge to shudder as it bore down upon us. I screamed for the others to get out of the way as its noxious green breath engulfed us, and I briefly felt my body harden and become immobile before everything went dark.

Being petrified was one of the most horrific things I’ve experienced, but fortunately the effects were only temporary. When my body returned to flesh, the fight was over. The ogre mage lay bleeding with myriad puncture wounds from Rugger’s armor spikes, and Aurora was patting the massive gorgon’s shoulder as it nuzzled her affectionately. Apparently, even massive bulls are not immune to the charms of a priestess of Shelyn. The gorgon, named Jiaogu, will make a mighty addition to our caravan—assuming Aurora can keep it in line. I’d hate to see the damage it could cause if her spell falters.

Hacking our way through even more hobgoblins, oni, and nagas, we at last confronted the ja noi leader, a warrior named Munasukaru. She made her lair in front of a massive portal that, while inert now, had served as the mechanism through which the bulk of the Five Storms oni escaped their prison sixty years hence. The battle to defeat her and her chosen champions was vicious, and Yuto almost fell to her massive blade, but Aurora intervened to save the young monk’s life and eventually, we emerged victorious.

The lore we discovered in a nearby library was quite informative. A powerful wind yai named Anumuromon commands the Five Storms. He left Munasukaru behind when they fled the House of Withered Blossoms to keep the kami of the forest from learning the truth of their escape. It seemed Anumuromon was obsessed with siring the “perfect” grandchild—a tiefling who looked human enough to infiltrate the royal families of Minkai and help to eliminate their bloodlines. If his efforts bore fruit, it’s likely that the Jade Regent is nothing more than a pawn for the wind yai to act through. We also learned that Anumuromon is weak to weapons imbued with royal honor, such as Suishen or the blade that Munsukaru wielded, which turned out to be the royal weapon of House Sugimatu.

The kami of the forest were waiting for us as we exited the pagoda, eager to learn the truth of what transpired there. After telling all we had discovered, they gave us leave to depart, wishing us well on our journey. Miyaro offered to lead us through the rest of the Forest of Spirits, and into Minkai itself. Our long journey nears its destination, but I have the feeling that once we arrive, the battle will be just beginning.


An update at last! Thank you for continuing your awesome story hour!
I had already feared the worst...;-)


14 Pharast, 4712

The journey from the House of Withered Blossoms was relatively uneventful. The seemingly endless greenery of the Forest of Spirits finally gave way to the rolling plains of the Osogen Grasslands, the northernmost part of Minkai. Half a year since our journey began in earnest, we now stood half a world away from Varisia, at last setting foot on the ancestral homeland of Ameiko and Yuto’s family. If my mother could see me now! It had been a rough ride, but we all had made it through the trek in one piece. Now we just had to figure out a way to unite a fractured nation and overthrow a pretender to the throne and the powerful oni who supported him. No worries!

After a brief pause to take in the changing landscape, Miyaro suggested we head south to seek out a man named Hirabashi Jiro. The leader of a large group of masterless samurai, or ronin, Jiro had taken up residence in the Osogen Grasslands after being dishonored in the south. Jiro had been ronin since the rise of the Jade Regent and he and his followers are opposed to the Jade Regent’s rule. After consulting the maps, Sandru set the caravan on a course for Jiro’s camp.

When we set up camp for the night, Lavender Lil surprised most of us when she announced she would be leaving the caravan. She was grateful for the aid and support we had shown her thus far, but she was now ready to find a new life for herself here in Minkai and had no interest in getting mixed up in a civil war. Most of the party still harbored lingering resentment towards her and were either glad or ambivalent at her departure, but being one of the few people in the caravan to actually take the time to get to know her, I knew she had a good heart and was a loyal friend. Before she left, she gave me a parting gift: a book of stories and legends about the Dragon Empires that she had purchased in Hongal. May Shelyn help her find love and happiness in whatever endeavor she decides to pursue.


18 Pharast, 4712

The southern regions of Osogen are known as the Borderlands, and as we drew near to Jiro’s camp, humble farmsteads began to dot the landscape along the Kosokunami River. Rice and millet fields surrounded the small settlements, along with numerous watchtowers to keep an eye out for bandits and other menaces. Near a great bend in the river, we came across a tall woman training a group of youths in the use of shortbows. The woman recognized Miyaro, but judging by the stern look she gave the kitsune, I doubted their prior acquaintance would help our case much. I stepped in to begin diplomatic overtures. The woman turned out to be Habesuta Hatsue, Jiro’s lieutenant and a paladin of Irori. She was wary when I expressed our intent to meet with the ronin leader, but I convinced her of its importance and she sent one of the youths to fetch the samurai before taking us to a small cluster of huts on a nearby hillock.

