Asha nods, "Let's be off then. While we go, I... should tell you about something else. It is connected to the Golden League, and may also be connected to why we were attacked tonight..."
On the way to the Tournament grounds, Asha lays out the basics of her situation with regard to her brother, as well as their plans to meet at midnight. She does not delve into details, but also does not skip any pertinent information. She is blushing furiously by the time she's finished, however.
"Am we still planning to meet at midnight? Poog am thinking this time we can attack before they am ready."
As they walk, Marythsan allows Asha to speak and voice her concerns. He nods attentively to what she says, and when she is finished, he is silent for a few moments as he thinks upon what she has said.
"I see why you have come to Xielan Island at last, Miss Ghadvhi. You seek a treasure not locked away in Hao Jin's Vault. You are right, the attacks upon you could have been orchestrated by your brother. They also may be unrelated. There is only one man who can answer that for you, and it seems like he wants to meet with you tonight." He lays a comforting hand upon her shoulder. "I hope that you can find the man you knew in the man you are destined to meet. Enough unredeemed men have died tonight. I will pray to both my god and yours that the light of a third will shine upon him."
The trek takes little more than an hour, giving you plenty of time to make any preparations before you climb Yun Chumo.
[ooc=Simon]
You sense nothing but honest conviction from Marythsan. Either he is exactly what he appears to be, or he is a consummate liar.
[/ooc]
Before climbing the mountain, Poog takes some time to commune with It.
Zarina reminds the group that her strongest magic spells are exhausted for the day.
She will renew her Mage armor as they head out on the journey, hoping that wouldn't be necessary, but suspecting better.
"Everyone be careful. We are all pretty darn weak, relatively speaking. Don't go looking for trouble. Or go looking to eat people," she says looking at Poog.
"Maybe I can scout ahead, with the ability to fly and this bottle of magic smoke I can go largely undetected at night if the skies are cloudy."
"Good priest," Simon says, "let us do business. I believe we will need those scrolls very much this night. So, without further ado: how much?"
"For these minor magics, only a hundred and fifty pieces of gold. It is what I paid for them, and I would not dishonor one of the faithful by seeking to profit upon you."
"I will be glad to procure the elixir you require, honored Warrior. That should be easy enough to find in Goka. Is there anything else you wish for me to acquire?"
"Let's talk about that when we get back," Simon says, as he carefully stows the scrolls. "Warriors of the Five Elements, shall we move out?"
It's quite nice of the old man that he says 'when', rather than 'if'...
"Yes. Why am we still waiting?"
You make your arrangements with Bao Gan, and he agrees to meet you here tomorrow evening with the items you desired. You prepare to strike out to Yun Chumo and meet with Asha's brother. The moon and stars hide behind the thick cloud cover, making for a very dark approach. Though the mountain is certainly the tallest point on Xielan Island, it is by no means a massive peak, and the trail makes for a relatively easy ascent. By midnight, while you pass a few people on the way home from the revelry at the Tournament grounds, there is nobody upon the road leading up to Yun Chumo's summit, and only the sound of the wind blowing across the mountain's face accompanies you.
Zak will approach openly with Asha.
Poog hides in the shadows as he approaches, his eyes peeled for any hint of ambush.
Zarina trudges up in plain sight as well.
At last, you reach the summit of the mountain, and find that the path leads directly to a small stone shrine. The outer structure bears no iconography to inform you to whom it was originally constructed to venerate, but a faint sound of trickling water can be heard from within. Paper lanterns have been placed to illuminate the area, a soft glow brightening the top of the mountain. As you approach, a figure emerges from the building. The warm glow reveals him to be a Vudrani man, several inches taller than Asha and bedecked in dark armor. A chain is wrapped around his waist and across his chest like bandoliers, but he carries no other obvious weapons. He raises a gauntleted hand when you reach about sixty feet distant, close enough to note a distinct resemblance between Asha and the stranger. The man, however, sported a multitude of piercings on his face - between his ears, nose and lip alone, you count over a dozen.
