The feeling of destiny washes over him as Takeshi leans over to examine the box. His hands feel along it's ridges and designs for a moment. "The Seal, presumably," he responds absently, before trying to open the box.
Takeshi pulls back the lid of the box, and you see inside a jade statuette of a dragon sitting on a square pedestal inscribed with Tien glyphs. You also feel a burst of relief, like air after a long-held breath, as the spirit that was inhabiting Ameiko returns to its rightful place.
As that happens, a surge of awareness jolts you, as everyone between Ameiko and the statue - you, your friends at the caravan, Kelda, Zaiobe, Buttersnips - are connected in shared rapid-fire visions.
Vision of the Invasion: You see an army of terrible fiends - with burning skin, glaring eyes, and sharp tusks, wearing strange armor and wielding exotic weapons - emerge in a storm from a vast forest, then descend upon a nation populated by Tian people... Minkai. In ages past, the five founding families of Minkai were granted five powerful Seals from the gods, and given mandate to use their power to rule justly over the people of Minkai. Under their wisdom and guidance, Minkai flourished over the ages. But, a terrible force of corrupted spirits known as oni seek to despoil the world of mortals for their own depraved pleasures.
Vision of the Flight:
You see a young Tian man leading his wife away from their home, hooded and hiding in a peasant's wagon. They cross many miles, passing through dark forests, high mountains, snowy valleys and through trashing waters. Out of money, the young man hands a beautiful sword - 'Suishen', his family's katana, to a richly dressed Ulfen man in exchange for a bag of gold. At one time, the throne of Minkai had hundreds of potential heirs, the many scions of the five families. Then they began to die - by illness, by apparent accident, by magic, by murder - first considered a joke, a curse on the five families, but as the number of heirs dwindled, fewer and fewer laughed. When Amatatsu Tsutoku was born to the royal family of Amatatsu, he was 129th in line to the throne of Minkai. When he reached adolescence, he was 58th; by the time he was a young man, he was 3rd. He saw the signs, took his young wife along with family's seal secured in a powerful warding box, and fled for Avistan before the grasp of the oni murderers could ensnare him. In time, he had to sell his family's sword to the Ulfen merchant, Fynn Snaevald in the city of Kalsgard, to finance their disappearance into exile.
You recognize Amatatsu Tsutoku as Rokuro Kaijitsu, Ameiko's late grandfather.
Vision of the Betrayal:
You see a young man dressed in royal robes standing over a simple well, a friend at his side. Suddenly, the friend grows nearly three times in size and is sheathed in a frightening suit of jade armor. The jade warrior draws a sword and strikes down his royal friend, then holds the bloody sword aloft in triumph. Emperor Shigure of Minkai is not known to be dead, but thought in hiding for his own protection. The cruel Jade Regent rules in his stead, holding Minkai in an iron grip of oppression and draconian law. With no member of the five royal families to oppose him, his conquest is unchecked.
Vision of the Destruction:
Years later, another young man finds a hidden vault beneath the Castle Brinewall, and despite his father's warnings, opens the warding box. His father finds him thus and flies into a rage, clamping the warding box shut and sending his son away immediately. Then, the father waits and hopes his enemies will have forgotten about them. The warding box was designed to protect its contents from the most powerful divinations, but as soon as Lonjiku Kaijitsu opened it, the oni fiends immediately knew that the Amatatsu scions yet lived. Within a month, a force of ogre-like creatures and bird-headed tengu descended upon Brinewall and utterly destroyed its inhabitants. But they did not know Lonjiku was sent away, nor did they find the family seal. Unable to confirm the Amatatus' ensured destruction, the oni wait and watch for signs of their return.
Vision of the Heir:
The last vision you have is of Ameiko, waking from her deep sleep, but she is dressed in the finery of an empress. She rises from sleep, not in a humble Varisian caravan, but from a resting spot within the arms of a jade throne.
You do not realize that you had blacked out until your normal vision returns a few moments later.
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"No... way!" Kalistrine exclaims. "No. She really is a Princess? You've got to be kidding me!" She slams her shield against the wall and stomps back up the stairs.
Vermundr marvels, "Was that... all real?"
When Kalistrine takes off, the young ulfen follows after her.
Ahiko turns and bows to Takeshi. "I did not realize I was in the presence of royalty. Your revered sister it seems bears the mixed blessing and curse of being the heir to the throne, Takeshi-sama. We should return to the caravan and see to her well-being. Acquiring what was in the third vault was supposed to release her from her dreaming state. We should confirm that. Do you think we should take the two locked vaults with us and find out what is in them as well?"
Takeshi stands from his reverie, closing the box and packing it away to be brought back to camp. "Sis...?" He turns to Ahiko, "I think you're right! We need to go check on her!" He then turns back at her question with a frown. "You might be right. There could be something important in the other chests, too," he says, testing the weight of the other chests.
You haul the chests and the warding box up the stairs and through the throne room and out of the secret entrance again, you head outside with a new sense of urgency. As you emerge, the sun breaks through the cloudy cover as if Shelyn, Desna or whomever your deity may be has planned it for you, you can see the oppressive overcast of the last couple days clearing out to the southwest, leaving the open air crisp and cool and make the long trek through the woods back to Sandru's caravan.