The largest hut was bare save for a board for a game called shogi, which is somewhat similar to chess. Hatsue confessed that her passion for shogi was the only thing keeping her from fully embracing the peace of Irori in her life. Ameiko and Hatsue played a few rounds of shogi while I sipped green tea and awaited Jiro’s arrival. Roga and Yuto went outside to entertain the young folks who had clustered around the tent to gawk at the strangers who had arrived in their midst, while Yoska employed his magic to make sure that our group would be safe from magical probes.

Eventually, Hirabashi Jiro entered the hut, patting dust from his robe. A stern-looking man with a long topknot, Jiro rolled his eyes as Hatsue was lecturing Ameiko about the rules and strategy of shogi. After brisk introductions, the ronin wasted no time in beginning to interrogate us as to our purpose here, how we had crossed the Crown of the World, and so forth. I told him our whole story, including the truth of Ameiko and Yuto’s heritage and that we had come to restore a proper ruler to Minkai’s throne. Jiro simply laughed, not willing to believe that a descendant with true royal blood had traveled halfway around the world to fix all the evils of the world. Even the Amatatsu Seal did little to sway his opinion.

Jiro and Hatsue eyed each other, and the samurai began to offer a test to prove our worth, but that is when diplomatic talks abruptly broke down. Aurora, for lack of a better word, snapped. Beneath the calm and friendly façade she had presented to the world, it seems the pressures and dangers of the journey had been slowly building up. The anxiety and frustration of her uncertain relationship with Yuto, the drama surrounding Hongal and Prince Batsaikhar, and the evidence of the atrocities of the oni of the Five Storms had all taken their toll on her emotional state, and this latest obstacle in achieving our goal proved simply too much for even a priestess of Shelyn to accept. She yelled at Jiro, calling him ungrateful and self-serving, that he was standing in the way of what was best for Minkai. Yoska spoke out against the samurai as well, saying our whole attempts to curry his favor were simply a waste of time. Jiro’s expression darkened and he abruptly stood and walked out, Hatsue hurrying along in his wake.

I sat there, pale-faced as Ameiko scolded Aurora and Yoska for driving a potential ally away. Rugger sided with Aurora, saying that the only way to get through to people like Jiro was to not let them push you around. I endeavored to explain the difference between dwarven and Minkaian politics; that is, the latter involved much less brawling and boozing and much more bowing and paying respect to a man’s honor. In the end, Aurora and Yoska agreed to find Jiro and apologize to him. It must have been one hell of an apology, because at length the ronin returned, willing to put cultural differences aside for the moment to look towards a mutually beneficial arrangement. I could tell his anger hadn’t vanished completely, but at least he didn’t escort us out of the camp at sword point, so I took what I could get.

Jiro asked us for help in eliminating a group of notorious bandits who were menacing the local populace. They had taken control of an old fortress named Seinaru Heikiko and had turned it into a well-protected hideout. The local daimyo were doing nothing to stop the bandits, and rumors were that they planned to negotiate to become formal allies of the empire, which would make them a large threat to dissidents like Jiro and his band. Moreso, Jiro was interested in recovering a treasure of his family, a legendary adamantine sword that belonged to his ancestor and that is supposedly held within a secret cache at Seinaru Heikiko. According to legend, the vault can only be opened by a royal scion of Minkai, so if we were to recover the sword, it would be proof enough that Ameiko is who she claims to be.

Ameiko accepted the challenge. Tomorrow, Jiro’s forces will lure the bandits’ riders away from the fortress while our group assaults the keep directly. As I prepared for bed, I heard Aurora and Rugger discussing plans of attack, and gesturing towards Jiaogu. I couldn’t help but smile a bit. They may have a well-defended fortress and an army of bandits, but we have a dwarf and a really big gorgon. I almost feel sorry for them...


19 Pharast, 4712

Seinaru Heikiko is built in a large crack of a ravine, carved partially out of the rock itself and reinforced with a large wooden wall and gate. While scouting around the exterior, we discovered an overgrown hollow that concealed a secret entrance to the fortress. We decided to engage in a two-pronged assault: Rugger and Aurora would ride Jiagou straight through the main gate to draw out their defenders while the rest of us infiltrated through the hidden entrance and closed in on the bandits from behind. We crouched in the hollow until we heard the unmistakable sounds of destruction, then we rushed into the keep.

