Screaming in rage as Malnival drops, Kelda barrages the ninja with attacks, including snapping her teeth at him, and manages to hit the agile foe once with her sword. Sandru again moves to flank. Slowed by Kelda's strike, the ninja makes an easy target and Sandru drops the enemy with a swift slash.
Harlan steps back to heal his companions with a divine burst. As Malnival comes around, he hacks his scimitar across, catching the remaining ninja unprepared and leaving a deep calf wound. The ninja retaliates, stabbing his blade down and through Malnival's back armor. Again, the elf slumps, bleeding.
Kelda turns her vengeance against the last ninja, standing protectively over Malnival as she hammers the foe with two successive powerful blows. The ninja wavers under the assault, and Sandru moves in swiftly for the coup d'grace.
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***
Parity asks Ameiko and Heng, "Where is she? Not here, I assume … any leads?"
Can you sense her?
Ameiko looks up weakly, but concern is clear in her eyes. "She was here just a minute ago. I heard her talking through the door."
HP = 53/66
AC/T/FF = 22/17/14 (25% ignore sneak/critical)
Weapon Equipped = +1 Light Crossbow
Bolts = 41/43
Speed = 10' (15' unarmored)
Channel = 3/6 (5d6)
Oracle Spells Known (CL 8, +6 melee touch, +10 ranged touch):
4 3/4 Cure Critical Wounds*, Restoration*, Air Walk, Holy Smite*
3 6/6 Cure Serious Wounds*, Dispel Magic, Neutralize Poison*, Stone Shape, Magic Circle Against Evil
2 7/7 Restoration, Lesser*, Resist Energy*, Cure Moderate Wounds*, Shield Other*, Spiritual Weapon, Ghostbane Dirge*
1 7/8 Bless, Detect Evil, Detect Undead, Command*, Cure Light Wounds*, Burning Disarm*, Sun Metal*
0 Stabilize, Purify Food and Drink*, Create Water, Detect Magic, Mending, Guidance, Light, Spark*
* Save DC = 15 + Level
Status Effects = Bless
Seeing everybody injured, Harlan quickly channels more healing energy, excluding the ninjas.
Seeing Mal still injured, he heals again.
"Ninjas. The never listen. Sandru, you and Kelda prep the caravan. Mal and I need to get to the others. If the ninjas attacked us..."
Malnival regains consciousness yet again and looks up at Kelda standing over him and smiles weakly. "I think you need to help me train more, getting the crap beat out of me over and over is starting to really suck. Though the view has drastically improved."
Kelda's rage fades as the last ninja dies. Huffing with exertion, she holds out a hand and helps Malnival to his feet. "You're quick with a blade, but you can't help being a flimsy elf," she replies with a grin.
Sandru wipes his scimitar clean on the fallen assassin, but he does not sheathe it. "We can be ready to go by dawn, if we need to leave in a hurry. Go, we'll be fine here." Sandru looks around the gathering crew and starts ordering preparations.
Miyaro's kukri disappears from sight as the palace guards approach. She kneels and examines a couple of the fallen ninja, removing hoods to inspect the face, neck and even their mouths. She makes no visible reaction, but rises and walks over to join the group.
In a low voice, she adds, "Their tongues have been cut, and they are marked with the tattoo of the Lightning Tong. These are Five Storms assassins."
"Heng, out the window ... what do you see? Suishen can no longer sense her and they cant be more than 30 seconds ahead of us. I need you to be my eyes."
Parity will cast airwalk (can he cast it on Heng as well?)
Outside the window, Heng sees no sign of Maeve or any more ninja. The palace grounds are abuzz with the mobilizing guards, however.
"Ok you two, I'll set you up with a private wagon when we're on the move. For now, let's go Mal. Skygni, will you help, I think I need your speed."
If he agress Harlan will mount Skygni and head towards the palace.
Malnival turns red then rolls to his feet. "Yes, we must go. I can aid us with haste if needed."
"Of course," the wolf replies.
Parity gnashes his teeth a bit and then reluctantly follows Heng.
"Miyaro, I think you should come with us ... I'd like to know more about you and the things you mentioned. I'm sure you can find a way."
"I'm too weak to walk far." Ameiko says, struggling to stand even with Shalelu's help "We'll hold up in my suite until things settle down. Shalelu and Koya can stay with me, but I think with the guards alerted, we're safe for the moment." Her eyes glisten with concern as she nods to Heng and Parity.
"Miyaro, I think you should come with us ... I'd like to know more about you and the things you mentioned. I'm sure you can find a way."
"As you wish," Miyaro says, bowing low before moving to follow.
Once the party meets up, Parity states flatly, "Ninjas got Maeve. We lost her. Miyaro, here,' Parity thumbs towards the local woman, "is more than she seems. She mentions the assasins are Lighting Tong, of the Five Storms since their tongues are ripped out."
