"And before you ask why you? It's because Ame will know you've vetted it. You're trustworthy and have shown yourself wise. Ive decided I'll follow where you lead."
And without waiting for a response, Parity departs.
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Ameiko smiles at Kiyomi, if marred for a moment at the mention of 'singer and dancer'. "If they vouch for your trust and integrity, then I will do the same." She glances to the others for affirmation.
Heng nods. "Kiyomi proved an invaluable companion against the vile Oni within the House of Withered Blossoms and she will be quite knowledgeable about the politics that we will likely soon find ourselves embroiled in. We have mentioned nothing of our mission, but believe that she can be trusted and will be of great assistance."
Ameiko nods at Heng's endorsement. She thinks to herself a few long moments before continuing. "If you are to come with us, you must know the truth. This is a long tale, which we can save for a night meal. And I only learned of it a handful of months ago... on the other side of the world, I might add. I'm not fully at ease with it, either, and I think you may be as shocked as I was." She shakes her head, annoyed. "I'm rambling."
Ameiko walks over to her wagon and removes a segmented, wooden box. It is painted red and decorated with a dragon silouette. She holds the box carefully, and sits down with it resting on her knees. "This warding box contains the Amatatsu Seal, a powerful artifact bequeathed to that royal family by the gods in ancient times. As far as I know, I am the last scion of that line." Her eyes rise. "My father was Amatatsu Tsutoku, who took the name 'Kaijitsu' when he fled with his family to Avistan over six decades ago."
Kiyomi nods at this.
Harlan blows out a heavy breath at everything they've learned, tired after a long week of research and laborious reading.
"I think Ameiko may be it Parity. The books say the oni killed all his attempts, so the Jade Regent is probably just a human puppet. We should try to learn the weaknesses of these creatures, we had enough trouble with the Least. I think you're right about the naginata though, one of us is going to need to use it if it's a royal weapon."
The halfling quickly begins preparing meals for the survivors, hoping to return their strength. He seems concerned however, and soon seeks out Sandru.
"Brother, how are we going to keep feeding all of these people? And get them to Minkai? If that's even where they want to go. Maybe they're from the area, and want to return home? I suppose that could help, but we'll need to take inventory and decide where we go next. I think heading straight for the throne is a bad idea, but the longer we wait the more likely they Storms will learn we're here."
Kiyomi freezes for a moment as the implications of Ameiko's heritage sink in. Suddenly she falls to the ground in a bow so deep that her forehead touches the ground. "My Empress! Please forgive my impertinence in speaking to you as a mere mortal. I am unworthy of the honor! I humbly offer my life in payment for my sin!" Kiyomi begins to shake slightly as she speaks, clearly overwhelmed.
"Well, there's something you don't encounter every day." Parity remarks after getting a recap from Suishen.
And then after a moment to Ameiko, "I think this is what we were discussing earlier, Ame. And we're all here to help you ...your majesty." he adds with a slightly wry smile.
Ameiko does not let Kiyomi maintain the bow for more than a second. "No, please. I am not your Empress," she says while lifting Kiyomi to her feet. "I... I don't deserve such respect. I may have royal lineage, and may look Minkaian, but I've never set foot in that land. I can speak her language only because my parents made me do so when I was young. I have not come all this way to claim rule, but to right the wrongs of the Five Storms."
"Maeve tried to explain this to me once..." She shakes her head, sighing. "Kiyomi, it may be as hard for you to understand and accept as it is for me, but I don't want your obeisance or your life. If you wish to aid us, then do so because you love Minkai, and are a friend."
Kiyomi looks pale at the idea of being touched by someone chosen by the gods. She gasps and tries to look at the ground as Ameiko speaks. Her mouth moves for a moment as she tries and fails to speak. Finally with a visible force of will, she looks at Ameiko's nose, seeming as far as she can push her cultural boundaries. "I would be honored, oh Empress, to serve and aid you in any way I can. I do love Minkai. But Minkai needs her empress. But I must shamefully confess, that I have not been entirely honest with you." In a blink, Kiyomi changes from young woman to fox-woman, then to full fox and back to human again. "I am a humble fox-maiden, and it is only right that my empress know all my secrets." She blushes, deeply ashamed.