He fixes Asha with the weight of his gaze, and shakes his head. "Damn. It is you," he says, at long last. "I'd of course heard that a Vudrani girl had come to Xielan to participate, and that her fighting style was very similar to that of my estranged sister, but up until this moment, I'd really hoped that it was all some strange coincidence. But, no, it really is you." He sighs and shakes his head again. "Of course, it would be. Nothing ever goes smoothly."
"You've come all this way to find me, sister. To what do I owe the pleasure?" He crosses his arms across his chest and awaits his response, keeping a wary eye upon the other two Warriors who accompany Asha openly.
Zak scans the area as Asha and her brother talk.
Invisible for now, Simon finds a good place to hide, taxing his skills at stealth to their utmost despite the darkness, his blades already drawn for battle. The old man squints as he probes the night for even more threats with each of his senses...
Asha smiles when she sees her brother, but the smile weakens a little when she sees the changes time has wrought on him. "Kadi," she begins, spreading her arms wide. She takes a step toward him. "It's so good to see you."
Poog continues to watch the strange human ritual.
Neither of you see anyone else here besides you and Asha's brother.
"I asked you to stay where you are, sister," Kadi says, his posture straightening as his voice takes on an edge that had been previously hidden. "We can talk just fine from here." He looks between Zak and Zarina, his eyes narrow as he sizes them up. "I'm sure your other two friends are around here somewhere. I hope they are at least. I hate having to repeat myself."
Zak holds his hands up and halts, then quietly steps back with a small nod.
Asha frowns, but does not get closer. "Look, Kadi... I came to find you," she says quietly. "I lost my brother. Our father lost his son. I wanted to know where you were, that you were all right. I wanted to know what happened, why you left. And I... I wanted to know why I have heard that you are hurting people in the name of this Golden League."
Simon holds position, silent and hidden, but tensed like a spring -- ready to explode into action.
Kadi is silent as Asha explains reasons for coming, and his stare at her is unwavering. "Why did I leave, Asha? Of course you would not know. Our parents always doted upon you, but showed little interest in whatever I did. You were their perfect angel, the beauty that Shelyn smiled upon. And me? Nothing to be concerned about. They'd made it very clear that I was unnecessary, so I made things easier for them. That's why I left, sister. I was in the way at home. I'm actually surprised our father even noticed I was missing."
"As for the Golden League...", the Vudran says, stopping just as he begins. "Where to start? Let's just say I wandered far from home, I fell in with a bad crowd, and now things are what they are. There's not much else to say. I work for them now, and you don't just up and leave the Golden League."
"Which brings me to the other reason for asking you here, sister. You've accomplished what you set out to do when you came to Xielan. You have found me. Return word to our parents that I'm still alive and well. Leave the island. Tomorrow morning would be good. Tonight, better still. But leave, and with it leave behind any notions of continuing in the Tournament. I've protected you as long as I can, but if you stay...." He trails off, and he frowns in frustration. When he speaks again, his tone is different. Softer. Warm, almost, despite the night's chill.
"Please, sister. Leave. For both of our sakes."
"But you are not well, Kaditula," Asha replies. "You are in danger. I care nothing for the mistakes you have made, what 'crowd' you fell into. You are my brother, and I will protect you from whatever harm that might befall. If you fear the Golden League, then we will break them, scatter them, and drive them from Xielan like the cowards they are. I have friends, friends who would help us - trust me when I say that, after tonight, the Warriors of the Five Elements have plenty of reasons to wish ill upon the League and its would-be assassins. By the Rose, my voice would be the only one offering them mercy among us, I believe." She sounds both saddened and determined. "And you have to realize that I cannot do as you ask, Kadi. I took an oath when I entered the tournament. You know what an oath means to me, what it means to Shelyn. I am bound to fight until the end, one way or another. So if I cannot leave, help me deal with the League directly." She pauses, and then very deliberately repeats, "For both our sakes."
A long silence passes between the two siblings, and for a time, the only sound is that of the wind and the trickling of water from within the shrine. Kaditula finally slumps his shoulders, and winces as though hurt.
"I was afraid you'd say that, Asha," he says, regret dripping with every word. "You have your oaths, and I have mine. Neither of us can turn away from the path that we have chosen without breaking them. I had hoped that I might be able to dissuade you from your course, and save you from your own noble nature. But I failed, and now that the courses have been charted, there is nothing more that can be done."