"We need to find Maeve and get out of here, now. They know where we are ... and they found out fairly quickly, although news of foreigners over the mountains may travel faster than normal, I suppose. But it doesn't rule out that someone here was an informant or spy for them."
Malnival stands in the street, the electricity flashing down the length of his blade showing the blood covering his armor. "Yes, we have to flee before a real force arrives. We would be safer at the caravan, but we must put as much distance between us and the next wave as possible."
Miyaro steps forward. "You should leave, yes, but reckless haste is unwarranted. The Lightning Tong is trained and equipped for fast deployment, using magic to cross hundreds of miles in mere moments. Minkai is still over a thousand miles from here... no large force will be arriving soon." She glances around the benighted street. "There are eyes and ears everywhere in this place, some friendly, others not. I have a proposition for you, but I will save it until we are well clear of Ordu-Aganhei."
"We? Are you coming with us then? And how do you like goat?"
Harlan gives Miyaro the once over, attempting to estimate how much she eats.
Miyaro gives Harlan a small bow. "I understand; you have no reason to trust me, and I cannot blame you. I know who you are, and why you are here, and the people I represent support your cause. After you hear what I have to tell, you may send me on my way, if you so wish."
"Let's take her with us for now ... she knows things. Whether it's to our benefit or not remains to be seen. What are we doing about Maeve? Ame? I don't know where to start."
"I agree, we need a guide that knows the area and customs if we are to succeed."
"Let's take her with us for now ... she knows things. Whether it's to our benefit or not remains to be seen. What are we doing about Maeve? Ame? I don't know where to start."
Ah, well then ... direct it to the others.
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Heng glances at Miyaro, "But do you not work for the Prince? I would like to know who you represent if not."
Addressing the rest, he adds, "We should gather Ameiko, Koya and Shalelu to discuss this at the caravan. If Maeve does not show up soon then I am sorry to say that we do not have the time to search for her. It would only endanger our mission. I wish her well, but we must remain focused."
Parity grits his teeth after looking like he's about to say something and then shakes his head ... conflicted he mutters, "Let Ame figure it out ..."
"If I may, it is worth noting that the Lightning Tong are not known to take captives. Because we did not find her body, I believe she escaped. Ordu-Aganhei is a relatively large city. With her mastery of Hongal and knowledge of local customs, even a gaigin could stay hidden for some time."
Turning to Heng, Miyaro adds with downcast eyes offset by a small grin. "I will save the details until we are out of the city, but suffice to say, I do not work for Prince Batsaikhar. In a palace as bloated and overstaffed as his, it is easy for one to blend in." She looks up. "To get close to you, I insinuated myself as a cultural adviser, and none questioned my presence."
Harlan shrugs at all this.
"Let's do it, no reason to waste more time."
I think we all agree, it's time to leave.
With Harlan's healing sinking in, Ameiko lets out a great sigh of relief. "Thank you. The poison made me so weak, it was tough to even move... I felt so old!" She stops and gives Koya a sheepish look. "Sorry." Koya makes a noise and waves her off.
The relief does not reach Ameiko's eyes, and she adds to the group. "I hate the idea of leaving Maeve behind, especially not knowing is she's alive or dead. I understand that we shouldn't linger, but can we not wait a day or two, in case she returns?" Her eyes start to glisten and she looks down. "This is all my fault. You all came after me in Kalsgard... I would do the same for any of you."
"What 's done is done. If we had divination magic, maybe we could get an answer about Maeve but we have to assume she has been taken by our enemy. It would only make sense, take one of us and learn of our capabilities and plans. Either way, captured or fled, we have to remove ourselves from this location. Remember they had no qualms at setting Kalsgard ablaze to flush us out, we can not bring the same danger to these people."
Ameiko's shoulders slump, but she nods. "She's like a sister to me. I feel like I'm abandoning her. Maeve understands as well as anyone what's at stake, but it doesn't make it any easier."
"She is likely to head home ... upset as she was. She is quite capable of surviving on her own. I'm less worried about her on her own than I am about us without her. We have come to rely on her knowledge and support "
"Ulf... vill be staying here for seweral more veeks. Ve could tell him to keep an eye out for her," Kelda offers.
Harlan beams at Ameiko then listens gravely to Mal and Parity.
"Kelda's right, Ulf can tell her where we've gone. We should head out as fast as we can. I doubt the prince will be happy with us."
"The Prince may be displeased with Maeve's rejection, but you have little to worry about from him. You are still 'guests' under protection of his household; a matter of honor and protocol. He will take no action against you." Miyaro pauses and adds with a smile. "Unlike some stories I've heard from western lands... murderous betrayals at weddings and such, the people of Tian Xia take these matters very seriously."