"And the plot thickens! Guess we weren't the only ones hiding something. Should everyone start emptying their pockets?" Parity quips showing uncharacteristic humor and even an element of enjoying the events unfolding in front of him.
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Heng smiles in astonishment. "It seems the Forest of Spirits is full of foxes. Do not be ashamed Kiyomi, the fox people are highly respected here and also among our small group I would say." He bows low.
"Ameiko, you should begin to prepare yourself for the role you must soon play. It may not be the role you wish, but it is the station you were born into and must rightfully take."
Kiyomi smiles shyly. "Thank you, friend Heng. I have been honest with you aside from this omission. And Empress, Minkai needs you. If you feel you lack training in courtly ways, do not feel this lack, my Empress! It is your destiny, and in your blood. If I may be so impertinent, this poor fox-maiden knows something of courtly ways; if I may help in any way, my Empress, you have but to ask and it is my command!"
Ameiko turns a shade of red, looking halfway between embarrassed and frustrated. "If I am to command anything, it is to stop calling me 'empress'!" She laughs, in spite of herself. "Please, call me Ameiko. I am just a mortal, like you and the others. Should the gods decide I take the throne of Minkai, then so be it... but until that day, I am no empress."
Harlan claps in delight as Kiyomi transforms.
"A fox! That's pretty clever. Now, how do you like your goat prepared?"
"Yes, Empre... Ameiko." Kiyomi struggles with the name as it clearly makes her uncomfortable to be so informal with royalty. She bows her head and steps back from Ameiko, then turns to Harlan with a smile. "I like my goat well-spiced, thank you."
The other members of the caravan come over to welcome Kiyomi. The leader of the caravan is a dashing Varisian rogue named Sandru Vhiski. He smiles charmingly, but cannot speak more than a few words in Tien. He and Harlan treat act like brothers, despite their obvious difference in heritage.
There's also Koya Mvashti, an wizened Varisian woman, fortuneteller, and cleric of Desna. She appears to have a close, familial relationship with Heng, who dotes on her. Shalelu Andosana is an elven ranger who remains stoic and silent, but her frequent glances towards Ameiko betray her protective nature.
Kiyomi has already met Skygni, a speaking white wolf that stays close to Harlan, and Kelda Oxgutter, the Ulfen berserker, and Malnival's lover. Lastly, although Miyaro doesn't have the long-time ties the others have, she keeps close to Ameiko, providing her advice and hints to become more 'Minkaian'.
***
It doesn't take Heng more than a few strides into the edge of the forest before the diminutive kami steps out from behind a fern. "A thousand, thousand blessings upon you," he says, sketching a low bow of respect. His eyes glisten when he stands up. "The poor thing is on the verge of starvation. Held captive much longer, and she would have died for certain." He examines and caresses the branches gently, shaking his head.
***
On the second morning after returning to the surface, a couple burlap sacks stuffed with objects appears in the camp, carried by a brown-haired mule. "These were found within, and are of no use to us," it says before wandering off.
- 12 potions of cure serious wounds
- an large, ornate saddle of leather and lacquer set with small bloodstones* (850 gpv)
- three collars with inlaid gold (75 gpv each)
- a +2 o-yoroi* armor
- a belt of giant strength +4*
- a jingasa of the fortunate soldier* (+1 luck bonus to AC; 1/day, negate extra damage from a critical hit or sneak attack)
- a set of silver feast ware (800 gpv total)
- a gold-and-bronze dragon figure (200 gpv)
- a silver inlaid box containing hobgoblin teeth (200 gpv)
- a kukri inlaid with gold leaf decorated with superb filigree depicting herons (100 gpv)
- a fine silver and copper candleholder (65 gpv)
- a swan boat feather token
- a green jade plaque set in gold (1300 gpv)
- a pair of antique gold lions (3500 gpv total)
- a magnificent hinged silver bracelet set with turquoise and emeralds (6100 gpv)
*: These items reek of hobgoblin body odor.
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Heng returns the bow. "We are glad to have been of service. It was out duty to end the oni's cruelty and help all who have suffered. My companion, Harlan, truly deserves you thanks however. He is a compassionate fellow and kind to all except possibly goats. Forgive my ignorance, but why would the oni take and imprison this particular tree?"