When you arrive, your friends are just sitting down for tea and lunch. Your appearance elicits cheers, laughter and many questions, but above all they are happy to see you back intact and healthy.
As you step into camp, Ameiko comes over quickly, giving Takeshi, Kalistrine and Ahiko a strong hug in turn. She is perfectly healthy, but you can see she nearly quivers with nervousness and uncertainty. Her smiles to you are warm and she pushes back tears from the corner of her eyes. With a sigh and low chuckle, she shakes her head in wonder.
"I don't even know where to begin. Do you... do you have the Seal?"
She then walks over to Vermundr and says, "Hello, my name is Ameiko Kaijitsu er I guess Amatatsu, I have seen the lot of you in a vision but I do not have the pleasure of your name."
Even though he's still drained by the undead's attack, Vermundr straitens his armor and squares his broad shoulders.
"I could say the same", the young ulfen says. "Vermundr Bjornson. Your friends saved Kelda and I from the monsters inside the keep. Helping clear it out and save you was the least we could do", he explains.
"Your highness", he adds with a grin.
Takeshi returns the hug. "Sis! I am so happy to see you're better! I was so worried!" he whispers to her before stepping back with a blush, "er... and I hope you had a good nap. You're getting lazy in your old age," he says with a wink and smile, squeezing her arm.
He then reaches back into the chest to bring out the wooden box containing the seal. "Here it is sis... The family Seal... I am not sure we should open it again, though. One of the visions... the box prevents the oni from finding it and us."
"We also brought two other chests, but we haven't been able to open them to see what was inside."
Kalistrine is taken aback by Ameiko's hug, and nearly shoves her away.
"Fine. You're a Princess. What does that make all of us? Huh? Your servants?" she shouts, her face growing red so that her scars stand out on her skin. "You want us to carry you across the Crown of the World now, huh?"
Ahiko accepts the hug from Ameiko and returns it gently. Then bows as she speaks softly.
"You are blessed with a great destiny, Ameiko-denka. It would seem it falls to all of us who are your friends to see you home to claim it. I for one, would be honored if allowed to help you seek your true place on the throne of Minkai."
Ameiko looks at Vermundr and says, "I ain't a high nothing. I may be noble blood and in this case now empirical but doesn't mean I am royalty and definitely not now. In addition, Minkai may have been my grandfather's home but it isn't mine nor Takeshi's we grew up in Sandpoint... in Varisia." responding to Vermundr and Ahiko.
She then scratches her nose and says, "I need to digest this information for awhile, I literally woke up out of a coma an hour ago."
She then looks at Kalistrine and says, "You are what you want to be"
Kelda munching on a haunch of venison, comes forward and says "Well, the Path of Aganhei starts in Kalsgard, which is my and Vermundr's base of operations. My clan would surely appreciate the lift."
Vermundr nods, "You have a good crew and I certainly wouldn't mind the company."
Ameiko blowing her anger off enrages her even more, but the sight of Sandru watching makes her choke it back and restrains her from resorting to violence. She storms off, away from the group.
Ameiko looks at Kalistrine and says, "Why are you so upset with me, anyway?"
Kalistrine whirls back to glare at Ameiko. "Because you're a Princess. Always have been. And now that it's for real, it's even worse. We drag your poxy behind across Varisia for you to claim some fancy trinket, risking our lives while you take a nap!" she shouts, more in control now, her expression one of disdain.
Ameiko smirks quickly and says, "Kalistrine, you are utterly irrational, I have never done you any wrong but for some reason you despise me, however, the Prince doesn't cause you any issues."
Sandru steps in and talks to Ameiko, "Look let me talk to her, I don't want to let this get out of hand."
Ameiko then shrugs and walks away.
Sandru says softly, "Kalistrine, if this was any other of my clients and you spoke to them this way, I would lose the business. You know we barely make ends meet as it is and Ameiko pays a shitton if you know what I mean."
He then whispers to Kalistrine and says, "Let's have a drink off tonite, what do you say?"
Vermundr watches the exchange in confusion. Women were fickle creatures – soft an inviting one moment and then spiteful and angry the next. Eager to divorce himself from the scene, the young ulfen breaks off to look for Shalelu.
Shalelu sits off to the side skinning a deer while chewing a long piece of elephant grass.
"Hello!
Kalistrine opens her mouth to retort angrily to Ameiko, but Sandru's intervention makes her stop short. To him, she looks about to say something, but she pauses, a pained expression crossing her features. "Yeah, let's have a few drinks tonight." she says before walking away.
"Don't know if you've heard but Ameiko is awake again. It seems we found something inside the keep that appeased whatever spirit was holding her body hostage", Vermundr explains. "It seems the girl is some kind of royalty."
Without being invited, the young ulfen pulls the long knife from his hip and approaches to help the ranger with her work.
"Her and Takeshi, yeah Ameiko is a dear friend. She has had problems over the years but who hasn't I guess. Your from Kalsgard, right?" says Shalelu.