"I'm less worried about the Prince than I am about eluding the Five Storms. Unless you know who the rat is, we need to go."
Sandru has the caravan ready to roll about an hour after dawn. Not long before you depart, Chua arrives with a couple of guards and four horses in tow. He bows low before you, if not as low as the last time, and says, "Prince Batsaikhar sends His regrets about the way things turned out during last evening's feast, and profusely apologizes about the cowardly assault upon your persons. The Golden One sends assurances that if any remaining culprits are discovered in the realms of Hongal, they will be summarily castrated, drawn and quartered for their crimes. He hopes you will not think less of His hospitality."
Chua stands straight and gestures towards the horses. "As a final gift, since you will not be attending the Feast of the Dragon tonight, the Golden One presents these masterwork riding saddles, the very finest of Hongol craftsmanship. You may also keep the horses, at your pleasure." He bows again and makes to return to the palace.
Winter is still in full swing as you again return to the road, but the weather is dry and clear across the Hongal plains. The true 'luxury', so sorely missed in recent months, is an actual road to follow. You pass a few horsemen and herders headed to the city market, but otherwise the day is uneventful.
As you gather around the campfire that night, Miyaro stands and speaks. "Before I begin, let me warn you that I am not all that I appear to be." She bows with a nimble flourish, but as she straightens up, her human countenance fades into that of a fox-headed humanoid, complete with red-brown fur and a long, bushy tail.
"I am kitsune, born in northern Minkai on the fringes of the Forest of Spirits. In payment for my father's crimes, my mother offered me to the kami to be raised by them and taught to respect them. When I was accepted, she committed ritual suicide to seal the pact."
"I serve the kami of the Forest of Spirits, who for centuries have opposed the oni of the Five Storms. They are responsible for keeping them imprisoned, although the oni somehow escaped in recent years, to become the blight on Minkai they are today."
She glances at Ameiko. "Ripples of fate informed us that the last scion of the Amatatsu family was returning to Tian Xia, and I was sent to find you, to serve and guide you on your quest." She smiles as only a fox can. "Not all in Minkai are your enemies."
To the group, she adds as she resumes her seat. "There is so much to explain... For now, what questions do you have?"
Harlan claps excitedly as Miyaro changes.
"You see that Skygni? That is just the coolest!"
With that the lame halfling begins scratching his head.
"Is there a group in Minkai that will help us? What do you mean ripples of fate? How many escaped? How did you imprison them? Can we do that too? Do you know how those damned ninja keep finding us?"
Miyaro blinks a few times at Harlan's rapid-fire questions, turning her head a little before responding after a pause. "I will try to answer as best I can..."
"Is there a group in Minkai that will help us?
Miyaro nods, "I believe there is. The forces of the Jade Regent do not have complete control of Minkai. Indeed, there are a few rebellious forces that would likely rally around the true heir to the throne. The finest of these is named Hirabashi Jiro, a respected samurai forced into exile by the Jade Regent. If you wish, I will take you to him."
What do you mean ripples of fate?
She shakes her head, "Though I serve the kami, I do not have their senses. They share a connection to the world that I... we mortals can never have."
How many escaped? How did you imprison them? Can we do that too?
"Again, I don't have a good answer for that," Miyaro sighs. "Ages ago, the oni of the Five Storms were imprisoned by the gods in a pagoda called the House of Withered Blossoms. The kami kept an endless watch but were prevented from entering the prison, so for centuries, the prisoners and their jailers were kept in balance."
"Somehow, in recent years, a number of the Five Storms escaped. Unable to enter the house, the kami cannot determine how they escaped, how many got free, where they went or for what vile purpose."
Do you know how those damned ninja keep finding us?"
"They can track your unique chili recipe..." she jokes, straight faced.
"They were released from their prison? It may be worthwhile to know more about that and hopefully our enemy before we augment the rebellion. Need to know what we're up against. Where is this House of Withered Blossoms," Parity muses.
"Perhaps it will enlighten us to how they find us. It's frustrating. How did you find us? Don't tell me the kami just showed you an image of Ameiko and all of a sudden you knew where we were. You were here in advance of us ... waiting."
"Sorry if some of us do not seem so trusting, but this seems pretty convenient and as my blind friend pointed out you waited here for us. Can you explain this a litle better? Also why does this Kami not come ridding into town whooping and a whopping and help take out these oni?"
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Heng watches the shapechanger carefully. "I am uncertain of these Kami as well. Maeve would likely be able to tell us more about them, but she is not here. They sound perhaps like the fey nature spirits of our land. These are notoriously unreliable though we were able to deal with the cruel sprite we met at Brinewall."
Addressing Miyaro directly he adds, "I am sorry about your mother. Do these Kami usually require the sacrifice of sentient beings?"