The tiny kami shakes his head, his wizened face creased in a frown. "Oni are cruel and wicked by nature. The only reason one would need to take this tree is knowing the pain it would cause. Things of balance and beauty pain them, like the sight of a ravaged garden or wounded animal pains us."
Akumi turns and bows low again to each of you. "I thank you once again, and beg of you another favor. Nothing so trying as the last, but perhaps requiring more patience and skill..."
As Harlan lays out the suggestion of escorting and caring for the refugees, Sandru nods and does some quick mental math. "Twenty six mouths to feed could drain our supplies fast, but we have been doing very well through some barren spots with you and Koya supplementing. As we get further south and into spring, I think foraging will be more bountiful."
"Three more supply wagons... if you guys can convince the local spirits to let us build three wagons and stock up, we should be set. I'll put them to work so it won't take more than a couple days. What do you think?"
She grows more serious as you present the naginata. "Yes, I guess I can try." After taking and holding the weapon for a minute or so, she shrugs and makes an unsure noise. "I'm not sensing anything. I mean, I can tell that its a legacy weapon, but there's no... presence like Suishen."
"Huh... what do you think?"
Akumi bows again. "No, I think it should not."
He lays a hand gently on one of the tree's branches. "My ward is dying, despite your help in rescuing her. I have been bonded with her for many centuries, and can merge with her to sustain her life essence and help her recover. But while merged, I cannot tend to the tree, physically."
"I ask one of you to care for and nurture the tree until she is once again strong enough to survive. It will take months of watering, feeding and pruning. A delicate and precise task, but surely not so taxing."
"What do you say?"
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"What do you say?"
Heng ponders as he rubs his tattooed scalp. "We still have some ways to travel though through far more temperate lands than those previously braved. We will face many more dangers beyond this forest. I fear for any that travel with us, but if these hazards do not concern you than I believe I can give my word to see to the tree's care."
Malnival stretches out on his bed role and grins. He takes out one of the old books recovered from the library and slowly opens it, the magus takes out a piece of parchment and begins to decipher the script.
"Good idea Sandru, but where would we get the horses to move them? I'll talk to the spirits, maybe we can work something out."
Harlan will ask around, asking after the spirit that can assist with this request.
"Hello again, mighty spirits of the forest! We have a request for you. We'd like to move these people out of here, but we don't have the wagons to do it. If you would allow us to spend several days building 3 more wagons, we could move them. Do you have some fallen trees or other wood we could use to build the wagons? We have spare axles and other equipment to make them work, although we don't have anything to pull them with. Maybe we could strap the refugees to them? That probably wouldn't work. Well, we'll figure out something, unless you have a suggestion."
"For now, though, we need to convince someone to learn to use the weapon. It apparently is necessary to use them to harm the Five Storms oni. I also believe we should spend some effort or resources in finding the other missing ones ... and perhaps more allies to aid in this affair."
Parity raises an eyebrow at the idea of bringing a tree along with them, but backs Heng's hand and doesn't object.
"How far are we taking these folks?"
"Kiyomi, now that you're in the ... uh ... circle of trust, as they say, are you truly willing to go up against these oni? Do you not have anyone waiting for you?"
Kiyomi smiles sadly. "I do not. My family is no more. They were killed by the Regent when they stood up to his thugs. I was too young and was left home when they protested. I grew up as a street child. When I was old enough, I was taken in by a retired courtesan. She taught me to sing and to entertain men. She gave me my harp. She died when the last bout of Scarlet Chills came in the winter. Now I help as I can, or I did until the Oni caught me and brought me to Munasukaru's house."
"You should fit well with us, then ... we are all a little light on family," uncomfortable with the topic, Parity changes the subject, "You're from around here and seem the knowledgeable sort. The house of Sugimatu is no more, correct? Can you tell me much about them? Any idea how this weapon ended up in the oni's hands?"
"I... we are willing to take the risk, and I cannot heal the tree on my own; it will require assistance from without." Akumi bows once more. "I thank you again. You may call on me, but please do so only in the direst emergency." With that, the kami steps up to and merges into the tree.