"I am sorry, Asha," he says, his voice quavering. "I truly am. For everything that has happened, and everything that will. But there is no escaping the Golden League so long as I live. I wish you luck in the Tournament. You and your friends will need it."
He clicks his heels together, and suddenly disappears with an audible pop. The five of you are left atop Yun Chumo's summit by yourselves. Somehow, the evening feels colder.
Never one to be long winded on words, Zak silently places a hand on Asha's shoulder and gives her a squeeze of support. Stepping back, he zips straight up into the air and remains vigilant for any threats approaching the party.
Simon fades back into view as he strides forward, rapier whirling briefly before the old man sheathes the slender blade.
"I am sorry this happened, Asha," he says, his voice and expression grave. "But I dread what your brother may have meant when he said he was sorry for everything that has happened and everything that will. It would seem the Golden League has been involved with all the misery that has already occurred during the tournament."
As he reaches Asha, Simon briefly pats her shoulder and his tone becomes a little smoother. "He was wrong. There are ways for him to break free, he merely fails to see them. We will speak to him of this when next we meet. Yes?"
"Kadi!" Asha shouts as her brother disappears. But there is no answer.
She stares into the darkness, and it seems at first as though she does not feel Zakarras' hand or hear Simon's words. But at last she answers, "Yes, Simon, we will. I have not come so far to lose him to the dark now."
She looks around at the rest of the group, then shakes her head. "There's no reason to stay here, I think. We should head back to town and get some rest. We will... need it tomorrow."
Poog comes out and scowls.
"Poog am not going to let him take away Poog's chance to become fire witch!"
You descend from Yun Chumo's rounded peak, and make your way back to New Harbor, turning in for the night at last. Some of you find sleep swiftly; for others, it is elusive. Regardless, you awaken the next day refreshed and prepared to tackle whatever events the Emissary and the Tournament have in store for you. You know the Golden League has set its sights upon you, and have a vested interest in your failure, not to mention the seven other teams that also wish to claim the Ruby Phoenix's prize for themselves. The past seventy-two hours have been tumultuous, but the greatest challenges still lie before you...
Zarina doesn't say anything, but she decided right then and there that if Asha's brother tried to interfere and harm any of the team, he would have to be dealt with the same as the other Golden Leaguers.
She beds down and awakens the next morning, even stronger, ready for the upcoming competition.
Simon also awakens, stronger and a little more powerful -- but not any younger. A series of deep, wracking coughs shakes his frame and his stomach burns.
"Damn," the old man manages to gasp between coughs, and he hurriedly gulps down some water. The cough subsides, and he looks into the mirror as he tries to tidy himself up. It is not easy; Simon looks haggard this day, and every bit as old as he feels. Another's mind touches him, and he looks up to see a small, scarlet spider rappel down from the ceiling. It settles right in the palm of his hand.
'Bugs,' the spider signals to its wizard. 'Good bugs, nice and juicy. But you are not well.'
"I am aware," Simon says, his voice a trifle dry. "Hmm. We had best expedite victory, or I will not live long enough to deliver the cure home." He lifts the spider to his head, and feels it crawl into his hair, hiding itself from public view.
"You will live long enough," another, harsher voice speaks from near the bed. "You will succeed because you must, you stubborn old fool. Whether the Ruby Phoenix's vault actually holds a cure is another matter entirely. Fool."
Chuckling ruefully, Sumon starts to dress and equip himself. Finally, he picks up the elegant gentleman's cane that has stood close to hand the whole night, his swordcane, and makes his way downstairs.
"Good morning, my dear," he says to the first waitress he sees, bowing politely. "Might I bother you for a bowl of breakfast rice, no seasoning, and a pot of twice-watered tea?"
After placing the order, Simon finds a corner table, puts his back to the wall and watches the common room, waiting for the others to arrive.
Poog wakes, tired and cranky after the useless trip to the mountain the previous night.
After spending his usual morning communion with It, he quickly casts his three standard spells, giving himself extra vitality and protection, plus the defensive magics woven into his witching gown.
Walking downstairs, he spots Simon and heads over.
"When we am fighting next?"