The secret door opened onto an old bath that had been converted into a carpentry workshop and storage room. We caught its inhabitants by surprise: a tall bearded shaman and a powerful weretiger warrior! Yoska threw his magic against the shaman’s spells as Roga and Yuto teamed up to bring down the lycanthrope, and with her defeated, the shaman didn’t last long against our combined attentions. We raced out to the courtyard to find the battle well underway. Aurora rode astride Jiagou, lashing out with her spells as the gorgon petrified and pummeled a slew of bandits. The priestess had summoned a lillend to aid her in that endeavor as well, while a magically enlarged Rugger grappled with the bandit’s leader, who had likewise enlarged himself. We moved in to join the melee, and it was only a matter of time before we prevailed.

In the rear of the fortress, we came upon an abandoned shrine to Shizuru, goddess of ancestors and the patron of Minkai’s royal families. The statue of the goddess was covered with inscriptions, the names of samurai followed by expressions of thanks and prayers for good luck. One inscription bore no name, stating simply, “Empress of Heaven, touch me with your grace!” Upon touching the Amatatsu Seal to the inscription, the statue flashed with light, and a pit opened up in the floor, revealing a hidden cache of weapons. Among them was a katana forged from adamantine with the Tien characters for Hirabashi engraved along the blade. It seemed Jiro would be able to claim his birthright.

Jiro arrived later in the day, announcing that he and his ronin were able to defeat the roving group of bandits, eliminating their threat for good. We presented him with his family’s blade, and while he remained stoic, I could tell he was legitimately impressed for the first time since we met him. As promised, he bowed before Ameiko and swore himself and his forces to her cause. Jiro intends to use Seinaru Heikiko as a base of operations for the coming war—and no doubt, it will be a war. Since we have removed the Amatatsu Seal from the warding box, the Jade Regent and his oni allies no doubt know of our presence here in Minkai. He won’t be willing to give up the reins of power easily. We are going to need to recruit many more allies before we are ready to reveal ourselves and challenge his claim to the throne.


28 Pharast, 4712

Today we arrived at the coastal town of Sakakabe. Traveling across northern Minkai on horseback is slower and significantly less comfortable than the relative luxury of Ameiko’s royal wagon, but it is essential we do our best to keep a low profile now that we are in the Jade Regent’s territory. Doubtless he has agents scouring the countryside for any sign of the Amatatsu heirs, and it is critical we keep Ameiko and Yuto safe. The wagons are staying under the watchful eyes of Sandru and Jiro at our new base of operations, Sennaru Heikiko. Ameiko and Shalelu have made the journey with us: the former to help sway allies to our cause, and the latter to help protect the former. Besides, I’d be worried sick if I had to leave my love behind under such dangerous circumstances.

After establishing our presence there, Jiro and Hatsue informed us more about the situation in Minkai. With the true emperor allegedly in hiding and the governor of Kasai executed for treason, Minkai has become alienated from the other nations of Tian Xia, creating a long-lasting economic crisis. The merchant class and nobles are unhappy with the situation, and the common folk suffer more each day. Jiro suggested we try to contact powerful members of the merchants, military, and criminal underground to recruit allies to our side and foster rebellion among the populace.

Our first task brings us to Sakakabe. The best way to get to the merchants is through the geisha, who know many secrets that can be used to manipulate Minkai’s merchants and nobility. Sakakabe’s entertainment district is second only to that of Kasai’s, and the owner of renowned Kiniro Kyomai teahouse is the niece of Kasai’s late governor. It is likely she hates the Jade Regent and will be sympathetic to our cause.

Disguised as wealthy foreign merchants, we made our way to the teahouse and sought an audience with the mistress, O-Kohaku, presenting a tasteful gift. The geisha arranged a meeting with O-Kohaku for tomorrow evening. We spent the rest of the day enjoying the sights of the many-terraced city and taking advantage of the markets; this is the first city of any significance we have visited since our hurried flight from Ordu-Aganhei, and we had much loot to sell.

After retiring to the inn for the evening, Ameiko and I snuck out for a moonlit stroll along the terraces. We haven't had much time to ourselves since Hongal, and it was nice to be able to put our worries and fears aside, if only for a little while, and enjoy each other's company. Now that we're finally in Minkai, I can see that Ameiko is starting to feel the burden of inevitable rulership. I hope that the warmth of my kisses will help ease her troubled mind, that my love will give her the strength she needs to get through these coming trials.