The House of Sugimatu was the first of the five families to fall, most of its members were poisoned over the span of several years.
***
She looks down at the naginata. "We will certainly keep this one safe. Even if no scions of Sugimatu remain, Minkai will need honorable defenders to wield these legacy weapons."
"Three weeks, give or take a day, based on the map Miyaro showed me," Sandru replies to Parity first. "That will get us to the northernmost settlements. From there..."
To Harlan, "No horses, but I have seen some wild oxen in the forest. Shaggy haired, with long horns. I think we could round a few up to pull the new wagons. May be some work to tame them, but Kelda has a good hand with the beasts."
When Harlan walks to find a spirit to ask, there are none visible. Indeed, besides Akumi, no one has seen a manifested spirit in a few days. Speaking the queries aloud to the surrounding forest in general garners no response.
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Heng frowns when Harlan reappears alone. He stands up and begins pacing rubbing his scalp with the hand not holding the little tree. "It seems our hosts have abandoned us. I do not wish to trespass, but we must build new wagons to continue. Do you think we could find the materials we need in the House of Withered Blossoms? I am somewhat loathe to cut down any living trees." He looks down on the bonsai with a helpless expression.
"Not 'abandoned'," Miyaro interjects with a bow. "The kami are still around us, as they have ever been. Remember that their concerns are not necessarily the concerns of mortals such as we."
"Taking down a few trees judiciously will not provoke their ire, though ensuring that we are not cutting down a kami's ward..."
"I like Heng's idea, the prison is destroyed anyway and there are plenty of usable things in there, we don't need to cut down any trees."
Barring any objections Harlan will help the others salvage material for wagons and help catch oxen.
Kiyomi shrugs and smiles. "I know very little. The House of Sugimatu were historically peacemakers and the imperial family most in touch with the commmon people. Historians granted members of this dynasty titles such as the the Empress of Pleasant Rains, or Emperor of the Sake Sea. Their years of rule are considered some of the most bountiful and peaceful in Minkai's history. They were also the first to fall. Poisoned, I believe."
"Friend Heng, I know very little of the art of the bonsai, but if I may help you, please let me know. I know a little about a lot of subjects. I think I might be able to tend your ward with practice."
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" I think I might be able to tend your ward with practice."
Heng smiles awkwardly around his tusks, "Your assistance would be most appreciated, Kiyomi. Growing up in the Tusk Mountains offered few chance to tend plants. My father had a small garden plot, but he never asked for assistance and I did not venture to offer to help. Mostly I helped my mother hunt..."
"I gave my word to personally tend this tree, but I would feel much more comfortable with your help."
Dates: 24 Calistril 4712 - 19 Pharast 4712
Route: Forest of Spirits -> Osogen Grasslands
Distance: ~850 miles (Total: ~5600 miles)
Weather: Winter into Spring
Special Events: Monsoon!, The Missing
The week following the defeat of Munasukaru and the clearing of the House of Withered Blossoms is a busy but restful one. It takes effort to organize the refugees into working parties, round up yaks, gather materials and construct the new wagons, but it is straight-forward, honest work. The forest glade retains its calming presence, and the weather remains cool but mild.
Once all is ready, Sandru signals the advance and your now-larger caravan slowly uncoils itself from the glade and heads into the forest. Guided by Miyaro's directions, you wend a steady path to the south-east.
Over the next nineteen days, the caravan traverses the greater expanse of the Forest of Spirits. It remains as quiet, unchanging and unnerving as before, locked in a wintry stasis, but now the wood seems at a state of ease. Glimpses of spirits and wil o'wisp motes still catch the corner of your vision, but none hinder or harass you on your path.
Only in the second week of travel do you mark any significant changes in the surrounding forest. The weather grows steadily warmer each day, and the patches of snow and ice disappear. Near the end of the week, a couple of warmer afternoons have you shedding coats and furs to enjoy the balmy air. Although navigating the ubiquitous pine trees slows your relative speed, the caravan makes good progress.
Date: 3 Pharast 4712
During a particularly pleasant afternoon, while making a rest stop, Ameiko says, "Kiyomi... Miyaro mentioned that you are a famed performer back in Minkai. If I'm not prying rudely, what do you play?"