She then places the hide a few feet above a little fire she built.
"Thanks!
”A tiny village near there actually”, the young ulfen explains. ”But my folks brought me to Karlsgard often when I was a pup.”
Vermundr wipes his hands and begins to clean his knife.
”Have you ever been that far north? It’s dangerous and a bit cold but still beautiful in way. Not too much unlike yourself...”
She smiles and says, Why I have about sixty years ago, I think...
"Then you'll have to let me give you a tour when we get there..."
Vermundr stows his cleaned knife and gestures to the partially dressed carcass.
"Is that going to be dinner?"
Perhaps says Shalelu.
The next morning after breakfast, Sandru, Ameiko, Koya and Shalelu call the group into the largest tent for a meeting and inside you can see that both Kelda, Ameiko and Sandru haven't gotten much sleep.
Laying across the table is some rather large maps of the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, mostly written in Varisian. You see a trail and in big letters: Cyrusibakari
Knowledge Local/Geography 15:
Sandru starts, "Well, this trip is going to continue further north and I for one am ecstatic. This is a beautiful business opportunity to establish a permanent route between Varisia and Kalsgard, which there hasn't been since Brinewall was sacked. As Omar would say, 'Early bird get that worm'"
Omar chuckles and says, Damn right boss!!!
This morning Kalistrine's mood is not improved, no doubt due in part to the amount of whiskey she consumed around the fire the night before. She snorts at Omar, but keeps her comments to herself with occasional glances at Sandru and Ameiko.
"Karlsgard.... It's been a while since I've been back there. There'll be folks that aren't happy to see me", the young ulfen says.
"But we've all got to deal with our past sometime."
Hmmm, we shouldn't have any problems at least until we get into the Thanelands. Southmoor shouldn't be too much of a problem at least as far as a weregild on our friend Vermundr." says Kelda snarkily.
Sandru smiles at Kalistrine and gives her a wink and says, "Kali, should we go to Jol first before endeavoring to Kalsgard? I think it may be a great opportunity to do some trading and make some cash."
Kalistrine nods. "Doin' business. That's what we're in this for." she states blandly.
"I wouldn't mind spending some time in a city", Vermundr admits. "A place to spend some coin would be good."
To any that will listen, Ahiko chimes in softly, "I think we got what we came for from the castle, but if the rest of you want to clear it out, we can continue to explore. I will go along with the majority opinion. Perhaps if it were emptied of creatures it could be reclaimed and restored to its importance as a waystation between Varisia and the north?"
Takeshi frowns. "What do I care about a trade route? We're following our heritage. Why don't you take your caravan and go make your profits, we have something real to do."
Sandru shoots Takeshi a fierce look and says, "Boy, money makes the world go round and why should anyone else give two figs about your heritage? I am not doing this for you but for my friend Ameiko, your sister, whom I have a bond with. If you would like you may walk."
Ameiko blushes and then says, "Sandru, he didn't mean it. You know Tak, Tak has been spared having to learn about economics at the academy."
Ameiko then pulls her brother aside and says, "Look, I know you don't like Sandru for whatever reason, but he does have a business to run and as do I shoot, I have two. Everyone has their own reason and or agenda and you need to respect them."
She then pinches Takeshi's cheek.
"Takeshi, Ameiko speaks wisely. We have many people here, each with their own goals to pursue. I have no objections to going to Jol first. This is after all a trade caravan and has it's own purpose to further. As long as Ameiko sees it as a worthy endeavor, we should follow that path."
After about an hour the caravan packs all of its gear and the lead wagon pulls out with Shalelu on her horse taking point. The caravan moves out of the overgrown path that leads from Brinewall and makes it to where the sign for Brinewall is now full in view with a fresh coat of paint.
Travel on the road starts to become a little less overgrown as you pull out onto the T-intersection, where the trail goes either south from whence you came or north towards Southmoor but either direction is still called the Nolands.
GM Rolls
Around midday the caravan stops for lunch and then continues north through the Varisian Nolands. On your trip you can see some horsemen off in the distance but noone of any consequence.
Vermundr enjoys the Varisian countryside during the day of quiet travel. When the distant horsemen come into view he clutches his bow tightly but relaxes when nobody else seems concerned.
"Other travelers?" he asks of those more familiar with the route.
Sandru turns to Vermundr and says, "Those people are probably members of the local barbarian tribes who live in this area, the Nolands were primarily where the Linnorm Kings throw their criminals."
"I know was the Nolands are", Vermundr says defensively.
"But they're exiled criminals for a reason. Let's just hope they don't set their sights on us."
Kalistrine is watchful this day, tending to her job with professionalism and alacrity. She does, however, throw the occasional resentful glance at Ameiko and Sandru.
Sandru nods at Vermundr.
GM Rolls
That evening Ameiko pulls out her Bass samisen and gives an impromptu concert the first time in weeks. People seem to enjoy the singing and the playing of her samisen.
The next day around noon, Shalelu rides back towards the caravan with a smile on her face and says, "We are officially in the Southmoore part of the Nolands. We are starting to make progress"
Vermundr nods.
”How long until we reach the settlement?”