29 Pharast, 4712

Today we met with O-Kohaku, mistress of the Kiniro Kyomai teahouse. We revealed Ameiko and Yuto’s lineage to her and told her of our plans to oppose the Jade Regent. She was sympathetic to our plight and admitted to having contacts among the nobles and merchants that could aid us, but first she needed help with a problem of her own. The star geisha of the teahouse, a prodigy named O-Sayumi, had gone missing. She recently agreed to entertain a pearl merchant named Yugureda Shosaito and traveled to his private island for a week-long stay, but never returned. The merchant claims that she never arrived at the island, but O-Kohaku fears that she is being held against her will, for Yugureda seemed to be strangely obsessed with O-Sayumi. The girl’s disappearance has been a blow to the teahouse’s finances and reputation, but if she was returned, then O-Kohaku would be willing to lend her aid.

Before she left the teahouse, O-Sayumi gave her apprentice a piece of paper with a strange poem on it and an ivory carrying case, telling her to give it to an honorable person who would look for O-Sayumi if she didn’t return from Yugureda’s island. The poem and the items inside seemed to be some sort of clues to finding the missing geisha, though their meaning was not immediately apparent. The case itself was decorated with an image of a geisha, and a small icon of a turtle-like creature called a kappa was attached to it. The apprentice told us that O-Sayumi often joked about a kappa named Numataro-sama, whom she often referred to as her “uncle.” The ancient kappa is rumored to live beneath a great magnolia tree at the mouth of the Jikko River, near the lagoon where Yugureda’s island is located. We decided to try to find the kappa before venturing to the island, to see what aid he might be able to render us.


2 Gozran, 4712

Upon arriving at the mist-shrouded lagoon, we began to search for Numataro-sama’s lair. It didn’t take too long to find the magnolia tree, and after sprinkling cucumber-scented bath salts into the water to attract the kappa’s attention, the wizened creature soon emerged to greet us. We asked for help in rescuing O-Sayumi, and he invited us into his home, a half-submerged cave nearby. The kappa told us how he had found the girl as a baby in a basket and raised her as his own. Eventually, he realized that she needed more than he could give her if she was to flourish, so he delivered her to an orphanage in a monastery of Irori. He didn’t know why she accepted Yugureda’s invitation, but he knew that the man is a powerful wizard and accomplished shogi master. Numataro-sama gave us a piece from his shogi board that he said, if broken during a game, could channel the greatest shogi player in Minkai. We thanked him for his aid and departed for Yugureda’s island.

The first guardians of the gloomy isle were the crew of Yugureda’s personal barge, a band of vicious ja noi oni, as well as a pair of enormous dragon turtles who called the lagoon home. Battling past them, we entered the run-down estate, ignoring the startled servants as we searched for the villa’s master. In the reception room, we discovered an enchanted shogi-ban. The magic caused an illusory image of Yugureda to appear and taunt us before we suddenly found ourselves in a strange quasi-real realm of shadows, a massive shogi board where we had become the playing pieces in a deadly game! The enemy pieces became animate shadows that drained our strength, but remembering Numataro-sama’s boon, I broke the piece he had given us. I was surprised to see the spirit of the greatest shogi player in Minkai appear to aid us—Habesuta Hatsue! She seemed equally as surprised to see us “in her dream,” she said, but she fought the shadows with uncanny determination, and as the last one fell, we found ourselves back in the villa and Hatsue’s spirit returned to her dreaming self.

In the basement, we found the entrance to a strange maze that skirted the edges of the Plane of Shadow. Yoska’s mastery of illusions proved valuable here, as he helped us navigate the maze and fend off the creatures of shadow that appeared to harry our steps. At length, we emerged from the maze and discovered the body of O-Sayumi and another, older woman. Both had been drained of their souls, but Yoska assured us that they could be restored if we could find their receptacles. We didn’t have much time to examine them before a strange tiger-like monster attacked us. We dealt with it handily and moved on to the next room.

Here, at last, we came face to face with Yugureda Shosaito. The mad wizard explained that he had been attempting a ritual to transfer his aging wife’s soul into the youthful and desirable body of O-Sayumi. While his wife’s soul had been lost, the geisha’s soul was still trapped within a pearl. With a laugh, he toppled a vase full of pearls, scattering them across the floor—if we wanted to save O-Sayumi, we would have to find the right one quickly and be careful not to crush any of them! The wizard was not planning on making it easy, as he summoned more shadowy servants and prepared to fight.

Yugureda summoned fiends of shadow as he launched blasts of lightning and waves of necrotic energy our way. Yoska stood fast to counter his magic with his own shadowy spells, as Aurora’s holy light kept the dark fiends at bay. The battle was tough, but we prevailed, and Yugureda fought to the death. In the end, we discovered the pearl-scattering was merely a distraction, as he had kept the geisha’s soul pearl hidden on his own person. Aurora told us there was still a chance that she might be able to save the mad wizard’s wife, but it would take a powerful miracle from Shelyn to make it possible. We teleported back to Sakakabe so that the aasimar could petition the local priests for such a powerful spell, and while it cost a hefty tithe to the church, the priestess deemed it worthy to save an innocent soul.

The miracle restored the souls to O-Sayumi and Yugureda’s wife. The geisha of the Kiniro Kyomai teahouse were happy to have their friend back, and O-Sayumi was grateful for her rescue. She seemed rather taken with Ameiko, and confessed that she had had a vision of the future. She assured Ameiko that she would be a great empress, and she gifted her with a magical samisen with oracular powers. O-Kohaku agreed to begin arranging meetings with influential nobles and merchants over the next few days so that we might start recruiting more allies to the cause. And O-Sayumi offered to arrange a private meeting with Sikutsu Itsuru, the brother of Enganoka’s daimyo, Sikutsu Sennaka. Itsuru dreams of putting an end to his brother’s tyranny, and would be a powerful ally if we can convince him of the righteousness of our cause.


Testing...testing...is thing still on?

It's been a long time since I've been back here. Real life got the better of me the past two years, but Thalia's voice has been at the back of my mind all this time. I recently commissioned an illustration of her, and I can hear her telling me how much she hates leaving things unfinished. So, very soon I intend to get back into the swing of things and give this campaign journal the ending it deserves. I don't know if any of my old fans are still around, but perhaps I can gather a new group of supporters as we move towards the thrilling conclusion! It may be a slow resurgence at first (I'm getting married next week!), but I promise to see things through to the finale.

In the meantime, check out Eryck Webb's rendition of Thalia Velerin.


This is fantastic news, Brainiac. The drawing is a bit too cartoony for my taste but I would gladly see your campaign journal return as I remember it for being very detailed and well-written.

Looking forward to an update and wishing you all the best for your wedding!


9 Gozran, 4712

While we wait for our meeting with Sikutsu Itsuru, we have journeyed south to the port city Enganoka. According to Jiro, the leaders of three powerful ninja clans who call themselves the “Three Monkeys” meet every new moon to discuss matters. After surviving so many ambushes by ninja on the journey to Minkai, it will be nice having them on our side for once! That is, of course, assuming we can convince them to lend their blades to our cause. At the very least, we may be able to talk them into staying neutral in the coming war.

Enganoka is the third largest city in Minkai, famous for its trade in silk, pottery, semiprecious stones, and rock alum from the coastal hills. Despite the apparently busy look of the city, it was clear that it was suffering from economic depression. Miyaro explained that the persecutions of the Jade Regent had ruined many merchants’ livelihoods and alienated many rulers of mainland Tian Xia, cutting off trade with their nations. We made our way to the Kuroi Yane market, a large, two-story hall that featured a high-quality restaurant wherein the Three Monkeys hold their clandestine meetings.

As we wandered the hall, a commotion broke out around a nearby stall. A group of police officers began beating a helpless commoner, accusing him of being a smuggler and spy. Before they could execute the innocent man, we intervened, and the officers turned their ire on us. It was their last mistake, as we made quick work of them. As they fell, they transformed back into their true form – kuwa oni, servants of the Jade Regent on loan to Enganoka’s tyrannical governor, Sikutsu Sennaka. He will face justice for his crimes against his people one day soon.

We made contact with one of the Three Monkeys and arranged a meeting with all three clan leaders for later that night. We then proceeded to make ourselves scarce, as our scuffle with the oni had no doubt drawn attention to our presence. After laying low for the rest of the day, we made our way back to the restaurant under the light of the new moon, where we found the representatives from three of Minkai’s ninja clans: the Black Lotus, the Dragonshadow, and the Emerald Branch. Ameiko plead our case to the mysterious trio, who listened quietly to our tale. Though normally the ninja try to avoid politics, they admitted the current state of affairs is damaging their business as well, for fear of the Jade Regent has dampened enthusiasm for illegal activities, and the Jade Regent himself mostly eschews hiring human servants.

However, the Three Monkeys revealed that the Jade Regent had hired a single powerful ninja to kill the lot of us, a man named Kaibuninsho who belongs to the Oni’s Mask clan. He works exclusively for the Jade Regent and likely is already on our trail. If he didn’t know where to find us already, the altercation at the market earlier today no doubt tipped him off. The Three Monkeys are unwilling to work with us as long as the contract on our head exists.

Yoska muttered about the folly of putting honor before one’s own best interests, but there’s no helping it. If we want the aid of the ninja clans, we’ll have to deal with this super-ninja stalker. With no leads on his location, though, we’ll have to wait until he finds us. We must be wary for ambush when we return to Sakakabe tomorrow.

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